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

Tracting, Exchanges, and Tender Mercies

Friday Night Pizza and Mutal

So here to update you on some things I did this past week (somewhat long. You can all pick and choose which parts you want to read :) 

Tracting: yesterday for the first time on my mission! It's super fun to go knocking on doors actually before appointments! We even picked up 2 potential investigators: one American and another woman from Brazil. No one even slammed the door in our faces, haha.

Exchanges: We now go on exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders in Woodbridge, CT instead of Hartford so Hermana L. went to Woodbridge all Wednesday and I stayed to take charge of Bridgeport for the day. We had so many appointments-we weren't stuck with the exchanges curse where everyone's appointments cancel. Sister B. (my companion for the day) didn't understand Spanish so I taught her some phrases to say (for example: Sister Sutherland is the best) and at 2 of the houses we went to, she was actually able to speak English!

Service: We did service at the Food Pantry (it's in a local retirement home and is like a free grocery store for those who run out of food at the end of the month..all the food is donated). Next month (if I'm not transferred) I will have to get a video of some of the crazy, old people we deal with there. For example, this one old lady always tells us she wants to lock us in the closet so she can get more food. She tells us she'll run over our toes with her wheelchair so we can't walk. So funny.

Friday Night: We taught E about temples (she's received all the lessons for baptism-we're just awaiting the time her parents allow her to be baptized!) with G who is 17 and from Peru. She has a little Spanish accent when she speaks English-it's adorable. Then, all of the youth from the ward came to bishop's house for pizza and mutual. Us, missionaries, taught the lesson. We did charades with missionary/gospel words and then related it to missionary work at the end. We said that without the spirit we cannot teach people to meet their needs or say the right things. With the Spirit in the lessons we can say what Heavenly Father wants us to and the lesson is more successful. We committed them to always being worthy of having the spirit with them. They seemed to enjoy it! 

Day Exchange: Sister B. and I got to go on our exchanges for half of the day yesterday since both of our companions had to go to Massachusetts for a "missionaries going home within the next 6 months" meeting. It was so fun. We worked so well together-which we knew was likely since we've become such good friends during the time we've been roommates. We went to some of her lessons and some of my lessons. It was so fun to have her come to the Hispanics homes because it was so different than what she was used to. We went to dinner at JA's house who is amazing. She feeds us every other week and there's always dessert too! I got to find out she speaks great English too. It was such a blessing that Sister B and her were able to communicate because they really connected well during the lesson we shared. 

Just right now in the library: A woman needed to use the computer right when we got to the library. There was one left when I was signing in, so I decided to tell her to let her use it instead and that I could wait. This was kind of hard and I was a little bummed out because each week I look forward to emailing! Who knew how long everyone would be on the computer and if there'd be time to email for me. I was going to find something to do while waiting for my companion when some woman comes up to me and says, "Do you go to byu?" Because I'm wearing a byu shirt right now. This led to a whole conversation about life and religion. She's read the whole Book of Mormon and really wants us to come by her house so we exchanged numbers and everything. She was so awesome and it just was a little tender mercy from the Lord for giving service. 

That's my super long week. It is so fun being busy all of the time! I feel so productive and that I am doing exactly what God wants me too. I don't want to let him down or waste his time. And guess what?! Jose's getting baptized tomorrow! The day is finally here! I'll let you know how it goes next week :) Everyone, have a beautiful week!

Lots of Love,

Hermana Suth

Beaches & Boston

Hey all!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter Sunday and had a chance to remember the whole meaning of that holiday (besides just decorating eggs and the Easter Bunny, haha).

There's an awesome video clip the church came out with on easter.mormon.org that's so powerful and is very clear on everything Christ did for each one of us. We've been sharing it with all of our members and asking them to ponder what He did for them. I know that without Jesus's sacrifice I would not be where I am today. Because of him, I can live with my family forever and my sadness, heartache, trials in my life can all be eased. My favorite part of the video is "no hay tal cosa como el fin" So there's no such thing as the end. It's true! So watch the video and you'll understand what I'm saying :)

Last P-day we went to the beach! It was not as pretty as the beaches in California, but we got to find some cool seashells and played some beach volleyball with our distrcit (pic1).

