Layering on spiritual lessons--like Kue Lapis

Arrived Oct 26 2014

Love you more than…Banana-peanut butter-milk smoothies. Every morning after we go running :) So yummy!

Spiritual stuff first gpp ya? (gpp=no problem) Well I've said it once and I'll say it again... The Lord calls you to the mission that will be hardest for you personally! I think back to what I expected of my mission before I got here and what I have experienced since. I never could have known what serving here would have been like, but how lucky I am to be here! The Lord keeps layering on spiritual lessons--like kue lapis (its this super delicious layered cake here). I am learning so much through my mistakes, my weaknesses, seeing experiences of others and learning about my Savior! I think Indonesia is a hard mission for me because this is a mission where you don't always SEE the fruits of your labors. I go through mini depression every week when we look back at the "numbers" (how many lessons, how many people want to be baptized, how many people we gave a Book of Mormon). But I have to remember what Sister Suryani always said, "You can count the seeds in an apple but you can't count the apples in a seed." It's hard for me to have this desire to prepare people to make changes in their lives when it seems like no one wants to learn with us! It's hard for me to feel like my testimony is growing but no one wants to hear it. Maybe that is just one of the ways Heavenly Father is shaping me. Helping me be less like Thomas, who had to see to believe. Do I still believe in the strength and power of this work of salvation, even when I don't "see" the results? It was our big zone-meeting this last week and that means a spiritual boost. (And a sob fest when I gave my final testimony haha) Sister Olsen said it best when she said, "aren't you glad that you're not going home this week? Maybe this last month wasn't what you had hoped for but now we have 4 more weeks to make that change". (Pray for Sister Olsen-- I think I've been raising my personal expectations so much that I've let it stress HER out! It's always hard to be someone's last companion because you want everything to be perfect for them before they leave. She is too good to me!) 

Futsol with Indonesians is so hard

OK well for the week's highlights... Monday I finally finished designing the mission t-shirt! Tuesday we had personal interviews with President for PLD (zone conference) and it was so good! First thing president asks... "Sister, are you finishing strong?" Haha that's the goal! We also had the GREATEST lesson with this lady that I met on the bus about 7 months ago! We decided to text almost all the numbers in our contacts and she is one that responded! She is golden! Unfortunately she lives in another city so we gave her to the missionaries there :)

I'm in this  group, on the front row

Wednesday was PLD and I got to be a translator! It was a blast :) I didn't get to take very many notes but it really touched me everything that was said! I get so jealous to hear of all the great plans for the mission for Desember or next year... this mission rocks! And then ya, saying my farewell testimony and I probably looked like a blabbing dork. A lot of people thanked me but I don't really remember what I said!

Our newest sisters right before they went to the MTC

Kamis- we went with the Elders to give them another golden contact! He is really open to learning! Then they came and blessed a member. Then when we went to go to a inactive sister, we saw this girl get her phone stolen on the bus so we played detective and tried to find the guys who did it (they were so sly and flirty and tried to take something from us too!) buuuuut no luck- it’s Sister Nancy Drew here! We had a huge rainstorm but luckily were on the bus so when it flooded we just watched if from the window of the bus (*cough* for three hours *cough*) Anyways! We are like so careful these days against pick-pockets! 

Friday we had to go do a follow-up at the doctor but everything is clear, we're healthy and good to go. We stopped by Sister Lely's and then to English class. I love that now we end English class with a spiritual message. I gave the thought about Jesus Christ and even though it is optional to stay, our student who is Muslim, stayed for the whole thing! How cool is that?

Outdoor movie night. Watching "Other Side of Heaven" outside at the church.
It made is so much more real.

Saturday we had the coolest activity! We set up a projector outside the stake center and after the other ward had a baptism at 5 o clock, we watched "the other side of heaven" at 6 o clock. We even had 2 investigators come! It was SOOO fun to watch it outside with all the palm trees and to be on my mission. It was hard to watch when he went home though.... But LOVED getting to gather with all the members and friends :)

A typical (and delicious) meal -- Nasi Gila
and a drink that I actually don't know the name of

Sunday Sister Bella gave her first talk in sacrament meeting and it was great! It was a tough topic (yehzekiel 18, 34, 37) but I love seeing her get all excited for it. We had ward council, visited an inactive sister and then planned for the week.

