CEDAR FALLS, IA - Week 2, Week 16 mission

Dearest Kelsee,

 

I have been thinking of you so much this week. I felt so much myself this week. I felt so strong from my past experiences and ready to hit the ground here RUNNING.....but I really miss you and my family and my cousins and my other friends. So much, Kels. You all are so much a part of me that I almost hit tears this week at how grateful I was to have all of the support I have. I feel SSSOOOOO loved out here and I feel SO grateful for how my life has gone up to this point. I am so blessed to have gone through the trials and blessings that I have been through. I got to brag to my new companion about how cool my dad was and how much I adored my mom and how much I wanted to see my siblings again. It was so cool to remember how much love I feel from everyone back home. This week we had a really spiritual zone training meeting and a few other speakers who reminded me how much love I have for the people of this city BECAUSE I left my loved ones at home for them. It is something I have really been focusing on this week: I freakin' love this work. More than anything, Kels, because every second of everyday you are trying to be in the exact place that God wants you to be. I am CONSTANTLY seeking, being prompted by, and following the truths spoken to me by the Holy Ghost and I can't get enough of it.

There was a girl in my last area, JA---, and a man in this area, Z--- , who really just remind me of myself. They are on this quest for knowledge and truth. I have only taught them once, but it was my absolute pleasure to introduce them to the Holy Ghost as a way to receive a confirmation of truth in this crazy and chaotic world. It's so new for them...but as my companion bore testimony of the Priesthood and the reality of receiving answers to prayers, I knew in my heart that there was no way on earth this Gospel couldn't be truth. It HAS to be. I got a blessing this week and it was like: There is no way to deny that God is real and He knows me and is speaking to me. It was so cool. As Sister Lloyd and I used to say, "THE CHURCH IS SO TRUE!!!!!!" Throw your hands in the air for dramatic effect.

Stories that I wanted to share with you:

--I was in this lady's home, who is the cutest lady ever. she is black and from the south and I went to take off my boots and she was like, "Sister Monroe. Didn't you warn her? Don't you take off no boots in my house!" SSSSOOOOO FUNNY!! She is such a hoot. I have noticed I do a laugh now that sounds exactly like Sister Lloyd's and I'm quite proud of it. Never changing that one!

--Visited another elderly lady who reminds me EXACTLY of my Grandma Montgomery and I about lost it. It was like coming come: I stayed WAY too long in her apartment as she told me stories that felt like I was just talking to grandma. It made me SO happy. I was like dancing when I left.

--I went to Ward Council yesterday and was COMPLETELY floored about how amazing this church runs. PEOPLE ARE SO IMPERFECT. Like SO imperfect.....and this church still runs with absolute perfection. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? Oh, because the Lord is at the head. The Stake President completely drilled us all and by the end of his talk I was sobbing at how strongly I knew that fact. I am imperfect, and people still find truth. Leaders are imperfect, and the Lord still makes up for their mistakes so the congregation isn't lead astray. I have the strongest testimony right now that THIS CHURCH WAS DESIGNED TO HELP FAMILIES BE ETERNAL. That is it. That is the reason. Everything we do in the church is to make us better moms, and dads, and stronger connected. It's amazing. I love my family so much and I'm glad I get to be with them for ETERNITY. Hence the reason I was lovin' them so much this week. Nothing, and I repeat, NOTHING should get in the way of helping your family make it to eternity. That is everything in this life. Parental mistakes will be compensated for as long as they are willing to get there together. The Lord really gets how to run this world, let me tell ya.

--Which brings me to my next point, PRAYER CHANGES EVERYTHING. Sister Monroe and I needed some revelation for this area this week and we turned to prayer. Nothing immediate has come, but I feel as though Heavenly Father is SO proud of me for doing so. He has really been my Best Friend this week because I tried over and over again to seek Him and understand things the way He would want me to. I can't describe it, I'm just happy. Happy He knows me, and SSSSOOOOOOOO happy I know Him. PRAY. PRAY AGAIN. IT'S SO GREAT! (Pray about it, right Alicia? (: Love you!)

--I am working on charity and humility this week. They are my weak points...but because I have concentrated so hard on catching myself so I COULD have my first reaction to be humility and love, it has become a strength of mine. As my sister would say: Holy. Crap. Ether 12:27: it's a real thing. Pray for me! I need all the help I can get!!!

--We had a really spiritual zone training meeting this week and I have been obsessed with my zone leaders ever since.

