Sacrifice Brings Forth the Blessings of Heaven

Good day, mates!

My week all started with an awesome Zone Meeting. Since these elders are in our zone, we talked about the incident where our two brand new elders had everything stolen from them on their very first day. One of these elder's trainers was also stolen from. The guy took his hand-bag which had over a year's worth of mission photos. Their trainers felt like the worst trainers ever and started blaming themselves for the situation. One of the new elders just wanted to go home. None of us blamed him. Then, our ZL's talked about how the other new elder handled it. He said he wanted to go out, work, and teach as many people as they could find, to get his mind off the situation. The ZL's said they would try to go look for their stuff, but this elder who just wanted to work said this:

"All of my stuff isn't worth nearly as much as one man's salvation."

Let me just remind you that this is an 18-year-old kid, who just graduated from high school. How many of us would say the same thing?

It reminds me of the story in the scriptures of the rich man who had tried his best to keep the commandments, but when he asked the Savior what he was lacking, Christ said, “Yet lackest thou one thing. Sell all thou hast and distribute unto the poor…and come follow me.” But it was too much to ask, and he went away sorrowful, unwilling to do it.

How many of us would be willing to sacrifice everything we had to follow the Savior? This elder didn't give his things away, but I know if Christ had asked him to do it, he would.

Wednesday, we were walking to a member's house in a small trailer park, when a guy saw us and had a question. We were excited to answer his questions and give him a Book of Mormon until the guy behind us showed up.

"Excuse me ladies, but I don't know if you can read this sign, but it says, 'No Soliciting'" He said ever so rudely, with the nastiest look on his face. "So go back to where you came from, and I want to see you get into your car and drive away."

We didn't walk to our car, we just kept walking to the member's house. We weren't soliciting because we weren't selling anything. We weren't doing anything wrong. I still kinda wanted to cry, but I was glad we were able to give the guy we were originally talking to a Book of Mormon. It made me feel a lot better by the time we looped around the park to get our car because the guy we were talking to called out to us and said, "Hey ladies! Just ignore that guy, he's crazy! He's just jealous."

It made us both crack a smile and laugh. :)

That night, we were outside of our WML's house, and he said, "Hey Sister Sommers, come look over here." There were about five Black Widows hanging out in their webs, on the side of their driveway. This whole time in California, and I've never seen a Black Widow. I guess only because I've never tried searching for them. Sister W--- didn't wanna hang out with us. Haha!

Last week, we got a call from M---, a lady that we've been teaching, and she told us she was in the hospital. The doctors told her, according to her results, she wasn't going to live much longer. She agreed to a priesthood blessing, so we sent the elders over. We went over last night to check on her, and it turns out that she's been feeling much better, and should be coming home today! HOORAY FOR PRIESTHOOD BLESSINGS!

About a month ago, some members brought their friend, R---, to church. The elders started teaching him, and he accepted the gospel right away. He was baptized last night! For a couple weeks now, R--- has also talked about going on a mission! He'll be able to go after he graduates high school this year. So the moral of this paragraph is MEMBERS, INVITE YOUR FRIENDS! Don't EVER be afraid of offending someone with the gospel. Learning the gospel would never hurt anyone; it would only bless their lives more fully, and let them experience true happiness. That's why I'm out here. But always remember, you don't have to wear a name tag to be a missionary.

Have a wonderful week!

Sister Sommers

Half Way There and Living on About 25 Prayers a Day

Hello World!

This week I turned 9-months-old! HALF-WAY MARK!!! WHOOP, WHOOP! I could've had a baby! Good thing I didn't, that would've just made my mission a whole ton of awkward.

Ugh, I can't believe my little brother is in High School! I'm glad he has some bomb-digitty teachers though! AND my little sister is going to be a college girl next week? Umm...I don't think that's right. And why the heck does she all of a sudden look like a supermodel?! Someone tell her to stop that, or she's gonna be married, with a kid by the time I get home.

Found out that one of the members, Brother C---, served in Ohio. One of the wards he served in was the Akron Ward! I asked him if he knew the T---'s, and he for sure did! The next time we go over there for dinner, he's gonna show me pictures from his mission to see if I recognize anyone else. That'll be super weird.