Jakarta traffic at night

I think that's it! I hope that you have a great week! I love seeing the pictures and am always so shocked how OLD everyone looks! So grown up it kills me! PS are Gaylin and Teresa coming out for thanksgiving?

Give everyone my love! You guys are the greatest family ever... have I ever told you that before? Make me proud!

Love, Sister Sheff

Heavenly Father knew EXACTLY how to get me excited!

Arrived Oct 19, 2014

Heavenly Father knew exactly how to get me excited

Love you more than…

Singing opera style!

Well after last weeks excitement-preparing myself to leave the mission on Nov. 2^nd instead of Nov. 26^th. And not wanting to leave. Now I think I’m a little confused! Dittooooo Mom! DITTO! It was such this rollercoaster to go from planning for 6 weeks to all of the sudden imagining it being less than a month. Yaaa how could you not help but feel a little bit trunky, thinking that I was coming home in 3 homes?! It was like I mentally prepared myself for the 26^th for so long and then was prepping for Nov 2^nd and so then when President told me it would stay the 26^th I almost felt like I had to readjust my brain again. It makes me realize one thing though—the Lord’s plan is perfect and it will happen no matter what! I think it was a good chance for me to practice what it will be like in a few more weeks and yet still have the chance to focus back and get back to work. Ya, not gonna lie… I was pretty excited to give you all a hug in a few weeks but we’ll postpone that just a few more weeks so that I can find and baptize a family first :)

Well I am crammed for time this week so I don’t know how much I will get to share but I’ll just start with the spiritual theme for the week: The Lord’s timing is not our timing but it is perfect! That sums up the whole week! When it comes to my pulang date (my going-home date) Heavenly Father knew exactly how to get me excited enough to work hard and not feel like my time is already up, but that I still have enough time to throw myself into it 100%!

On Tuesday we were on our way to a sick member’s house when we got a text message from an old contact asking us to come by. Turns out she is in the same bus route so we were already on our way to her house without even realizing! Well then we ran out of time to visit that sick sister and felt so stinkin’ upset that we promised to come and couldn’t! Well we finally had the time two days later and on our way to her house this man sees us as he is about to drive away on his motorcycle then he shouts “Are you…” So I turn around to see what he is going to say and he is just staring at our nametags. Well then he starts to ask us where we are going. We tell him we are visiting a member of our church who is sick he asks the funniest/neatest question “Don’t you visit people besides your members?” “Ya of course!” we reply, he asks “Well do you have a message of joy and good news for me?” we are like “Ya!” he asks “How long does that take?” us: “We can be just a few minutes.” Him: “Ok come in right now.” How cool is that?! So we taught about the Book of Mormon and he was like “I’ve never read that I would love to borrow one!” So that was another timing miracle!

So then on Sunday we went to visit an inactive who didn’t come to church and we happened to come right as she was leaving for another church with her friend… good and awkward timing! But we went to visit Sister Lely and guess what?! Her husband has read the Book of Mormon every day for the last few weeks! He said he liked how it is so much more to the point and makes sense. What a huge step! Sister Lely really opened up to us about her life and I cannot believe the things she has had to go through in the past. Makes me hurt to see how scarred she must be BUT she has found a new life in the Gospel. She is the most cheerful and uplifting and inspiring lady. You HAVE to meet her when you come!

Funniest thing that slipped out of my mouth this week: “Those are my two favorite things! Glow in the dark and Jesus!”

PS I have been studying through 3^rd Nefi and 4^th Nefi and been thinking about how awesome the missionaries the 3 Nephites are! They NEVER went home from their calling! Why can’t I be more like them?! Just awesome eternal missionaries! But after studying 3 Nefi chp 19, 27 and 28 I have one question for you—What one thing do you most desire? More than anything else in the universe… literally the universe. The multitudes desired the Holy Ghost, the apostles desired answers, and to be with God after their ministry, the 3 Nephites desired to “bring the souls of men unto [Christ] while the world shall stand.” Something to ponder about.