--My companion and I are really trying to work together and it's really cool. Sister Monroe is so cool and it seems like we both develop more faith each day as we learn from each other and from the Lord. The learning is still sometimes just one step at a time, and I miss the fast-paced learning of my first 12 weeks, but I love it.


FREAKING LOVE MY MISSION. And you. Hope all is well in Park City and since I just gushed everything, PLEASE WRITE AND KEEP ME UPDATED. I love you, Kels..... :) and family.

-clo clo

Transferred to Cedar Falls, IA

Dearest family, 

Remember that one time we went to that lake for Youth Conference and we jumped in the glacier run-off and it was so cold that it froze your lungs? This is warmer than that..........I am currently in Cedar Falls, IA. Temperature outside is -53 degrees, with windchill. Most of the mission been house-grounded for 24 hours, even though it does not feel THAT cold outside. I keep thinking of Avery Hill on a mission in Russia and I feel like a WHIMP!!!!!!!! The Peers and the Barbers tried to warm me it would be cold.....but I never anticipated it being too cold to work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's really strange to be indoors. I feel ansty to be outside talking to people!!!!!!!! Luckily we have a car to get to the library!!!!

It has been a most roller coaster week. I was totally disappointed to get the call that I would leave Iowa City, where all I have known in my mission has been. As I was packing, I kept thinking about how much I LOVED everything here. I love the city, the ward, the people, the other missionaries, just the SET UP of missionary work in that place. We always had teaching appointments. We had 4 new investigators this transfer, two of which we found DURING transfer calls. It was so sad to come out of that lesson, TOTALLY in love with this new couple, ready to set a baptism date with one of my other investigators who i ADORED, to be leaving........I thought about how many memories I had with Lloyd and Murphy there and how I had to leave all that. I felt like I was leaving my closest friends and family all over again. 

The words of my trainer kept ringing in my mind and I said SO MANY prayers of gratitude. I kept thanking Heavenly Father for how much I had been given, and promised Him I would give Him all of my strength in my new area.

Cedar Falls is a much smaller city. I am now companions with Sister Monroe and she is ADORABLE. We are the only sisters in the whole zone......pretty big change.

There was a morning I woke up and I was pretty upset about all the change. And over and over and over again, Sister Lloyd's advice would flash through my head. I learned to love the people of Cedar Falls this week. I remembered how much I love the work this week. I remembered how important it is to love my companion this week. I remembered how much I want the Lord to trust me, how much I want Him to guide me, and how much I YEARN for the blessings of His Atonement and an even stronger testimony of the scriptures. That day, we went to District Meeting and my District Leader had also been trained in Iowa City and he is SUPER spiritual and talked to me a little bit and it was SO nice to just talk to someone who knew what I was missing. I was so peaceful about the transition. I went to church on Sunday and remembered how much I truly love my mission.

 I LOVE MY LIFE. I love Sister Lloyd even more. I am continually using the things she taught me, especially her attitude toward missionary work. Things are different here, but it's all the same work. And the work is amazing. I just get to love a whole new set of people!!!!!!!!!!

 We have two recent converts here and one investigator named Julie (who is the convert's sister). She wants to get baptized but needs to stop smoking and I am learning about faith and miracles this week. SHE IS SO COOL! She wants this so bad.

 Staying in has been an answer to an unspoken prayer, actually. I have gotten time to do some studies that I needed to and I LOVE THE SCRIPTURES!!!!!!!!!! God is so merciful to me. He was literally my Best Friend this week. I am SSSOOOOOOOO happy!

Hope all is well at home.  LOVE YOU, FAMILIA!!!!!!

~Sister Chloé Michelle Sumsion~



Sister Lloyd - fun in feet pajamas

Not an LDS sign but true!

Armor of God

IOWA CITY - Week 12, Week 14 mission

Three keys to life:

LOVE people

say prayers of GRATITUDE

live in a way that the Lord can TRUST YOU

The last week Sister Lloyd was here, she and Sister Murphy really made my heart believe these three things. I have loved this week really taking those to my head and using them everyday. Things make so much more sense this way, although I struggled with myself to constantly be ready to follow prompting of the Holy Ghost. It's amazing how much Heavenly Father guides this work. Yesterday, while listening to the conversion story of a man named Bill Carpenter, it hit me so hard how amazing it is that I am literally called to be a representative of Jesus Christ, to tell the world exactly what He would if He were here.