Lots of interesting things happened this week. First, we were at a member's house for dinner, and she was telling us about how her car was keyed that day. Then, Elder M--- called us Wednesday, asking us why we bought gas twice on the Sabbath. Someone totally stole the number off our card. How rude to break the fourth and eighth commandment. It's ok now, we got a new one. Next, our Ward Mission Leader, Brother C---, was telling us how he saved this 12-year-old from getting kidnapped. After that, we were talking to our friend, G--- and his dog named Friday, we see on our morning runs, and he said that a lady had just stolen his car. The police found his car after a few days of searching, but then found out it was totally destroyed on the inside. Lastly, a couple of brand new missionaries stopped by at the church for a little while, only to be informed by some guy who just called the police because someone had just stolen all of their luggage out of their car. Please keep these elders in your prayers. Sister W--- and I have been extra cautious about our surroundings. The bad part is the police force doesn't seem to be very on top of things. It's a good thing that the Spirit can warn us of things like that.

Well, that's about all! Have a great and safe week!

Sister Sommers

Ohhh the Mission Life...

Heyyy!

This week was pretty legit!

At the beginning of the week, Sister S--- took us to Palm Springs so we could go shopping at this sweet little shop with super cute clothes for under $10. As we were picking out our stuff, Sister S--- would offer to hold our things while we looked around some more, but when we turned back the items would no longer be in her hands. I looked at her all confused.
"I'm just putting them down," she said smiling.
When we decided we were done for the day, Sister W--- and I took out our wallets, getting ready to pay for our things. The cashier smiled at us and gestured towards Sister S--- who also had her wallet out. She paid for everything! We weren't going to let her, but we were too late. She is seriously the best! She's like our mom here in DHS because she feeds us every week, and just gives us everything. She spoils us rotten, but it makes her feel good to spoil us.

Thursday morning, our car wouldn't start. It's a good thing we were in front of a member's house who knows about cars. He was able to jump-start it, so we could drive to Jessup Chevrolet so they could replace the battery. NOOO! We just spent six-and-a-half hours there last week! It was really funny, when we walked in though. One of the workers smiled and said hi to us, but then he suddenly became extra nice, asking us all these questions.
"Where are you located?"
"We serve in DHS, but I'm originally from Utah, and she's from Ohio," Sister Wagner responded.
He looked really confused. Then all of us became confused.
"We're missionaries."
"Ohhhh! Hahaha, I thought you were both from corporate. They have very similar name tags."
Haha! Now we feel all super important and stuff walking into Jessup Chevrolet.

The members' house we were at, before our car blew up, was the G---'s home. We've been seeing them for a few weeks, giving them the lessons, but it was just this week that Sister G--- asked us where we were from. Turns out Sister G--- was born in Akron, Ohio, and would go fishing in Chippewa Lake all the time as a kid! Hooray for connections!

Friday, we had an awesome Mission Conference with Elder Robert C. Gay. The meeting was all about how we, as missionaries, are being converted to the gospel. It was all very inspiring and edifying, and answered some questions that had been on my mind. Before the conference started, we went to talk to Elder T--- because we had served with him in La Quinta. Turns out, he's still there! He introduced us to his new companion, Elder S---. Elder S--- looked at my name tag and said, "Ohhh! So you're Sister Sommers! I hear your name like a bajillion times! They really miss you over there. "I thought I was going to cry! That felt so good to hear.

So guess what! Our investigator, P---, got baptized yesterday! YIPPEE!!! :) She was so prepared! I love those prepared people! We really knew she was ready when she was telling us how much she loved reading The Book of Mormon, and how she could feel the Spirit testify to her that this was the church with the fullness of the gospel.

Transfer information was yesterday, and we found out that we're both staying in DHS! But then the elders called us this morning, and told us that they got some info mixed up, and that I was actually being transferred and had to leave by tonight! But then they said they were just messing with us. THOSE PUNK FACES!

I love our Ward Mission Leader and his wife, the C---'s! They told us we were their favorite sisters they had ever had. Of course, we thought that's what they say to all the missionaries, but they were serious.
"Now don't be gettin' a big head."
"Haha, too late, Brother C---." ;)

That is all. Love and miss you all!

Sister Emily KaeLynn Sommers

Rattlesnakes, Bread, and BAPTISMS!

 A girl does what she must to stay cool.

Howdy, Partners!

Gotta cool/scary story about the elders. Last Monday, they all decided to go on a hike up in the mountains. On their hike, they came to a point where they had to jump from one rock to another with a 3-foot gap, only a couple feet off the ground. After each one made it safely across, an elder heard and noticed something within the gap of the two rocks. He leaned in a little closer. A rattlesnake! If any of them had slipped and fell, there would've been some bad news. Luckily, they were all okay.