If there is anything else to get done, lemme know about your questions and what not. I have been thinking about classes and majors and all that jazz and have started to organize a few classes for next semester! I already have 15 credits planned and organized if you wanna see. But class sign-ups will be on a P-day so I will be able to do that all right from here! PPS What are you going to be for Halloween this year?

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! I hope that you have a great week and find someone to do something special for!

<3 Sister Sheff

Taman Mini Indonesia

How many times have I held a snake on my mission?

Makes a cute scarf eh?

All the sisters with the snake

Sister Akaiti, me and Sister Manurung

Vespa with Sister Manurung

Goofy district of ours

The whole district! Our only picture all together at Taman Mini

Jakarta Sisters

START TO BE THE MISSIONARY I HOPE TO BE... TODAY!

Love you more than.... Passion fruit! Markisa kalau di sini (Markisa is what we call it here). 

What is so passionate about passion fruit? It's delicious but looks like slimy frog eggs! I'll send a picture...

Well we had a really random week!

Monday we went with the AP's to Wendy's with a member... funny how that can be like a really expensive meal here haha. We got a few facebook lessons in which is pretty rare so that felt good!

Tuesday we went out proselyting and found this really sweet older lady who gave us juice but Sister Olsen wasn't feeling to good so we hopped in a taxi for our next appointment, which was with Sister Ayen. If you remember from a few months ago when we went to the mansion house for P-day... ya it's Sister Ayen's house :) So we go over to share a message about using facebook for missionary work and ended up basically teaching her how to use facebook! Her husband was just surprised that facebook can be a tool for missionaries and not just "buat main-main saja" (for playing) haha. So then guess where they take us out to dinner? TONY ROMA'S! Yeah like the real deal. Well this is the funny part of the story. Sister Olsen was still really sick and like stomach sick. (Sorry I shouldn't say funny but just the predicament was hilariously awkward) SO here we are being treated to the most expensive meal ever and Sister Olsen can barely even handle the bread stick! At one point she just says to me, I need to go to the bathroom and makes a bolt for the door and yet here I am covered in rib sauce and can't find a napkin so I follow her to the kamar kecil (bathroom) just in time to see her lose her lunch into the sink... Poor thing! Then these little kids come in and I just have to tell them to find another place. We kinda’ had to laugh it off. The nicest meal ever and she couldn't even eat it. But we boxed it up and had a mini thanksgiving the other day.

Well Wednesday we went to the doctor to check out SIs Olsen's stomach and it turns out she had an amoeba like what I got back in Solo. We kinda’ had to rest that day so that she could feel better.

Thursday we went out to meet with a few potential investigators. It was funny that they wanted to meet us at this little cafe and we walk in and see these 2 girls and a guy and are trying to avoid sitting by this guy. Well turns out that when Sister Olsen first met the girl on the busway, she went home and told her friends about these Mormons she met. Her guy friend then says "hey I used to know a Mormon! do you think we could meet those missionaries again?" He has seen the Pemulihan film and read the Kitab Mormon before and the whole shabang! He was really interested to hear more about Joseph Smith's story. We were hoping to see him at conference but he didn't end up coming. Maybe next time :) Well then by this time I have started getting this nasty cold/flu. We took Sister Bella with us for a day so that she could feel like she was helping with the work of Salvation.
*PAUSE! President just handed me your package! Thanks so much! You didn't have to buy a new DVD :) but I am so excited to wear the shirt. one thing... it might be around the time to stop sending stuff just incase it doesn't get here in time... but I'll explain that in a minute. UNPAUSE*

Sister Bella is still newish so maybe she doesn't know how to really be a good fellow-shipper yet but she was so darn excited just to get out of the house and learn about missionary work! She went with us to Sister Lely's house and they are two very different personalities but got along so well. They both are the only members in their families. Their family doesn't really support them in going to church. They both aren't very well off financially but both LOVE this gospel and the miracles it has brought. So it was a funny lesson to see them swap stories and just laughing. Paling tidak, Sister Lely was able to make another church friend and it was so good to see her laughing.

