Mormon Chick-Flicks! Haha books and movies included
But I just got thinking about that because guess what...
WE ARE GOING TO BE ON CONFERENCE! Like the in between
little segment/show thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They came and interviewed the
missionaries from Jakarta and said it will be for their conference story!
AHHHHHHHHH! I am so excited to see it later! Wahhh it was so weird... They had
us go to the church and then also wanted to film us contacting a little bit.
(Talk about pressure!)
SO anyways... I am even MORE excited for conference. As
if it wasn't already like the superbowl for us missionaries! Haha and all the
other districts are so jealous that WE are the ones that got interviewed. So
keep an eye out for it ya?
 |
| Sis. Allred, Sis. Jibson, Sis. Reilly and me (don't you love our vests? Safety first!) |
Oh and tell Grandma happy birthday for me! Make sure to
give her big squeezes and sloppy-jalopy kisses. I was laughing with Sis Allred
the other day that before we came to Indo, we both thought it was going to be
like India with Indian food and culture. Ternyata (it turns out) NOT AT ALL!
But I am planning on the day when Gma and mom and I will go to the Food Network
Kitchens on a NYC trip for her birthday :)
Mom- I think we will get the women's conference in a
week or so. I still like conference in English because I get so much more out
of it. But we tried to share a spiritual message in english the other day and
all of my gospel vocabulary is rusty. Maybe that's a good thing though. I
really really really love and support the priesthood and think it is such a
blessing to receive all the priesthood blessings without the responsibility of
looking after it. I think your Trek Lesson sounded cool too! AND I have
thinking about Disneyland Hot-dogs all week thanks to your email last week
haha. OH! I have apporx. 27 TL's for you... Sis Allred has been quite
complimentary of our family lately so you better start collecting TL's!!
So for my week. WOW I think it seems like a year ago
that I emailed you. We went to Malang on Monday. Traveling empties your wallet
and eats up sleeping time, but I have enjoyed every second! We got to meet with
the mission couple on Monday for dinner and then we did exchanges with the
sisters on Tuesday and Wednesday. Malang is so green! And so fun. The sisters
are blowing up the work there and have so many investigators and baptisms. It
was almost TOO much fun (aka loss of sleep) to be with them all and especially my
MTC companion Sis Jibson! So we got back to Jakarta on Thursday and since then
have just been trying to do what missionaries do-- find, teach and reactivate!
We keep finding really cool people but we haven't started teaching them yet so
hopefully we will be really busy these next few weeks. Oh ya! President doesn't
want us to travel again before PLD (zone conference) which is mid-April. So now
we are in Jakarta for a while! Pray for us that we can find some real
investigators! We came in with none and are on the search for a good solid
family that can build up the ward here. Sad day today, because a member passed
away all of the sudden. They took her to the hospital last night for being
sick, then this morning she went into a coma and an hour later passed away. I
don't know what I would do without the gospel. It is the only thing that is
SURE in this life. Christ and His only true church. I was so lucky to be asked
to speak in Sacrament meeting yesterday on my favorite topic again! Guess what
it is? The Importance of Sacrament! Ohhhh how grateful I am for the Sacrament!
I seriously have grown to appreciate and love that sacred ordinance since I
have been here. So of course, being the Sister Sheffield I am, I spoke too long
in Sacrament and gave the other speakers like 5ish minutes each. But I think
that I was able to share what they needed to hear.
I love in Luke 19:10 it says Christ's mission is
"to seek and to save" and so is mine! We all should be more focused
on seeking and saving those in need.
Keep up the squirt gun fights and scripture study! I
love you all!
Dad- how was Mexico? And being back home (which maybe
feels more hectic than traveling!) I was thinking about how often we will be
flying as Sister Trainers and realized you fly all the time! You must be pro! I
have a request for you though... will you send me a few mission stories? I just
am so curious! Who was your favorite investigator ever? What was one of the
most stressful times? What is the best thing you learned from your mission
president? Companions? Time in the office? And yes I think Andrew should do
something so that he can keep improving his ACT score. It could help him not
only get in to BYU but get out of his math score! I think about how the ACT
score only lasts for 2 years and can you imagine if he had to try to retake it
after the mish? Better if he could get his dream score now.
Andrew- Keep praying for and working towards BYU! Don't
ever think it is too late. Make sure you keep your resume updated too ya? I
think your idea Just Drew It is AWESOME! Keren banget! Luar biasa! Memang mantap!
Pastih menang dong! (Awesome! Amazing! Indeed, steady! Pastih win)
Joshua- Squirt Andrew with the squirt gun for me ya? I
seriously think you look SOOO tall in every picture! Stop! I am going to be so
short when I get home! Ya ampun, anak siopo iki? (Oh my gosh, iki siopo
son?)
