Apa Kabar?! 

Another week down and now there's only like 12 days left of the MTC. YAY!!!!! But AHH all at the same time. Yesterday we were practicing contacting on an angkot (like a van) and a bis (bus). It was so fun!! I know when I actually get to Indonesia I'm going to be a little scared but I'm going to open my mouth anyway because I know Heavenly Father is going to to be there for me. I really cannot wait to meet the people of Indonesia. I already love them and really look forward to meeting them.

So we had two members of the 12 show up this week! Elder Holland was in THE SAME building as me!! I never got to actually see him but he was in the apartment below our classroom (our classrooms are the Raintree apartments) and Sister Olsen and one of our gurus saw him. I thought it was just crazy to actually be in the same area as him! Those Elders that got a visit were super lucky. Then on Tuesday our devotional was another Elder from the quorm, Elder Andersen! And...I  GOT TO SHAKE HIS HAND! Wow that was AMAZING! So here's the story...

Elder Andersen finishes up his talk on missionary work and then the MTC President got up and said there were reports of heavy lightning and thunder so they were going to keep us in for a couple minutes until it passed. He said we would sing some hymns and then he announced Elder Andersen was going to come down and shake some missionaries hands! Well Sister Olsen and I have a spot at the very front of the Alto section in the Choir so we were lucky enough to shake his hand. Now I didn't need this to know that he is a true apostle who is called of God but the Spirit testified SO strongly of that to me. I know all these men are called and for very specific reasons. I know what they say is true and that it does come from Heavenly Father. I love it when they bare testimony and witness of Jesus Christ and I really am so grateful to have a living prophet and apostles on this earth. 

 Things are still going pretty well at the MTC. The language is coming along real well and I love learning with The Spirit! (Sis. Sperry reports that she now even dreams in Indonesian. And, according to her companion, she sleep talks in Indonesian!) Also our progressive investigators are progressing! Yesterday we had a really good lesson with Soojin. She is our half "Korean" (which is really Indonesian) half English speaking investigator. Yesterday while we were talking about the priesthood we were talking about how people rejected and killed Christ. That really seemed to hit her hard and she began to cry. Sister Olsen and I didn't really know what was going on at first and then we were both like AH what should we do! We handled it pretty well but really it was all the Holy Ghost. She told us afterward that she realized she has been rejecting Christ in her life and told us she needed to change. It was really amazing and hard hitting and such a turning point for her. I know it wasn't Sister Olsen and I but Heavenly Father and The Holy Ghost who changed her heart. I'm excited to keep working with her. 

Jon and Joko are going well too. We invited Joko to church but he doesn't have any money and our church is a 1/2 hour motor cycle ride away. He said he'd be walking close to 4 hours if he was going to come to church. We shared 1 Nephi 3:7 with him and said that Heavenly Father always provides a way. Hopefully we will be able to talk to him again before Sunday and we can think of a way to help him. 

Other than that all is well!! I love you all and thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers. And holy cow I feel so blessed with all the mail and packages I've reieved! Thank you Mama Burningham for all of the AWESOME Reese's treats and Elder Browning for the Gator foot :) Also Jen Parks for those homemade goodies. I am a blessed missionary!!

Salamat Jalan!!

Sister Sperry :) 

 The gang

 Sister Olsen and Sister Sperry with their guru (teacher).

Soaked after walking back from the Marriott Center in the rain!

MTC - Week 3

Salamat Pagi semua!! 

I can't believe I've finally hit the half way point for the MTC. It's been nice but I am very excited to get out into the field. Although I am still very nervous about the language. The cool thing, though, is I have learned more Indonesian here in three weeks than I ever did Spanish in three years. Learning with the Spirit really helps! I now have memorized the first vision, some scripture, a baptismal invite, lots of words for the lessons, words for prayer and my testimony, and I'm understanding A LOT! I pray to understand the language a lot and thanks to The Spirit I am able to actually pick up on a lot. My favorite thing to do is to listen to para guru (teachers) and see if I can pick up on things that they are saying when they think that none of us can understand. I'm getting there! I'm also slowly but surely reading the Kitab Mormon (Book of Mormon) in Indonesian. That is actually really fun! I love this language! Now I just need to learn how to talk to people on the street...ask for food maybe...or say I'm allergic. 