This week we had Jose's baptismal interview and he passed! He's getting baptized next week. Cristina (his recent convert wife) is so excited for him and her family. She loves the gospel and the fact that our families can be together forever. They are a golden family and we know they'll be strong members in the church. It's awesome because we never thought he would ever join the church. He used to hide in his room when Cristina was being taught! He has completely stopped drinking and smoking all on his own too.

The changes we have seen in his life is drastic. He is a whole new man. He looks so much happier and you can see the light radiating in his life. They keep saying "We know that our trials don't go away when we join the church, but life is so much better with it!" They really like us too. Sunday night we went to their son JJ's birthday party who was turning 3. It was a classic hispanic party. Tons of food and people in a small house. It was so fun. I'll send a picture later when I get it from Cristina.

Emily is doing so well. She loves this gospel and knows it's true. She wants to be baptized but just doesn't know how her parents will take the news so she hasn't talked to them about it yet. She watches mormonmessages on her own though and shows them to her friends at school though so she will get baptized! Haha. We love her.

Yesterday, because it was a holiday, we got to go to Boston!! And Cambridge-two of the coolest cities ever. In Cambridge, people are running everywhere. Running to work, school, and running for exercise. And the people on the streets look so happy with life-the feeling in that city is amazing.

We went to the temple and almost got to seem some of the Boston Marathon!!! After the temple we got to Boston when it was over but there were still some people running and signs and everything were up still (pic2). It was CRAZY packed there. Tons of people. Tons of traffic. Tons of cops. Tons of runners. And the weather was 68 perfect degrees. After wandering around we headed to the Cambridge church building where tons of missionaries were playing soccer, basketball, and just talking. I met so many new people it was really fun. I hope I serve in Boston one day-it's so beautiful there. 

Ok-sorry for the long emails! There's so much that happens each week and I want to tell everyone everything that happens! To end this email I want to share you how my companion wakes up in the morning. Flipped around to the other side of the bed! She will kill me for sending this to everyone...oh well. (pic 3) Hope it makes your day a little brighter :)

Love you all!

Hna Suth

Go On a Mission!

Hello Fam and Amigos!

Okay, first off, I want to answer a question many people ask themselves:

Why should I go on a mission?

Let me answer that:

You should go because it will strengthen your testimony and knowledge of the church. And lift you spiritually all the time. But 2 points that are not spiritual reasons are:

You learn how to cook.

You learn how to be a mom.

Yep. It's all true. I have learned way more than in college life skills I'll use until I die. I have to pack lunches on-the-go all the time, so I've begun to make salads (I cut up all my vegetables, put in apples, cut up chicken or turkey, cheese, etc. I feel like a mom making lunches for her kids). I cook meals (breakfast and dinner when we don't eat at a members house) all the time as well! Instead of using the school cafeteria, like I did in college, I'm actually thinking about what I buy at the store in order to make it at home.

Mom skills: Learning how to be patient with others. Some days, the people we visit talk for an hour straight about their problems and lives. The only words we can manage to get in are "Wow" "Uh-huh" or "Oh no!"

Sometimes I just think "we aren't really here to just let you blab to us for hours! We have places to be! We just want to share a spiritual thought with you and ask you to come back to church!" or something like that. But, then I've realized, they need people to listen to them and when I actually listen, their stories are amazing. It's been really neat to have a different perspective and be more patient and loving towards those people we visit.

That's just one example of how I've learned some mom skills-thanks to the mission! I wouldn't have learned these elsewhere (besides what my mother's taught me from home :) )!

Alright, so for April Fool's we totally forgot to pull pranks on people. But, when we came home and went into our rooms, everything was completely covered in tin foil! The English sisters did it and tt was great. I was happy someone didn't forget about April Fools Day! (pic 1)

Well, another question people ask me: how often do I speak Spanish? It's hard being in a state-side mission because everyone besides our members and investigators speaks english. So we try to book our days with appointments so we can speak Spanish to the people as much as possible. Then, my companion, who's been out a year, knows Spanish about as well as I do so we try to speak it as much as possible. We speak it as much as we want to, so somedays more English than others-but I get better in the language each day!

That's it for this week! Here's a fun picture of my companion and I.

Love you all! Don't forget to send letters my way! I love them :) You are all great!

Hermana Suth

Graffiti and Miracles!

Another week has come and gone. I just hit my 2 month mark (not that I'm trying to count) so time is seriously flying! It's so bittersweet.

I'm still a little trainee though, so I'm a baby in the mission field. (aka a greenie).