Samuel- How are you bud? I've been thinking about you a
lot this week and just wanted to tell you how much I LOVE YOU!
Jacob- you're so sneaky with the quarter trick! Why
didn't I ever think of that? Haha but it sounds like you will be the best piano
player of us all soon!
<3 Retsis Ylime Edialeda Dleiffehs
Editors note: I put this phrase into Indonesian translator and it came up with nothing, and I was perplexed what it said. Then Samuel walks into the room and says "that's Emily's name backwards. Sister Emily Adelaide Sheffield" Way to go my little Padawon. Ha ha, I thought it was a foreign language!
Another Editors note: About 2 months ago we read a conversion story of a
young man in Jakarta, forwarded to us from another Indonesia missionary family.
We were SO INSPIRED! He truly is an exceptional young man. Emily is now friends
with him in her new area of Jakarta and shared his story with again, not
knowing we had already read it. But how wonderful to see a picture of him. So
the following is his conversion story.
My Conversion Story
By: Kristoffer Aleksander
From: Jakarta, Indonesia
 |
| This is Aleks, we just keep praying that his parents will let him get baptized soon |
My name is Kristoffer Aleksander and I live in
Jakarta, Indonesia with my parents. I’m the only child in the family. My
story begins when I was about 14 years old. That time, as usual, I accompanied
my Mom to the grocery store nearby our apartment. I still remember that Mom
told me to looked for the milk section and get her 2 cartons of milk. When I
was looking for the milk section, I encountered a mid-aged couple and they were
very clean and neat. I could see that the man was wearing a white shirt with a
tie and black long trousers and the woman was wearing a very neat dress with a
long skirt. However, the one thing that I noticed from both of them was their name
tags. I could read the writing and below their names it says “The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints”. I was curious about it, as it was my
first time to encounter a couple that carried the name of Jesus Christ in their
name tags. I was also curious about the name of the church because it was my
first time to hear it.
Then after we finished with our monthly shopping at the
grocery store, we went home. Then, when we arrived home, I had the desire to
conduct some research about the name of the church that I read on the couple’s
name tags. I found two links that provided me with the information about the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Those links are lds.org and Mormon.org.
Since then, I started to do some more research about the church from both of
the websites and also from other sources.
I was raised in the Catholic Church all my life. Most of
my family members have the same faith. Since I was child, I always felt God’s
influence in my life and how He’s always there for me. I love Him very much
with all my heart. Since the first time I glanced my eyes at that couple
that I met at the grocery store, I could not stop to do more and more research
about the LDS church. It became like a hobby for me. I continuously watched the
general conferences, listening to the talks from the general authorities,
watching Mormon messages and all those stuff. Even until now, I still can’t
describe the feeling that I had at that time. It was just, every time I heard
when the speakers from the general authority shared their testimonies; I could
really felt the spirit in my heart. There was peace in my heart when I listened
to the testimonies of the member of the LDS church. I was also astonished by
the teachings and also how the members of this church practice their beliefs.
One of them is that family can be eternal.
Time passes by very quickly. It didn’t feel like that it
was almost two years since the first time I met the couple at the grocery
store. I always have been watching the talks, church news, church events,
Mormon messages in that two years period. One day, I had a conflict inside my
heart. That conflict was, whether I will always remain in the current situation
or to tell my parents regarding my true feelings about the church which I know
that this is true and to contact the missionaries. Then, I decided to call the
missionaries by myself before talking to my parents. I searched the number in
the internet and finally I called the number that I found. This elder picked up
the phone call, but because I was very nervous, I hanged up on that call. There
was just a huge desire in my heart that told me to redial that number again if
I want to know the truth. Then, I called the same number and an elder,
his name is Elder Earls picked that phone call and we had a little chat over
the phone. I asked him an e-mail address that I could contact and asked
regarding my question about the church. He gave me an e-mail address and I sent
a message to that address. The next day, I received a reply from another elder.
His name is Elder Kelton Jenkins. He was the online missionary that preached
the gospel in the referral center in Provo, Utah. He told me that considering
my age was still below 18 years old, if I wanted to learn more the church, he
and his companion needed permission from my parents.
I decided that I really want to learn more about this
church and so I asked my parents. At first, Mom thought that it was a
joke, but then I told her that I was serious about it. To be honest, it
was the scariest moment in my life asking my parents about it. I told her the
feeling inside my heart and that I gained testimonies regarding the LDS church
that it is true. It took them for a while to think about it. Every night, I
prayed to Heavenly Father so that He would soften Mom’s and Dad’s heart and to
pour Thy holy ghost upon my parents as they would give me the permission to
learn more about the church. Then finally, they gave the permission and it was
truly the happiest day of my life. I started to learn more about the church
with Elder Jenkins and Elder Jorgensen through Skype. When I had some
extra questions, I would also go to Mormon.org/chat with us. There I found
Brother Carlos that provided me comfort and amazing answers. I also made couple
of meetings with the local missionaries and we would meet at my place or at the
mission office. That time, the missionaries that taught me were Elder Earls,
Elder Yarkasi and Elder Norris. It was such an amazing experience.