I therefore added a four key to life: the SPIRIT changes everything. Listening to it's promptings is the ONLY way to find pure joy.

I LOVE MY MISSION. It hit me over and over again this week how much I love being a part of this work. The more I learn about this work, the more I realize how much I don't know. We taught two less-actives and two new investigators and I must tell you that I am a VERY imperfect missionary....but as truths are spoken, the Spirit speaks, and that is how hearts are changed to believe and to act to become closer to God.

I found a new friend this week. Her name is Katy. She is half me, half my sister: she totally understands us, Lex. She requested a BoM via media referral for her fiance, who is a non-member. She grew up in the church, but had a rough last few years. As she opened up a bit and told us her story, she and I cried together. I had no idea what to say, except that I felt like I was here for a reason.  I told her that I  have personally been healed through the Atonement, because it's real is real. I want to see her like everyday. Murph has to restrain me....although there is not much she can do since I have driving privileges again this week (you get two weeks of driving as a new missionary). HAHAHAH FEAR ME, IOWA CITY!

I want so badly to watch her change. She has so much more waiting for her. She has so many blessings she can take part in. I know I've been called to be here for a reason.....I am just terrified that I won't be able to help her see it. I was so happy afterwards. I love talking about the Gospel!

Transfers are this week! Murph and I hope we are both staying! We like it here.

SSSOOOOOOO good to see your faces on Christmas. Felt like nothing had changed....and yet I know we all have. I hope Christmas was good. Running out of time. There is more in the snail mail I am sending.

LOVE YOU ALL! Have a happy new year!

~Sister Chloé Michelle Sumsion~

Christmas chaos without Dad there to clean up the wrapping paper.

Three sister missionaries live with these darling 4 little girls!
Princess Power!
(Thank you to these wonderful people who house my daughter!)

"Its my Christmas present to me!" (new scriptures)
(Hurry - what movie? - Emperor's New Groove)

MERRY CHRISTMAS - Week 13 mission

Happy 2 days 'til Christmas! I am so grateful for all your love this season. I have received all your packages and even a few packages and card from our family friends and they are all under our little tree waiting for Christmas!

I miss Lloyd like CRAZY! But I know for a fact that I am doing WAY better than I should be doing. For like 3 days this week, I DOVE into my calling as a servant of the Lord and LOVED the people around me (just like Lloyd taught me) and POURED into my scriptures (just like Lloyd taught me). I needed some comfort one night and flipped open to a page and my eyes instantly glued on Mosiah 24:14&15, which has become a pretty powerful scripture between her and I. It was another testament that God was taking care of both she and I. I KNOW I AM BEING STRENGTHENED BY THE LORD. She was able to call us when she arrived home, and my prayers since that moment have been in gratitude for the Lord (just like Lloyd taught me). I thank God for the blessing of allowing me to feel what she is feeling. It makes it somehow better that we were both there for each other, even though we were far away. It makes it somehow better that I experienced what it sounds like she is now experiencing, after I came home from Jerusalem. I am so grateful to know her.

I think it's been rough to have her leave because she is so much a part of the mission, for me. When I left my family and friends, I knew it would been awhile until I saw them again...but that I needed to go away for awhile. However, my love for this work came so strongly BECAUSE of Lloyd's love for this work, and because she gave me the tools to learn HOW to love this work. Since she was the one to teach me everything, I think the two became pretty connected. This week I got to learn that I really do love the work! It brings me so much peace and it brings the people of Iowa SO MUCH JOY.

Speaking of which: 2 NEW INVESTIGATORS THIS WEEK! One is Joyann and one is Russ. So now we are teaching 2 young women and 2 truck drivers. Sister Murphy and I stared at each other in disbelief when we heard: how ironic is this? I am trying to love them both as much as I love Dominique and Scott...and Lloyd. :) It is amazing to see how love changes people...including myself.

Dad: tree lights are DEFINITELY missed here. Thank you for that gift to me. (He sent a picture of our "three trees" all lit up.)

The Montgomerys: Shoot! Little Jamesey is married!!!!!! (Cousin) Congrats my Provo cousins!!!! Welcome to the fam, Whitney!!!! Wish I could have been there.

Grandpa: thank you for the Christmas money!  I missed our tradition of going to your house this year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! Thanks for your love and support. They mean more than any gift.

--

~Sister Chloé Michelle Sumsion~

Iowa City - Week 10, Week 12 mission

I LOVE MY FAMILY! Merry Christmas-season!

