Season 14: Skyway B. Episode 1:I Love Working!

Elder Cardon and I right after we found out we were being companions.

Elder Graham, Wagstaff, and I at the training meeting last week. I will be missing them as they are heading out soon!

The Posterity of Elder Graham thus far.

Starting on left Elder Higgenson (son), Elder Graham (self), Elder Lyon (son), Elder Sumsion (son, his first born in the wilderness :D), Elder Jackson (grandson), and Elder Cardin (grandson). Not pictured are Elder Duncan, Meads, and Asper who are as well his grandsons.

Ties from all of my past companions thus far. Starting on the left Elder Graham, Buchanan, Wagstaff, Duncan, Meads, Asper, Jackson, Nelson, John, Murphy, and Rex.

The week has been great and I have been blessed with an amazing companion!

Elder Cardin is his name and he is from Bennett, Colorado. One of the funniest things is this area where we are serving in is compeletely different from what I grew up with in good 'ol happy valley, but for Elder Cardin its the same. He keeps on saying things like "This place looks just like where I am from except for there are more trees." Haha I love him a lot!

The work here in Skyway B is going well. We are working hard to find those who are prepared for the gospel. One of the biggest things we are striving to do is to find families! I have been praying and striving hard to find a family (with Gods help of course because I cant do it without Him). One of the things the Spirit prompted me that I could do as I was thinking about what more I could do was to fast for this blessing. So on Saturday at around 5:57pm I started a fast and about an hour later, God blessed us to run into a very prepared Chinese lady named Suezhen with a family! We are going by tonight to teach her more and some members are coming well. God definitely is one who hears our prayers! I was filled with gratitude because of this experience.

I know that God hears our prayers and that we should all communicate with Him and express the desires of our hearts often because he truly is our loving Heavenly Father.

-- 

Sincerely,

Elder Sumsion

"Search the Book of Mormon and the words of the living prophets every day, every day, every day! It’s the key to spiritual survival and avoiding deception. Without it, we are spiritually lost." -Elder Kevin W. Pearson

Season 13: Skyway. Episode 6: Asking Questions Results in Revelation!

Us dropping of Elder Christiansen at the Auburn Stake Center who finished his mission on Monday. Elder Jones did as well! I love both of those Elders.

This was my district last transfer. Starting on the left Elder Sanders, Elder Hunter, Elder Sumsion, Elder Stucki, Elder Richards, Sister Wilkinson, and Sister Bailey.

Howdy Howdy Howdy!

First offs with transfers that is happening today, Skyway A and B are going to be separated back into their own areas and I am going to be in Skyway B. I am being blessed with another opportunity to train which I am very excited for! Training is the most important assignment one can receive on his/her own mission and I am grateful the Lord trusts me with such a sacred duty.

President and Sister Eaton this week had a special training for the mission on the Doctrine of The Family. To understand what that doctrine is check out these 2 talks:

Elder Bednar

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2006/06/marriage-is-essential-to-his-eternal-plan?lang=eng

Sister Beck

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2011/03/teaching-the-doctrine-of-the-family?lang=eng

President Eaton didnt want us to refer to this training as the "trunky training" because he did talk about some very important after mission events. With these after mission events he talked about how we would approach these concepts (including when to get married, who you marry, careers you choose, hobbies you have) differently when we understand the doctrine of the family and keep these choices in the Eternal Perspective. It was a great training and he really inspired us to find, teach, and baptize families! One of the things I am doing differently to find families is whenever we are driving and see a family at their home or yard is to stop and talk to them (if we dont have a set thing we are going to).

The principle that has been strengthened in my heart this week was one the importance of asking questions! I had the blessing to be on 3 exchanges this week and with each of them I prepared several questions to ask them. I was blessed by all three of their answers to the questions I asked. It didn't matter about their mission assignments (from Assistant, to District Leader, to Junior Companion) The Lord spoke through them to me through these questions I asked. I also took notes on the things that they shared because I didn't want to forget what they were sharing (because the answers were valuable gems and people typically forget things after about 7 hours or at least I do :) ). Elder Rex and I have also started to prepare questions in advance for dinners with members. There is a quote President Eaton shared that goes something like this:

"Every person you meet is a feature story if you ask the right questions."

All these members with over double my life experience or even a couple years have been blessed with their own experiences and lessons that are valuable for everyone to hear.

This practice of preparing questions will be a huge blessing that will bless me in the future whether its in my personal study of the scriptures or in my communications with my family. Try this experiment out. 

Prepare 3 questions that you care about for a upcoming experience (whether that be a visit to the grandparents, a lunch conversation with a friend, or a car ride with your spouse) with another human being. Even preparing questions for those who are less experienced than you (new employees, children, etc.) will bless you with profound results!

Love you all! Have a great week! I will totally keep you accountable to my invitation if you accept it. Just email me that you are going to do it and I will follow up and see how it went.

Elder Sumsion

"Search the Book of Mormon and the words of the living prophets every day, every day, every day! It’s the key to spiritual survival and avoiding deception. Without it, we are spiritually lost." -Elder Kevin W. Pearson

Season 13: Skyway. Episode 5: Time! Is Marching On!

Mission Leadership Council on the 3rd of June.

Front Row: Sisters Young, Erickson, Linker, Lyman, Palmer, Huhem, Wright, and Richardson.

Second Row: Elders Snook, Knight, Li, Noh, Sumsion, President Eaton, Sister Eaton, Ha, Snyder, Nelson, Lee-Wen, and Chapel.

Back Row: Elders Cook, Caputo, Anderton, Rex, Nelson, Samuelson, Anderson, John, Riley, and Mousser.

Hello!

I loooove Skyway!

I dont have much time left for emailing! Sorry about that. Time is definitely going fast on the mission so make every second count! 

We got permission because this area is so diverse to have language study for 30 minutes, so right now Elder Rex and I are working on learning Tagalog! I love it a lot!

Gin committed to be baptized in September! Its great stuff!

--

Sincerely,

Elder Sumsion

"Search the Book of Mormon and the words of the living prophets every day, every day, every day! It’s the key to spiritual survival and avoiding deception. Without it, we are spiritually lost." -Elder Kevin W. Pearson

Pic and Video Bonus

A special number of "When I am Baptized" in Tagalog version