So obviously we weren't on
conference, but as Elder Collett said, "At least it was a good April fools
prank because it made them watch all of conference!" Haha so I'm just
trying to help out! Sorry to disappoint
(Editor’s note: she told us last week she was going to be shown
between conference segment about Indonesia. The joke ended up being bigger than
she anticipated – because of what she said, a lot of other Indonesian
missionary families were also glued to the t.v. watching for a glimpse of our
kids serving in Indonesia)
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| Sunset in Jakarta |
So here's our week...
Monday- we were planning this big
p-day but had a lady in our ward pass away suddenly so we went to the hospital.
That night we went out and proselyted and met with a couple people we had
contacted. The funny thing is that we met them at 7/11 (they have them in
Jakarta!!!!) but it was just the two guys and me and Sis Allred. We kept saying
"do you think they think this is a date?" #sistermissionaryprobs . But
it ended being a really neat discussion about religion and what we believe.
They aren't interested but it was still pretty cool.
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| The Relief Society of the ward |
Tuesday- we attended the funeral
for the lady in our ward. And it was April Fools! So we planned the best prank!
We had alllllll of the missionaries call in sick. If we get sick we are
supposed to call Sis. Donald (Mission President's wife) and so she was getting
calls/texts alllllll morning! We told them Sis. Allred was throwing up but we still
went to the funeral. Haha Sis. Donald was at the funeral too so I got to see
some of the other "illnesses". Some of the missionaries had sore
backs, hurt legs, sick stomachs, rashes, burnt tongues, turning into a giraffe,
frost-bite from the freezer... it was quite hilarious as she started to realize
that it was April Fools.
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| The Young Women in the ward |
We also went to visit an inactive
member that was actually baptized in Hong Kong. (fun fact for you! Remember my
old comp Sister Fisher? It was her older brother that baptized this inactive!)
We taught her about the word of God and also helped out with her adorable
little kids.
TIME OUT! I'm going to go start
some cupcakes :) send some more in a minute...
(editor note: another letter came an hour later.)
(Cupcakes are a no-go because they
are already making something for our MLC- Missionary Leader Council- tomorrow.)
Wednesday- We met with the greatest
contact ever! Please pray for him. His name is Ryan and we had to meet him at
his school just before he went home, and now we are worried that he won't get
his parents permission to learn. He could only meet for 10 minutes because his
mom came to pick him up, so we just gave him a Kitab
Mormon and told him to talk to his parents. Then we just
prayed. I don't think I have ever prayed that hard and urgently for someone,
let alone in a school cafeteria. It reminds me of Les Miserable, "God on
high, hear my prayer. In my need you have always been there. He is young, he is
only a boy."
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| Getting hair cut |
After that we went to proselyte and
I also bought a new backpack (my old bag broke) and we got our haircut. Haha
you know how you feel so “swishy” after getting your haircut? "Toss, toss,
no hands!" (editor note: comical
line from broadways “Wicked”)
ALSO I heard Jon Schmidt's song "Waterfall" at the mall! CRAZY!
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| Me posing in front of a little convenience store with 2 little boys who dig through the trash. They are so dirty, but so cute. Sad life, ya? |
Thursday- Sis Allred has been
signing up for her BYU classes and there is a new Indonesian class. So we have
been planning her life and it is so crazy to have to imagine "the real
world" again. Yikes!
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| Post hair cut picture |
We also went to visit the
grandchildren of a member. We got there so late at night that we had only time
to share a verse but I think Moroni 10:32 is a great verse for anyone, anytime,
anywhere. Come unto Christ and be perfected in Him.
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| Us with Sister Donald... lady drivers only |
Friday- We had our usual District
meeting (did I ever tell you my district leader is Elder McCleary from my MTC
group?) Funniest man around. President says, "Hey can I pop in and share
something for a minute" Elder McCleary, "I guess I'll allow it."
So president shared his feelings about not giving up. He said that we are like
deliverers of bread. The Lord bakes the bread (great Bread of Life reference
right?) and then we just deliver. Some people will refuse to try it, some will
try and be convinced by others that it's not good, but others will eat and be
filled and desire to share it with those they love. We also talked about
conference from Elder Holland's talk (I don't know when) but he said that they
are "mortal messengers with angelic messages." I hope that I can be a
missionary like that.
