Cockroaches! Jose's Baptism Interview & pictures galore

Hola Familia y amigos!

So, the weather has been so so beautiful this past week! 60's! Yes, 60 degree weather. The sun's out. No rain. Just the occasional wind storms at night that make it a bit chilly. I only wore boots one time this past week!

This week we had to drop one of our investigators, Alma. She knows the church is true and we went back to teach her about the restoration (the 50th time she's heard it) and to ask her to pray to know if the church was true. The lesson was super spiritual and we could tell she knew what we were saying was true. At the end of the lesson, she said she didn't want to pray. When we checked up with her at the end of this week, she said she still hadn't prayed and that one day she'd be baptized just not any time soon. Ugh, I was sad but right now it's just not her time.

Thursday, we went to Maria Lopez's house, a convert of a little over a year. When we knocked on her door she peaked out from her second story window and said 'who is it?', then saw it was us and said she'd come down to let us in. Hermana Laudie and I were dying laughing just because all hispanics do this here! When we knock on the door (or anyone for that matter), they stick their heads out their windows and yell, or yell though the door and ask who's there. Haha we wanted to joke and say "oh just someone hear to come steal your stuff...may we come in?"

Too funny.

Today, we just got done doing service at a lady's house who had a...wait for it....cockroach infestation!!! SO GROSS! We had to help her clean out and scrub her entire kitchen, bathroom, hallways, etc. That included behind appliances too. Wow. I am praying to never EVER have cockroaches in my house. She said they were about 2 inches big as well! Nasty. If she finds more of them she'll just have to burn down her house I guess. Haha just kidding.

Well, I love you all! Keep smiling and being happy. Life is delightful, even with cockroaches in them (and birds..which I strongly despise). Thank you all for the letters and emails! (And all of you out there reading this-keep hastening the work! We are seeing his work take off everywhere, even here in the ghetto. It's amazing.)

Hasta luego,

Hermana Sutherland





I used your carrot jelly bean thing to give to emily! It was so cute but we needed an Easter gift for her so thank you :)

Gloria Moreno (I sent a picture with her a month or two ago) made these with us for a lunch we had with her nonmember hubby! They are called: Cachapas-Venezuelan corn pancakes (2) with cheese in the middle. Super sweet. Super delicious. Super fattening. I did not finish my whole plate of spaghetti either, haha. Look how huge it is!

Boston from the Cambridge side of the river

Boston Marathon sign

Laughing with Sister Laudie on the streets of Cambridge.

My Taqueria (taco shop) in Cambridge!

Found Nemo in a fish bowl in a building the other day haha. 

Boston building

Mabel & her mother, who we teach English to. They are the sweetest Peruvians.

Oh! One more thing mom and dad!

So Jose passed his interview for baptism and President Haight (our President's first counselor) came down to Bridgeport to interview him 3rd hour in church.

Then after the interview, he stayed and talked to us for like 1 1/2 hours about life! Not even all missionary work! He is super happy, excited about life, and very kind. He asked us what our favorite things to get in packages are (so he knows what to send to his kids who are starting to leave on missions), if are parents are writing us and how our support is from home, he talked to us about our plans for after the mission (he doesn't care if that makes us trunkie because he says it's good to plan for the future! And since a mission is going to be effecting us everyday for the rest of our lives it's going to be good to know how it will fit in with our future goals), and then he talked about the best part: dating and marriage!

Haha he said: long courtship, short engagement. Because when you date you are getting to know the person, etc. But in an engagement it feels like you're already married and satan tries to attack you so much more in the engagement stage. With pushing you in the law of chastity, making you doubt if your fiance is the right one, if it's the right time, etc.

He related it to investigators and baptism. They all take however long they need (within reason...depending on each person) with taking the lessons and learning/converting themselves as much as possible. But once they decide to be baptized and set a date things become real. Satan tempts them more to (for example) go back to that cup of coffee. Or he gives them doubts. The longer they postpone the baptism, the less likely it'll happen and the more likely it is the will fall into temptations power! SUPER COOL right? I'm sure you already knew that. I kind of did too. But he stated so clearly and he's really funny so it was like an awesome personal fireside with him and us 4 missionaries.

Mission presidents are so knowledgable, and their counselors. I just wish I could jump into their brains! Haha Man, I wish I could share more, but that's good for now. 

--

Hna Suth

Applesauce and Chicken Hearts

**Pictures from this week are not available.  If you recieve Hna. Sutherland's group email, the photos are from the week of July 21, 2014.

Yeah you read that title right!

Luckily, I tried these things at two different times.

Each Tuesday morning, a little, old hermana and her hubby come at 7:30am to bring us their freshly cooked (yet very plain) Ecuadorian food. Usually pasta or fried chicken and white rice. That's the minimum, though.

Sometimes we get bread, eggs, juice, milk, chips, cake as well. Pretty much anything from her cocina haha. Well, she gave us 2 huge bags of tiny apples and none of us wanted to eat them nor throw them away. Soo, I used the blender and made us delicious homemade apple sauce-twice!