This week has been kinda rough. I miss my music and my fan a lot ;) Haha but that's not why it's been rough. Lately I've been wondering if this really is where Heavenly Father wants me so yesterday I decided to fast and pray about it and I was actually able to ask for a priesthood blessing. Typically I don't really take advantage of the priesthood as much as I should, so I usually wouldn't have asked for one. But people kept talking about it so I decided OK, I'll ask for one. For some reason I was very nervous to ask for a blessing of comfort, mainly because I didn't want to talk to anyone about it,  but I got up the courage to ask my district leader, Elder Hobbs, and he and one of the Zone Leaders got the permission to give a blessing very quickly. Right before dinner Elder Hobbs, Elder Barlow, and Elder Headrick were able to give me a blessing. Elder Hobbs was the voice and he said that Heavenly Father is very proud of me and he also said that I should not be afraid to talk to people. Especially my companion because that's what she's there for. I've always had a hard time talking to people about how I feel and what's going on with me. I like keeping to myself, staying personal, and listening to others rather than talking. This experience is what I needed to know that it's OK to talk things out to people and I think that that's going to come in handy later. 
Also to just confirm everything I got a letter from Mom and in it she told me she knew this is where I need to be and that she feels at peace knowing that. I'm so grateful for her and I look up to her example always. 
Last thing! This week we began taught Joko, our inactive Muslim investigator (another teacher). He is very humble and very simple. He hasn't had much learning and obviously doesn't have a christian background so we have to go to the basic of basics with him. To do that Sister Olsen and I decided to look at Ammon and Aaron's example from the Book of Mormon. They taught kings without christian backgrounds and it has helped our study a lot. Next time we are going to try and give a simple overview of the Plan of Salvation. I hope everything goes well. He honestly seems like he wants somewhere to go, somewhere to belong. Well he belongs with us! Di Gereja Yesus Kristus Dari Orang-Orang Suci Zaman Akhir! 
One more thing. Sister Olsen and I are Sister Training Leaders which is kind of like the female Zone Leader...kinda. It's pretty neat and really kinda easy because there are now only four sisters in the zone! Sister Olsen and I and our roommates Sister Wynn and Sister Wenyi! 
Thank you everyone for your prayers, letters, and love. I REALLY appreciate them!! 
Saya mengasihi semua anda!
 Love,
Sister Sperry :) 

ps I SAW SISTER AIRMET TODAY!!!! We screamed and cried and then had to go to class. But YAY!!! 

 The gang

 Elder Wihongi- these two used to play superheroes together. Now they are superheroes!!

Sister Airmet- Friends since birth. Such beautiful girls, inside and out!

Studying maybe?

MTC-Week 2

Halo Semua! Apa Kabar?!

Two weeks in the MTC down and now I'm a third of the way done with my MTC experience! Wow!! Before you know it I'll be writing about humidity and fun stuff like that.

This week has been really great and I have grown A LOT! We learned a lot more about the culture and the more I learn about it the more I just want to go!! So here's how the week went.

Well first off (on p-day last week, after I emailed) WE FOUND OUR MAIL!! Ha that was the best to all the sudden have so many letters and so much love! :) Thank you thank you thank you to everyone who sent me anything because it was greatly appreciated. So here's the story to that. Our district used to be two and then they just put us into one district since there's not very many of us and because of that  we had two boxes. Well our district leader didn't know that so he's only been getting mail for like four people. Appearently someone was praying for patientce so thanks to them we all waited for mail.;) no I'm joking. I actually look at it as a huge blessing and I've learned to really appreciate and love the things that I have gotten! So once again THANK YOU!! And keep the letters coming because it is so great to hear from everyone.