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| The old with the new... Bajai vs. fancy car |
After that we went to go to an
investigator's house but we accidentally took the ankot (think ghetto shuttle in a sort-of
van) waaaaay too far! Like an hour and half past her house and had to come
back. But we taught her about prophets and she is so excited to come to conference.
She is about 60+ and an English teacher. She won't come to our church because
she leads the choir at hers, BUT she loves the Mormon tabernacle choir and we know
she will feel the spirit at conference. We also taught English that night
(and played 20 Questions... Sushi was near impossible to guess!) And then taught
another new investigator. The elders also had an investigator to teach that
night, I think the work is going upward.
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| Sister Allred on the bus. The guy standing up is wearing JAZZ basketball shorts |
Saturday- We went out to an area
about 2 hours away and taught a member and then tried to find some former
investigators in that area. But instead of finding the old investigator, we
contacted like CRAZY and even ended up teaching this devout Charismatic lady
and her friend. Sometimes it just hurts so much to see people REFUSE to
"eat the bread" that we want to share. Ugh I pray that something good
will come from talking with her though.
I love Indonesia. We were watching
a street performer by our bus stop and just laughing at all the people dancing
and trying to get us to come sing and dance. What a fun loving, easy-going
people they are here. That night before going home we decided to walk around
our apartment and met someone and then went to 7/11 and taught him! He actually
met the missionaries before in Hong Kong. So we gave him a Kitab Mormon and invited him to church.
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| Walking around the bus stop |
Sunday- Rudi, the guy we met
Saturday night, came to church! On his own! And then the elders had an
investigator come that is a miracle story... turns out he first heard about the
church a few years ago then I met him on the bus the other day and gave him our
card with the info about English class. So he came to English then met with the
elders everyday since and wants to get baptized! He already fits in with a few
of the other members.
 | |
|
OUR WARD IS THE COOLEST! There is
the group of maybe 7 girls that I just adore and 6 of them are new members. The
new members make up a good chunk of the ward and they are all young adults who
really help build up this ward. And all the members are so good to the
missionaries and our investigators. I wish every ward was like this ward! Now
we just need to find some families to baptize so that the ward gets some youth.
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| Sunrise from my apartment window |
The elders gave us a new
investigator that we taught on Sunday named Vita. She also wants to be baptized
but first wants to just know the gospel and learn about Christ. I loved hearing
about her story and all her questions. Please pray that she will keep
progressing. I know that Heavenly Father has been preparing her.
SO we have seen a lot of miracles
the last couple days and I know it is because of your prayers, our prayers and me
and Sis. Allred really focusing the last few days. We need investigators! We
are starting to meet some really cool people though. We talk to everyone
and try to follow even the smallest promptings of who to contact. It makes it
so much more entertaining that way. For example, last night we passed a young
woman when we were walking home and then thought, "should we? or
not?" then decided to talk to her but had to chase her down because she
was already so far. Haha almost scared her to death but she was so chill to
talk to us and said she heard us singing when we walked past.
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| For Janice: So beautiful! |
Tomorrow we are going to have MLC
(missionary leader council) and then have a zone meeting later this week. Then next
Saturday and Sunday we get to watch conference. Talk about an awesome week
planned ya? Oh and later today we are going bowling (Where is dad when you need
him? I'll be praying for Mom's bowling skills.)
I've been studying D&C 88 this
week and trying to finish studying all the conference talks from last October
before we watch this one. I LOVE THE PRIESTHOOD! I am an advocate for those
worthy, willing men who hold that responsibility so that as a woman I can just
reap the blessing. I can't wait to hear from the "mortal messengers
with angelic messages" in this conference.
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| Here's for my brother; the ANDREW store at the mall |
Give my love to everyone! I pray
for you always!
<3 Sister Sheff
P.S. Doesn't it feel like so normal
now... me being on a mission? Amazing how it can become such a regular thing
ya?
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