Every Tuesday, after District Meeting, we get to go to Aspen Mills, a sandwich shop, for free! The owner, M---, is LDS, and this is his way of serving the missionaries. He's seriously the nicest guy I've ever met in my life. He lets us get whatever we want, and serves a sample of brownies to everyone who walks through the door. It's also great because Sister W--- can't have gluten, but there's gluten-free bread! Hooray! A couple weeks ago, he gave us three whole loaves! He greets everyone with the biggest smile, and talks to you like he's known you his whole life. We need more people like M---.

A couple weeks ago, when we were in Aspen Mills, this guy walks over to the elder's table and asks, 
"Hey, are you Jehovah's Witness's?" 
"Umm...no, we're LDS."
"Oh, you shouldn't go to that church! Do you know what kind of stuff they teach there?"
The elders had no idea what to say, and looked at each other, hoping one of them would have a good response.
"Hahaha! I'm just teasing, I'm a member."

Without us knowing what just happened, the same guy came to our table and started asking us if we had a little money to spare. Oh boy...PLEASE not again.
"Hahaha! Just kidding, I'm a member."
The elders watched the whole scene and we were all laughing afterwards. :)

She's a Wonder...

Our investigator, P---, is getting baptized this weekend! Woohoo! :) She's the girlfriend of a member. She'll become a member, and he'll be getting the priesthood soon. Exciting times! Oh yeah, and J---, C---, and I will be singing "I'm Trying to be Like Jesus" while M--- plays the guitar. I can't remember if I said anything about singing at J---'s baptism. Well if I didn't, Sister P--- and I sang "If the Savior Stood Beside Me" while Sister R--- played the piano. I don't know how people rope me into these things.

Until next time, that's all folks! Y'all come back now, ya hear?

Sister Sommers

...and she's a nut!    (Taking advantage of the random carts that are everywhere in SoCal)

GREAT FAITH and MIGHTY PRAYER

Hello friends and family!

My week started in a thrift shop called "Gypsyland". Pretty snazzy name, right? We went shopping there last Monday, and I found a super cute purple skirt WITH POCKETS for only 19 cents! STEAL! As the lady was ringing my skirt up, she started talking with us and asked questions about what we do as missionaries. As we were talking, she had obviously used the term "Mormons". Another lady looking at clothes near the register, turned around and shouted, "MORMONS?!" She stared at us, then at our name tags, then back to our faces, giving us the most disturbed look. We just looked at her and smiled. It's so sad when people judge you for who they think you are. If only everyone truly understood what we were all about. She then proceeded to strip down so she could try the clothes on she had just taken off the rack. That's DHS for ya! It was comforting to know we weren't the only "crazies" in there.

Surviving on these because it's 120 degrees!!!

Tuesday, we came back to the house to get some lunch. I was eating my delicious corn dog with about a million calories, kicking back in my recliner, minding my own business when suddenly, I heard banging on the sliding glass door. I jumped and turned to see a man standing on the other side of the glass. It scared me out of my whits, until I realized it was just Brother S---. He drove himself all the way back from Utah to check on the water because another pipe had busted. He was TICKED when he found out the sprinklers had been running nonstop for two weeks. We had no idea they were running that long because we're hardly ever home. Because California is in a drought, people here get fined if they use too much water. It would've been helpful to know what time the sprinklers were supposed to kick on and off. So that was an unpleasant surprise.

We threw a surprise birthday party for Elder C--- this week... well, I guess just "birthday party". This Ward isn't very good at keeping secrets. Haha! When the Elders found out, they didn't tell us, they just asked a bunch of weird questions about what we were doing Friday night. Then an hour before the party, they called telling us Elder C--- was being emergency transferred. Of course that was a big, fat lie because they showed up a half-hour early to the party! Those punk faces! Haha! At least we weren't uninvited to this one like we were in La Quinta. We actually had investigators there, so it was all good. It was a great time.

Stake Conference was yesterday, and that was super good! They talked about how important the member's roles are in missionary work. EVERYONE PLEASE WORK WITH YOUR MISSIONARIES!!! You're the reason we get things done. You make missionary work successful and effective. Please just do it, and your missionaries will love you forever. I promise.

Making new friends

Our Church Guest

A while ago, our recent convert, P---, went back to drinking coffee. Last night, we were visiting with her, her daughter who is also a recent convert, and her son-in-law. At the end of our lesson, her son-in-law suggested we kneel down in prayer for P--- about gaining a testimony of not drinking coffee. He was pretty much asking for a miracle. After the prayer, we all had a strong feeling that something was going to happen the next day, even P---. This morning, we called her up, asking if we could do our laundry at her house. When we got there, P--- was so full of energy! Haha, it was pretty cute. :) What was happening? "Sisters! I woke up this morning, and for the first time, I had absolutely no desire to drink my morning coffee. I had so much energy, I didn't know what to do with it all, so I cleaned the house and moved all the junk from my front porch." Cute P--- experienced a miracle. That miracle only happened through prayer and great faith. At the end of every weekly letter President sends to us, it always ends in something to do with "GREAT FAITH and MIGHTY PRAYER".