The first time I received the Book of Mormon from the
missionaries, I was very much excited about it. The night after I received it,
I prayed and I read the Book of Mormon. I could really feel the presence of the
Holy Ghost when I tried to ponder the messages it contains. I testify with all
the surety of my heart that the Book of Mormon is true.
I still remember very clearly the first time I went to
the church. The members and the missionaries were very kind and with an open
heart they welcome me to partake the sacrament and to join the classes. I could
feel the Holy Ghost very strongly in my heart. It was just something that even
bigger than my heart. There is one thing that you can’t ever deny and that the
church truly is the house of the Lord. It was truly the happiest day in my
whole entire life.
Knowing that I’m converting to another church, I
received variety of responses from my family members. There were some that
support me however there were also some that discouraged my decision in
converting. Even for the first couple of months, I had a lot of fights and
arguments with my parents. It was truly one of the hardest times in my life.
There were just moments where I felt completely alone. I still remember that
one night I broke down crying because of all the pressures and the tensions. I
was just holding as tight as I can to the Book of Mormon that the missionaries
gave me. It was truly the only thing that provides me comfort. Then, I opened
the Book Mormon and try to find a random verse that maybe could calms me down.
When I opened it, it referred to 2 Nephi 8:7 which says; “Hearken unto me, ye
that know righteousness, the people in whose heart I have written my law, fear
ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.” This
verse provided me so much comfort and strengthening my faith even more in the
restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
One day, when I came to the mission headquarter here in
Jakarta; the missionaries that taught me at that time introduced me to the new
mission President and his lovely wife. His name is President Donald and his
wife’s name is Sister Donald. When the first time I met them, I could see
Christ through their eyes. They truly resemble Christ-like attributes.
President and Sister Donald have helped me a lot in many different things
that I can’t even describe with words anymore. They invited me to meet
the church’s general authorities. They literally made my dreams come true. One
of that dreams was meeting the general authority from the church. I met Elder
and Sister Gong from the quorum of the Seventy and also Elder and Sister Funk
from the second quorum of the seventy when they came to Jakarta. Meeting them
was just incredible. I couldn’t even describe it with words. President
and Sister Donald taught me a very important lesson. That lesson was, we need
to always pray for the people that we love, say their names out loud and ask
Heavenly Father to soften their hearts therefore they will start to have
desires to come unto Christ. This teaching is based on their magnificent
example as President and Sister Donald always pray for each of every missionary
and the investigator by saying their names. It is a lesson that I will always
remember for the rest of my life.
Living the words of wisdom and apply it my daily life
has blessed my life very much. Living according to standard and always showing
good examples has blessed not only my life but also the life of others. It is
alright to make mistakes, however we need to learn from those mistakes and
improve every single day. I testify that when we keep ourselves worthy
and also live according to the standard, it will bring us true happiness and it
will surely bless the life of others. Remember to always be there for Christ.
Until now, I’m still learning with the missionaries.
There is one condition that my parents asked me and that is I need to turn 18
years-old in order for me to get baptize. Right now I’m still 17 years old, so
I’m still waiting for that time to come. However, between now and then, I will
continuously remain clean and keep myself worthy to receive the baptism. I
promise when I’ll turn 18 years old I will get baptize as a member of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Even though I’m still not
officially a member of the LDS church, I’m proud to say that I am a member of
the LDS church. Every day in my life, I will always live the word of our
beloved latter-day prophet, President Thomas S. Monson and that is “Dare to be
a Mormon, dare to stand alone, dare to have a purpose firm and dare to make it
known. I truly am grateful for the supports and prayers from everyone around
me. I’m also very grateful of the missionaries that teach me so many valuable
lessons, their supports and prayers. I could see Christ through the
missionaries.
I testify with all the surety of my heart that the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church that restored to the
earth through the prophet Joseph Smith. I testify humbly regarding the
truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. I know that God lives and he loves every
each one of us. I know that Jesus is the Christ. He is our savior and redeemer.
I’m immensely grateful to know that we still have a living prophet and he is
our beloved prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. One thing that I can learn
from all of these is that in the name of Christ everything is possible. Do not
ever give up on your dreams. I testify all this things only in the name of
Jesus Christ, our master. Amen