Last P-Day we went to take pictures by this sweet graffiti in downtown Bridgeport (which is kind of sketchy. well actually that's the whole city) because Sister Hamblin (our roomie in the English ward) was being transferred out on medical leave and wanted some cool things to remember BPT by (see pic1). If anyone comes to Connecticut, go look for the graffiti! There are some talented people out there.

So, little story for the week:

As missionaries, you are supposed to get home at 9pm each night, unless you're at an appointment then you can get home at 9:30, but no later.

On Thursday, we visited an inactive lady in our ward. The lesson we taught her about being prepared for trials and temptations and how to stay away from them started out rough, but by the end she started opening up more.It was amazing! She told us she knows she needs to come back and needs help. We were so excited to hear this. We just wanted to jump for joy and say, "Well, that's why we're here! To help you!"

However, we ended up leaving her lesson at 9:30, past curfew.

On the drive home, Sister Laudie and I were talking about how since we were helping one of the Lord's sheep come back into the fold, it was okay that we were going home late. We were sitting at a stop light and literally as we are saying that, the light turns green and a second later, we get rear-ended! (If they had been going faster, it would've been deathly...sorry mom-we're okay I promise!).

As we pulled to the side, they car drove into a parking lot and sped away. We got out to look at the car and there was not a single scratch nor dent on the car. We could've sworn we heard the metal crunch but there was no evidence that we had been rear-ended. It was a miracle and a little tender mercy from Heavenly Father. If we had been home on time, this wouldn't have happened. We were so grateful for the warning that we need to be exactly obedient. It's a mission rule that the Lord's asked us to follow and if we do, we'll receive blessings. We promised we will try our best to be home on time from now on!

Before I die I want to...

Three Family House

A sweet little break on P-day!

I LOVE YOU ALL!! 

The Difference Between a Hobo, Tramp, and Bumb.

Dearest friends and family,

Hello from the east coast. So, this past week we met a hobo at McDonald's. He asked us if we were mormons and if we'd like to talk. He told us Mormons always love to talk, haha. Then, we sat down with him and our Elders and he told us the entire history of Bridgeport in the 1950s. It used to be a booming town back then! It was alive and popping. Times have definitely changed since then. He told us he planned on writing a book about it. If he ever does-I'll let you all know. He also told us the difference between a hobo, tramp, and a bumb.

Hobo: Will work for food

Tramp: conman

Bump: someone that is a good guy, but he won't work for money. Or anything.

There's a good lesson for everyone today! I didn't ever think about the differences between those before! Haha.

Then, I went on exchanges with the Hartford sisters again! I was also with Sister Hieleson, again! Except for in her territory. Hartford is a huge city, and the sisters live right in the middle of it. When we were studying in the morning, the sun was rising and I got kind of a cool picture of our view from the 19th floor (pic1).

Then Elder Treseder is leaving us today because of Transfers! (each transfer is 6 weeks and you never know if you'll switch areas or companions. Since Sister Laudie and I are new to Bridgeport and I'm being trained-we're safe! And we're both in Bridgeport for at least another transfer). We all got along so well, so it's sad to see him go off to Rhode Island. (see pic2)

Well, this week I've learned so much about life. I was feeling down because sometimes we work so hard during the days and I feel like we don't make any difference. Then Sister Hamblin showed us this quote. (pic3) I hope you all have a beautiful week! Work hard! Stay happy! Life is good and God (and I) love you :)

Hermana Sutherland

Hartford

Everyday Missionaries Serving Our Neighbors

WDR Necklace -- Choose the Right in German! :)

Hola!

Can everyone believe it's Monday already? The weeks are flying by (says the missionary who's been out a month and a half)! I remember disliking Monday's when I was in school. It just meant another long week ahead of studying and homework. But as a missionary we get to prepare for the week, email home, and go shopping and stuff.

So, one of our investigators, has decided to meet 2 times a week with us! She is progressing so well. She is only 17 but reads the Book of Mormon almost daily, prays, and is so eager to learn more about the gospel. She talks about the church with her friends at school and her mom (who was not open to the idea of her taking the lessons)! She is just beaming with light ever since we started teaching. Sister Laudie and I are always so happy after we leave her lessons.