Through "GREAT FAITH and MIGHTY PRAYER" miracles can happen.

Sister Sommers

Short & Sweet

Hey folks!

Umm...not too much happened this week...but please keep reading because missionary life is filled with nothing but pure awesomeness.

Congratulations to my Aunt Caitlin who got married last week! Welcome to the family, Dave number three! To make things clear, no she did not get married to three different Dave's. My mom and two of her sisters are all married to Dave's. My Aunt Courtney will be getting married in October to "not Dave."

Happy almost Birthday to my girl/adopted sista/favorite mermaid princess, Tristan! AHHH! You gonna be 18! YOU SO OLD! And you're one of my California buddies right now! Wouldn't it be crazy if we
"accidentally" ran into each other? ;)

Quick, cool story. We were driving the other day, and I looked up and saw this hawk flying above our car with a huge snake in its mouth. I love snakes, but that was just too dang cool!

I forgot to mention, a few weeks ago, I was totally deaf in my left ear for a whole week! Then, I got some ear drops, so all is well.

Another miracle happened yesterday! Remember last week, I was talking about how a member's inactive son came to church and bore his testimony? Yesterday, he AND his older inactive brother came to church, along with the member's non-member husband, which we're teaching! How wonderful it was to see that family sitting together at church.

Well, sorry, not too much to write about, but there's your weekly update!

Have a marvelous week, you all!

Sister Sommers

I Know Who I Am, I Know God's Plan, I'll Follow Him in Faith

Hello out there!

This week was interesting...

Saturday, our investigator, J---, invited us to a Catholic mass. I was pretty excited to go, considering I had never been to one. Some of the people were super nice and inviting, but I didn't feel the most comfortable. It was interesting...and that's all I have to say about that.

Our recent convert's neighbor tried giving her some anti last week. "I've only been a member for two months, and I already know this is junk!" hehe :)

Tuesday, we tried visiting an inactive member. Found out he's an anti-Christ. All you can really do is testify of what you know to be true...until they cut you off, and pray hard for a softened heart.

 And so it begins...

As you can see, our week has been filled with anti's and apostates. It's okay though, it has not weakened my testimony. In fact, my testimony has grown so much! I realize that if they don't have a change of heart, they can't have the happiness that I have. They can't experience that pure love and eternal joy!

We had been waiting for a miracle all week, and it finally happened on Sunday. A member's inactive son, who she had been praying for everyday, came to church and bore his testimony. He said he had been inactive for a while, and his life had kind of gone down the drain, so he thought it would be a good idea to come back to church. The whole congregation was SOBBING. They knew how much it meant to his mom, and to Heavenly Father.  

It's sad, but sometimes we have to go through devastation to remember our Heavenly Father. We go through trials and we make mistakes; that's why we had a Savior come to this earth and take away all of those pains and mistakes from us so we could live with Him and our Heavenly Father again. He paid the price, but we need to keep His commandments. You are never alone through your trials; Christ knows exactly what you're going through because He has experienced it. We need to turn to Him so he can help us and make our burdens become light.

"...God cares a lot more about who we are and who we are becoming than about who we once were.⁴ He cares that we keep on trying.

The comedy As You Like It, written by the English playwright William Shakespeare, depicts a dramatic change in a character’s life. An older brother attempts to have his younger brother killed. Even knowing this, the younger brother saves his wicked brother from certain death. When the older brother learns of this undeserved compassion, he is totally and forever changed and has what he calls a “conversion.” Later several women approach the older brother and ask, “Was’t you that did so oft contrive to kill [your brother]?”

The older brother answers, “’Twas I; but ’tis not I: I do not shame to tell you what I was, since my conversion so sweetly tastes, being the thing I am.”⁵

For us, because of God’s mercy and the Atonement ofJesus Christ, such a change is not just literary fiction.

In His mercy, God promises forgiveness when we repent and turn from wickedness—so much so that our sins will not even be mentioned to us. For us, because of the Atonement of Christ and our repentance, we can look at our past deeds and say, “’Twas I; but ’tis not I.” No matter how wicked, we can say, “That’s who I was. But that past wicked self is no longer who I am.”⁷ - Elder Dale G. Renlund

I am so happy and so blessed to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!

Sister Sommers