This has been a deep week! Sister Lloyd is leaving for her hometown TOMORROW and she and I are both freaking out a little bit....ok a lot a bit.....so excuse me as I rant about how much she changed my life.

Sister Lloyd is a testament that lives can be changed because of LOVE. Because she saw me for who I could be, yet loved me as if I already made it there. Because she was proud of my actions, and didn't judge me for my mistakes. She pointed me to the Savior and told me to never let my mistakes get me to hate on myself. I learned a love for the Book of Mormon, a love for laughter, and a need for loving everyone before I teach them. She changed my entire mission because she told me that the Atonement is real. I will spend the next 16 months trying to become the missionary she is, and when I see her again, I hope I will be able to be as exceptional a person as she is. I will miss her dearly, but she will work wonders in any part of the world she is in. She will forever be a part of my heart! Oh, and parents: she promised me a sleepover as soon as possible when I was home, so be prepared for that! haha Gosh. I love my mission. I love my life because of my dear family and friends at home. I miss you all a ton this holiday season: I am so jealous that she gets to hug her family this week! I can't wait for us all to swap stories when I get home!!!!!!!

So needless to say, it's been a little hard to focus this week. I am learning a lot about faith and prayer because we are working on goals as a mission. It is wonderful to learn about goal setting and it's role in my life, especially ones with the Lord included. I am studying chapter 6 in PMG about how to be more Christlike. (Sister Lloyd is PRO at this chapter, so my study this morning was going through her PMG and writing down all her notes. :) haha yes. I am a nerd.)

~Sister Chloé Michelle Sumsion~

IOWA CITY - Week 9, Week 11 mission

Dearest Mom, dad, sammy, Elder Ben Sumsion, and Lexi:

This week was AMAZING!!!!!!! Although I really miss you 5. I guess if I were home, it would really only be the 3 of you....but seriously, you 5 are my favorite! As the holidays wind closer, I have started thinking of our Christmas traditions, and this week I found myself missing my cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents. THANK YOU for living close to our extended family. I miss you all so much!!!!!!! I have loved being such a big part of each others lives.

I'm not exactly homesick....just grateful. Sister Lloyd has officially become one of my closest friends I've ever found. I keep trying to convince her to stay here forever. She'll be home for Christmas, so she and I talked a lot this week about how grateful we are for the families and background that we have come from. Remember the LOVE focus of my email last week? That love that I am capable of feeling is a result of my family. You have each taught me how to love...and for that I am forever grateful. Thank you for loving me even when we get CRAZY! Thanks for laughing at my movie quotes and how silly I am. I am so glad our family bond is eternal and unbreakable thanks to the bond formed in the temple.

I got to bear powerful testimony this week of the importance of families. So Sister Lloyd and Sister Murphy are both Sister Training Leaders (STL). I think I've talked about them before, but here is a refresher: They are over about 20 sisters, and travel to their areas and help the sisters with individual, companionship, and (often times) emotional complications.I seriously think I have the coolest companions on this mission. Before, Sister Lloyd's STL companion was with other sister in Iowa City, so we would go together while Sister Lloyd and Sister Phelps traveled....but now Murphy is in...so guess what? THEY TOOK ME WITH THEM!!!!!!!!!! It was the coolest week EVER! I felt so selfish because all I did was watch these two sisters I adore do the coolest work in the world. And I just sat and tried to take in ever bit of wisdom. Their very presence brings peace. They really understand how to lead in love. They joked that when Lloyd left, I would be called and I about threw up on the spot. I am NOT a leader: so it is wonderful to watch THE BEST in action. I was so thrilled to be their little tag along. So yeah: we were in our area for about 24 this whole week. I feel like I get trained all day long and I still can't get enough.I'm addicted to knowledge of the Gospel and of my Savior right now. And how to be a better missionary. GAH! I am so selfish but I am LOVING THIS! And I hope that I can use this love and knowledgge

So in one of the areas, in a little town called Muscatine, I taught Micheal and Courtney and they are AMAZING! They are similar to Ben's couple: want to get baptized, but need to be married. The girl is only 19 and by the end of the lesson, I felt like I had known her previously. We just clicked and I felt like I just understood her. She was so excited about the church, but was terrified to be married so young. I was agreeing with her. I saw my own fears in her life. I saw how much she loved this boy, but also how she wanted to be sure in marriage because they have a son together and she didn't want him to grow up in a broken home. Out of no where I bore testimony of how special the temple sealing is and that it didn't matter that she was scared because I could tell that her husband and her were honest seekers of truth, and that they loved each other, and I told them that this was all they needed. I walked away with a grateful heart and I almost called you, mom and dad, right then and there to thank you for being worthy temple recommend holders and for staying together. There are SO MANY broken homes I've seen out here and I haven't even made it through two transfers! I am so grateful for our family and how I know how much work life and marriage takes. I LOVE OUR FAMILY!!!!!!