Directions:Cut. Blend. Add cinnamon and a little milk (almond). It was so good actually. Tasted totally store bought.

Last Thursday, we had a zone conference with all of the missionaries in Connecticut. It was really fun. My District Leader and I sang "Because I have been given" much to a piano piece someone in Sister Moss's old area in MA made up. Maybe I'll get the video to send home because it's beautiful.

At our new Portuguese investigators house, we ate tiny chicken hearts! It grossed me out a lot to think I was eating hearts but it was just like tiny, tender and chewy pieces of meat! And they flavored them well. Classic meal from Portugal apparently. Go try them everyone. 

S, our investigator from Spain is for sure getting baptized August 2nd! We had no baptismal dates for July, but August we have a couple-so here comes the Bridgeport flood. New members galore! Our goal is to have convert baptisms. Not just baptize to have baptism, but to baptize those who have truly gained a testimony for themselves.

However, this Friday we find out if I'm transferred or not..which could be possible. I've been in BPT for 5 1/2 months already so I think I'm out of here next Wednesday. TBA people!

Alma 34:32

For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.

Keep abounding in good works and have a great week everyone. I love you all.

Hermana Anna Sutherland

Fireworks, Food, Fourth

Soo it was my first 4th of July in the field! We had a Zone Conference all morning and then in the afternoon we went to visit some people. To our shock, everyone was home during the afternoon. However, Friday was the fourth day in a row we had 2 dinners! People make us eat at their houses all the time so we always have a surprise dinner and then an actual planned dinner. We started out eating hamburgers and hot dogs (they were actually mini luckily) and then headed to the Sanchez home for some deep fried Mexican food. Classic. Then, we went to the English sisters investigators house for fireworks! We invited some people and almost our whole zone came to watch the show. It was so fun and there was more American sweets there so we had to indulge! I caught my first fireflies-never seen those before- and had a relaxing night. But I can't complain about too much food really, after I saw this picture of my brother.  He is serving in Peru right now, and these size servings are normal and often happen more than once a day!  He and I will be hitting the gym when our service is up--for sure!

Elder Sutherland is the cute one with glasses in the middle.  

Funny quote. We were with a sister missionary who is hilarious and from Argentina. Hna Miller asked her "Do you have fireworks in Argentina?" Hna Godoy in her thick spanish accent: "Did you ask if we seriously have freaking fireworks in Argentina?!"

*Note: It was so strange to be at a house with a huge grassy field behind it. It's funny-in Bridgeport I feel like I'm in a different country. I hardly ever see any white people or girls with real blonde hair. They are all Hispanics or dark skinned. It's great because we go to stores and can still speak Spanish! Who would've known.

Though our patience and faith was tried this week since so many people were gone and tons of appointments cancelled, we had too many tender mercies of the Lord to count this week still! We continued to push through the harder days and as we started out more difficult than other weeks...Wednesday we got a new investigator and a new baptismal date! Luis and Sinforosa say they know this church is true and want to be baptized! But, they want to learn more first, with a good reason. This matter is not light and they are taking it seriously. We're past the rocky road with them of helping them come to the conclusion to know this gospel is the true church of Jesus Christ and it's only been about 3 weeks of teaching them! We made a break through with Isaias with a member help, of course, and found out he is not praying because he doesn't feel worthy! Now we know how to teach to his needs and get on his level. And those are just some investigator improvements!

This is Rodrigo who got the baptismal date. He still doesn't understand the no touching sisters rule Definitely took me off guard! Haha.

Have a great week everyone!! Send some letters my way if you're bored :)

Love, Hermana Sutherland

World Cup vs. Sunday School

I can say this week was crazy! We are so busy now, but we wouldn't have it any other way. We are booking so many appointments that basically once we leave the house, every hour we have another place to be. It's actually great because it causes us to really organize and plan our times well.

We try to bring members out with us to lessons because that really helps the less actives and investigators build relationships within the ward. The members here are begging to go out to appointments with us! We are very happy missionaries and the work over here is taking off.

Yesterday, Mexico lost against Holland in the world cup, as I'm sure many of you know. We know that because Hispanics will not leave their house during game time and that's all people talk about now a days. After someone wins, people go to a pretty popular street in Bridgeport and drive around the blocks in huge lines of cars, honking, screaming, and waving the flag around of the country who won. We have been around those streets a few times and we just honk and video tape them. It's so fun.

Yesterday, Mexico's game started at 12 and church ends at 12:30. So guess which group of Hispanics was not at the last hour of church? Yep, our last class (which Hermana Miller and I taught) had about 10 people in it, haha. This picture is from Germanay's big win! 

We go over to GM's house almost each week for dinner and eat delicious Venezuelan food. Her daughter was in town for past month and she left today so the picture above is of them.  This picture is of a pretty lake with houses surrounding it. The houses near it are gorgeous. They are in Southport, the edge of the mission boundary. We have 1 member who lives out there and we love that area. It is completely opposite of Bridgeport.