Friday my flu had gotten worse but we were able to get to DDM (district devotional meeting) and had a great lesson about the talk from the Liahona last fall (Oktober 2013) Called "How Can I Be a Successful Missionary?" It was really good because it is so hard when as missionaries you set a lot of goals and measure a lot of things by the agency of others. When in reality, our personal success can't be measured by anyone else but ourselves. I was thinking that statistics are measured by counting numbers. Success is measured through prayer, asking the Lord and feeling peace that you're doing enough. Then after the meeting came the big shocker from President... You ready? OKAY! Well you know how I'm scheduled to come home on the2 6th? Well the new missionaries come in on the 3rd and they need Visa's for them... so President is in the process of trying to get approval to send me home on the 2nd of November! AHHHHHH! That's in like 3 weeks! It's not sure yet since the office in America will work on it today... but just a heads up.

Mom, Dad, family. I can't explain how scary it is to hear that. Remember back when I was at the MTC? They told us we would be there for 9 weeks instead of 6 and we were kinda bummed to stick around so long but then realized that it was a great chance to really learn. Well then they told us one day, "just kidding you only have 3 weeks left!" That is exactly what just happened on Friday. All those emotions came flooding back. It's weird because it’s not so much that I'm afraid to go home or sad to stay/go home earlier. I just don't know if I'm ready to leave the work. Did I do enough? Is 3 weeks enough time to "finish"? I was planning on it being so much longer, but would I be ready if it ended sooner? Sooooo that's been on my mind all weekend. How many times has this happened to me? What is the Lord trying to teach me? I ALWAYS think back to the story of the 10 virgins... Am I one who will be ready for the Lord to come? Or will I have planned on it being "next year". How important is it for us to be ready NOW! For anything! Never ever procrastinate! Maybe that's what I need to be learning. START TO BE THE MISSIONARY I HOPE TO BE TODAY! 

 {Editor's note: We received an email 3 days later with the FIRM & FINAL Itinerary For SHEFFIELD/EMILY ADELAIDE - 26Nov.   She will not be coming home Nov. 2, but will stay until the scheduled date of Nov. 26th}

Saturday I was pretty miserable with the cold/flu but it was nice to have General Conference and an excuse to sit down for a few hours. :) I think I get different messages when I listen in Indonesian because the language makes some things stick out more. I really enjoyed hearing Elder Wong's talk (all the Indonesians giggled at the chinese) and Elder Christofferson's and Elder Holland's and SEMUANYA! (all of them!) I can't choose! 

Anyways... Sunday I was having a rough morning, I had the flu still and then a huge sore on my knee and broke a glass while washing dishes and that gave me a scratch and whew! It was not my day health wise. I think it was just more frustrating than anything. I don't have time to be sick! But we were coming back from conference on the bus and my emotions just got to me. I was feeling sick and weak and tired and frustrated and tears just started rolling down my cheeks and I couldn't stop them. But heavenly father sent me an angel, my "angel in a Jilbab". She was this little Indonesian Muslim lady that sat down next to me and after a few minutes just taps me on the shoulder and asks "are you ok? Why are you crying?" I just told her that I was feeling sick and wanted to go home. She just said she was worried about me and helped me to smile and laugh a little. I don't know why it touched me so much but I want to cry just thinking about her now. She is Muslim and might not ever come to know her Savior in this life but I KNOW that Heavenly Father gives everyone the chance and I think she is a star celestial candidate. I know that there are good people all over the world in every country and religion and circumstance. I love the people here. 

 

After General Conference on Sunday

How funny is this? The old ladies of the ward learning to use a "selfie stick".

Today I feel SOOO much better! I can walk fine and my fever/chills are gone and now I just have a stuffy nose and a little cough. P-Day miracle!

Sorry this email was so long! I guess I just had a lot to be thankful for this week! One other miracle? So we had 2 full sick days this week and yet it was like Heavenly Father knew how to help us meet just the right people at just the right time! For example, on our way to the Doctor on Wednesday, the first lady we see and talk to, asks for a Book of Mormon! We had a busier week than all last week and this week we were sick! The Lord works in mysterious ways :)

I LOVE YOU ALL! Give everyone a hug for me! 

PS Branny gets home soon! Send me a picture if you get the chance!

<3 Sister Sheff