It snowed for the first time on Sunday, but I'm not even cold yet. The wind chill is the worst and it hasn't been windy all week so I am WARM! I love it. That grey jacket we found plus Holly's boots are miracles. The Lord really provides for His servants.

LOVE MY LIFE! Trying to study Christlike attibutes and how to feel the Spirit. It's the greatest work in the world. I am so happy. HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!  (movie quote from Other Side of Heaven)

-Sister Sumsion

QUINNS: THANK YOU FOR THE PILLOW CASE!!!!! You are so kind to think of me this season!!

--

~Sister Chloé Michelle Sumsion~

 Iowa Des Moines Mission

8515 Douglas Ave Ste 19

Urbandale, IA 50322

IOWA CITY - week 8, week 10 mission

This week, I wanna write about something that's been on my mind a lot: love.

It's a beautiful thing.

We walk into random people's homes. And we start talking and suddenly they are gushing their deep emotions to us. And it's incredible how my heart responds instantly with love. I can't even judge them. I don't even know them. And yet I just want the best for them. I want them so badly to read the BoM so they can feel of God's love because that is SO much better than any love I could give them.

Sister Lloyd constantly stresses the importance of teaching people out of love...and I feel pretty inadequate to love this week.I'm just one girl. One girl with many imperfections. Who can't figure out what people need.

I got the coolest confirmation about the BoM last week (I did tell that story, right? last p-day feels like a life-time ago) and I have been so restless this week to share with others the importance of reading that book. It changed everything for me. And it can change the life of anyone who reads it, no matter how many times they have read it before. There are so many people who don't, won't, or even members who had STOPPED reading it, and their lives are completely affected by that choice.

I'm anxious for the knowledge that comes with this study. Satan has actually been using to his advantage this week. There were times when I didn't even want to teach people because I'm so obsessed with the BoM and feel like I don't even know what to say about it: just that it's true and that they should read it....which is maybe the point anyway. Maybe I'm not supposed to know it for that reason, you know? Maybe I'm just supposed to point other people to it.

Which brings me to my big focus of love this week: and that is my companions. Sister Lloyd will be on a plane home in less than 3 weeks. She's overwhelmed: and I feel so inadequate to be her friend. I don't know what to say or to do. She's been pretty quiet as she comes to terms with everything. Two nights ago I just sat there hugging her and crying because she was hurting and there was nothing I could do about it. And then it kind of hit me that maybe this was enough. Maybe words were superfluous at this moment. Maybe all I needed to do was continue to love her. I thought a lot this week (being Thanksgiving) about how much love had changed MY life. About the perfect friend at the perfect time was the exact support I needed. Or how my parent's loving atmosphere had made me see the world on a positive level. How Sister Lloyd being in my life at this time has changed me so deeply I don't even know what to think about it. I thought about how much we all respond to love. How much we crave it. How much we need it to be happy or to do anything else in life.

And then I thought about Christ. That's why we need Him. Because He loves us better than any mortal ever could. We find healing in His love. And peace. And happiness. And everything we need. I am doing so much study on the Atonement right now and how Christ can literally lift our burdens and carry our trials in this life, not just in the world to come. He can help us. Here. Now. This very moment. We just need to turn to Him. He is waiting.

I don't get it all the way. And I wish I did. I wish I could tell you that I know how to psychoanalyze people. Or to cast my burdens at the Lord's feet. But I'm trying. And it's coming.

Jesus is the Christ. The Messiah that the prophets have testified of for the entire span of the world's history. He is my Savior. From pain. From hurt. From confusion. From doubt. From the crushing forces of this world. Stop fighting the love He's trying to give to you.

......Thanks. I think that was more of a vent to my heart than it was to anyone else.

I love you, family. You are the reason I love this world. And I'm not exaggerating that.

--

~Sister Chloé Michelle Sumsion~

Iowa Des Moines Mission

8515 Douglas Ave Ste 19

Urbandale, IA 50322