We taught a new investigator for the first time last week. He had a dream that an angel told him that someone was going to share the gospel with him and that if he didn't listen to them, he would never have a chance to accept it again. And then he had another dream that God has spoken to him a few times. Man, hispanics and their dreams! Oh well, he is accepting of everything we teach him and loves the church! 

Everyone-thank you for the letters and emails of encouragement and support. It keeps me moving on hard days. I hope you all are as happy as the New Englanders are about summer! Love you all!

Wayne's Walk and Soulful Singing

Well, this week has gone by too fast! But it's the first Monday of the new transfer so that's exciting!

We got a new investigator this week! She is the wife of another new investigator L. They are in their mid 50's I think and from Africa. They speak Spanish, French, and one of their native dialects. They traveled here 15 years ago or so to start anew and have a better life, though they have never had any job for a long period of time. They are so humble and we have visited with the wife 3 different times. Each time, she starts telling us all of these crazy life stories about her old life in Africa. The best part is that they have both read the Book of Mormon and have been searching for our church for years. They are golden! Cream of the crop. So that makes another investigator this week for a total of 6 in the past 6 weeks. We are pretty busy only teaching investigators now, we love it! Numbers are growing and the work is definitely hastening. The miracles are flowing in!

Saturday, we were asked to help out a member of the English ward with his annual 5k walk called Wayne's Walk. His son died in a car accident by a drunk driver a few years back and now they hold this awareness fundraiser to raise money for families who have lost children to drunk drivers. It's called Wayne's Walk because Wayne used to clean up a dirt path near the beach when he was younger and make it look nice. They've now made it a nice, concrete path with flowers and grass on the side as a memorial for it. Pretty cool! 

Then, last night we were "ushers" at an interfaith musicale. Lots of people came to our church and participated in songs about God and such. The end finale was a huge baptist choir. It was like in the movies! People began to stand and dance shouting "Hallelujah!" and "Amen!". Haha it was great. 

Well, keep on keeping on. Hope everyone's summer has gotten off to a good start! Hasta luego amigos :)

Hermana Anna Sutherland

Africa and Baptist Choirs

30 June 2014

Well, this week has gone by too fast! But it's the first Monday of the new transfer so that's exciting!

We got a new investigator this week! She is the wife of another new investigator L. They are in their mid 50's I think and from Africa. They speak Spanish, French, and one of their native dialects. They traveled here 15 years ago or so to start anew and have a better life, though they have never had any job for a long period of time. They are so humble and we have visited with the wife 3 different times. Each time, she starts telling us all of these crazy life stories about her old life in Africa. The best part is that they have both read the Book of Mormon and have been searching for our church for years. They are golden! Cream of the crop. So that makes another investigator this week for a total of 6 in the past 6 weeks. We are pretty busy only teaching investigators now, we love it! Numbers are growing and the work is definitely hastening. The miracles are flowing in!

Saturday, we were asked to help out a member of the English ward with his annual 5k walk called Wayne's Walk. His son died in a car accident by a drunk driver a few years back and now they hold this awareness fundraiser to raise money for families who have lost children to drunk drivers. It's called Wayne's Walk because Wayne used to clean up a dirt path near the beach when he was younger and make it look nice. They've now made it a nice, concrete path with flowers and grass on the side as a memorial for it. Pretty cool! (pics 1 & 2)

Then, last night we were "ushers" at an interfaith musicale. Lots of people came to our church and participated in songs about God and such. The end finale was a huge baptist choir. It was like in the movies! People began to stand and dance shouting "Hallelujah!" and "Amen!". Haha it was great. (pic 3)

Well, keep on keeping on. Hope everyone's summer has gotten off to a good start! Hasta luego amigos :)

Hermana Anna Sutherland

After Mother's Day News is Short

12 May 2014

Hey!

So I actually just talked to my familia for mothers day last night so I'm fresh out of things to say. Just ask them how I'm doing I guess :)

It was so great talking to my family though. I forgot how much I really missed them and how grateful I am to having a loving and strong support system back home. I hardly have time to think about them but yesterday was a good boost to have until I get to talk to them at Christmas again!

Well, I am still in Bridgeport but my trainer Hna. L is gone! So I have my greenie breaker who is from Sugarcity, Idaho-a small town from near Rexburg-where I went to school! She only has 4 months left on the mission so she'll definitely die her in the BPT.

Her and I are like twins-we love soccer, photography, the same types of foods, we both went to BYU-I, same size of shoe even, and the list goes on. Ask me anything, she'd probably respond the same way. IT'S SO WEIRD!

We get along really well and we're both ready to work and get this area booming. It has so much potential. It's taking off here in CT.

Fotos: playing soccer, eating with the Elders and the Sanchez/Lopez family for Mother's Day, and the Chiroy family with my new companion. It's going to be a great transfer! The work is going to take off!

Love you all! Your letters and emails are always so appreciated-I'll try to respond as fast as I can! But know that I love reading/receiving them :)

Hna Suth