So this past week we also got a new roommate from France and she is SO cool. She loves to play basketball so her, I, and some other sisters play every gym time (I'm getting better!). Ha yesterday I got put on her for some reason though. Ok so imagine this. Sister Weiney, 5ft 8. Sister Sperry 5ft 2....yeah that was a struggle on my part! But I was able to get a couple shots in! Woot! I really enjoy playing. 

Sundays at the MTC are the best!! We start out with personal study and then we got to relief society and jazz. Right before relief society we get to listen to Music and The Spoken Word. Oh it is so nice to hear MUSIC! I miss that a ton and I haven't signed up for a time to go play the piano. Too busy! But I love all the music I get to sing and hear on Sundays. Also Relief Society is more like a conference since there are so many of us. Last Sunday Sis. Wixom from the Primary first Presidency spoke. She was AMAZING! And she served in the DC South mission and mentioned Ashburn (holla!). Made me a little home sick for my family but I loved listening to her. She invited the spirit so well and talked a lot about sister missionary work. Makes me even more excited to be a sister missionary. OH and then afterward I got to meet some of the sisters who are going to the DC South mission!!! Mom, Dad keep an eye out for these girls because I told them you would take good care of them ;) I have a picture with them, I was so excited!! 

After all of that we got to go to a devotional and either listen to a speaker or watch a film. READ CHARACTER OF CHRIST BY ELDER BEDNAR!! Both Sundays that we've been Sis. Olsen and I have gone to character Of Christ and there is so much to learn!! It's an amazing talk about becoming like Christ and Elder Bednar just really sticks it to you. There are so many things that I need to better myself with and I know that developing attributes of Christ is what is going to help me to better myself and come closer to Him. That talk is just simply amazing. Do read it!

Oh so this week I got a letter from mom telling me about an experience she had about following the spirit. She could have potentially saved my little brother's life. Well thanks to her sharing that I was able to follow a prompting also. Maybe not quite as dramatic effects though. So while walking home from devotional I was prompted to talk to this Elder who seemed a bit sad and lonely. At first I kind of waved it off but I wouldn't be a good missionary if I didn't follow the spirit. So I did and turns out he's also going to the DC South mission! (Elder Black). I did a little freak out and told him to say hi to the Sperry's for me and then we just talked and talked about how beautiful it is out in DC. Before you knew it he was smiling and that was great! I didn't really realize that I made a difference until Sis. Olsen pointed it out. Thanks Sis. Olsen!

The devotional we attended on Tuesday was incredible! Elder Scott came and spoke to us on prayer and the whole time I just felt like the talk was written directly for me. At the end he said that he knew his wife, who passed away in 1995, was there with us and Wow! It was an incredible experience. Afterward as he was walking away he yelled "Be good!" and "Love you!" We all said love you back and really I did feel the warmth and the love that he has for us, God's children. I am so grateful for apostles and prophets and that God has not left us alone. I am so grateful for God's love and the way I was able to feel it that night.

Ok last experience! Sorry about the long email! So Sis. Olsen and I have been teaching a couple of investigators (our teachers) lately. One of our lessons....went terrible. We didn't feel the spirit and actually Sis. Olsen and I were kind of mad at each other because it didn't go the way we wanted. Luckily Heavenly Father blessed us not to bicker about it and during companionship inventory when we had cooled down and had time to think about things we were able to talk it out. Then the next day we taught again and oh my gosh it was COMPLETELY different. The Spirit was very much there. Especially after we recited the first vision (in Indonesian). Then we were trying to get Jon to pray for us but he wouldn't. I was kind of ready just to let it be but Sis. Olsen was very in tune with the spirit and kept pushing! After a good long while she was able to get him to do so. I offered to pray first and then we would have him pray next. The spirit was SO strong as he prayed, I ended up crying! It was amazing and I am very grateful for the bad experience so I can really appreciate the good one.