Wednesday we drove to Belmont (right next to Boston) for a meeting with all the new missionaries (and their trainers) in our mission who arrived since December. Our mission president, his wife, and the Assistants talked to us about adjusting to missionary life, meetings we go to as missionaries, and then President Packard gave us a talk about what we do in the temples. It was amazing. Anytime he speaks I just hang on every word he says-that's how good of a speaker he is. That took the whole day Wednesday, so by the end of the day we were pretty tired.

The POINT of saying why we went to Belmont was actually because we got to drive through downtown and Harvard!! It is beautiful and is red bricks everywhere. Also, their downtown is way cooler than in Redding, Chico, AND San Francisco. Hard to believe right?

This weekend we had Stake Conference-Christen Clayton spoke. The author of The Power of Everyday Missionaries. (Members and non-members: if you don't know what this book is-check it out. You will get so motivated to talk to anyone and everyone about missionary work. It's not even long!) President Packard spoke here too so I got to hear him twice this week! We also got to sing in a missionary choir. I love singing with all the missionaries-the spirit is really strong and everyone just sings their little hearts out.

Friday we passed through Yale! It was sweet! 

Want to know why I loved it so much? Because it was like Hogwarts. NO JOKE. I hope one day I can go inside and take more pictures, it was that cool.

I hope all is well with everyone! I'm keeping you in my prayers and I definitely feel all of yours for me. It gets tough sometimes being on a mission, and not seeing your family or close friends. But, it's definitely worth it. I've never received so much joy from helping others see their potential in God's eyes as well as bringing them unto Christ and sharing our gospel with them. If any of you are feeling down, go out and serve others! It will make such a difference in your life. Enjoy the warmer weather for me!

Thanks members for all the food! We feel so loved!

Love, Hermana Sutherland

 We were able to go to the Boston Temple this Saturday. (Feb 22, 2014) We thought we were only going to watch baptisms but we were able to do a session. We were really excited about that and the Boston Temple is beautiful.

St. Pattie's

Hola!

Can everyone believe it's Monday already? The weeks are flying by (says the missionary who's been out a month and a half)! I remember disliking Monday's when I was in school. It just meant another long week ahead of studying and homework. But as a missionary we get to prepare for the week, email home, and go shopping and stuff.

So, Emily, our investigator, has decided to meet 2 times a week with us! She is progressing so well. She is only 17 but reads the Book of Mormon almost daily, prays, and is so eager to learn more about the gospel. She talks about the church with her friends at school and her mom (who was not open to the idea of her taking the lessons)! She is just beaming with light ever since we started teaching. Sister Laudie and I are always so happy after we leave her lessons.

Wednesday we drove to Belmont (right next to Boston) for a meeting with all the new missionaries (and their trainers) in our mission who arrived since December. Our mission president, his wife, and the Assistants talked to us about adjusting to missionary life, meetings we go to as missionaries, and then President Packard gave us a talk about what we do in the temples. It was amazing. Anytime he speaks I just hang on every word he says-that's how good of a speaker he is. That took the whole day Wednesday, so by the end of the day we were pretty tired.

The POINT of saying why we went to Belmont was actually because we got to drive through downtown and Harvard!! It is beautiful and is red bricks everywhere. Also, their downtown is way cooler than in Redding, Chico, AND San Fransisco. Hard to believe right?

This weekend we had Stake Conference-Christen Clayton spoke. The author of The Power of Everyday Missionaries. (Members and non-members: if you don't know what this book is-check it out. You will get so motivated to talk to anyone and everyone about missionary work. It's not even long!) President Packard spoke here too so I got to hear him twice this week! We also got to sing in a missionary choir. I love singing with all the missionaries-the spirit is really strong and everyone just sings their little hearts out.

Friday we passed through Yale! It was sweet! 

Want to know why I loved it so much? Because it was like Hogwarts. NO JOKE. I hope one day I can go inside and take more pictures, it was that cool.

I hope all is well with everyone! I'm keeping you in my prayers and I definitely feel all of yours for me. It gets tough sometimes being on a mission, and not seeing your family or close friends. But, it's definitely worth it. I've never received so much joy from helping others see their potential in God's eyes as well as bringing them unto Christ and sharing our gospel with them. If any of you are feeling down, go out and serve others! It will make such a difference in your life. Enjoy the warmer weather for me!

Love, Hermana Sutherland

Pic1- The Book of Mormon musical is coming to Hartford (1 hour from Bridgeport), haha. 

Pic3-proof of being in Harvard