Well now it's time for the temple and the rest of our P-day activities! Love you all and thank you for everything!! 

With Love,

Sister Sperry :)

 Sister missionaries going to the DC South mission!

 Our MTC group

 One of my favorite scriptures!

 The girls!

 The District

MTC-Week 1

Hey All!!

It's my first offical P-day! The MTC is going well so far. I am companions with Sister Olsen like I was hoping and she has been a real blessing! We get along really well and we've been teaching an "investigator" named Robert (he told us he really is just a teacher). It's been a cool experience to teach him especially in a different language where my vocab is SO limited! But for being here already a week I can say quite a bit! It has been a challenge to not be able to say everything that I need to say exactly but if the spirit is there then I don't need to worry becuase I know The Spirit will testify to Robert the things I am trying to say. Today Sis. Olsen and I are going to try and invite him to be baptized! Wish us luck!!

The district is really great! There are 10 of us going to Indonesia and only two of us sisters. There's an elder from New Zeland, Australia and one from Ohio. The other 7 of us are from Utah. Haha so funny story! The Elder from New Zealand's name is Elder Hobbs, like hobbit! AND he lives like an hour to an hour and a half away from where they filmed some of the Lord of the Rings movies (how cool?!). So one of the Elders was telling a story about this kid who had to run a mile for help bare foot and Elder Hobbs was like "oh that's no big deal" and then his companion goes "Of course it's no big deal to you, we can't all be hobbits!" HAHA it was really funny at the time, especially becuase we had been studying all day.

I got to see Elder Browning, Elder Maddox, Elder Downs and Elder Warner this past week. And actually a lot of other Elders that I know but those are the two I was most excited to see. Elder Browning was getting mail while I was checking into the MTC and we shoke hands and were on our way (I was in a line and it was moving so I couldn't talk for long). Then Elder Maddox and Elder Downs (an elder who lived accross the hall from me at USU and basically was in my appartment all the time) live in the same area and I see them around campus a lot. Then I saw Elder Warner at the tuesday fireside. It was SO nice to see him!! We talked and each bore our testimony to each other in our Languages (he's going to Denmark). He's leaving the MTC here soon! How exciting!!!

So the MTC really is one of the coolest "institutions" there is! I love learning about the gospel all the time! Really I do just love studying about it. And Indonesian is SO cool! I love this language and feel really very blessed to be able to learn it and to serve there. Besides the hygiene hand (the two foreign Elders just learned about this...poor Elders) this is the country for me. I am really excited to go and teach the people in Indonesia and to someday be able to speak this fun and amazing language!

 Becuase I love the language so much I would like to bare you my testimony in it. It's simple but I believe that by small and simple things, great things come to pass :)

Here it goes!!

Saya tuah bahwa Yesus Kristus hidup. Dia kasih kita dan mati bagi kita. Saya tuah bahwa Kitab Mormon benar dan Gereja Yesus Kristus dari Orang-orang suci Zaman Akhir adalah benar. Saya bersyukur bagi Bapa Surgawi dan saya keluarga. Dalam nama Yesus Kristus, Amin.

I love you all and thank you for your prayers. I am so blessed to have such amazing people in my life. Spread the gospel!! Don't be afraid to open your mouth and show people that you live and love this church. Keep on keeping on!!

Love,

Sister Sperry :)

 

 Good friend - Elder Warner

 Polka Dots!

 Companions!

Learning the language

AFHS Elders

The MTC-2 Days

Hey Everyone!! Just wanted to let you all know I made it through my first couple days at the MTC just fine. I hope you got my letter! By the way, it'd be really cool if you could Dear Elder ;) Anyway I've already seen A LOT of Elders that I know here (so far Sister Olsen is the only Sister I know). I love learning Indonesian and I really love my district. They are a lot of fun and are here for the right reasons. They all have a really amazing spirit and are fun to be around. I love Sister Olsen! And I knew I would. We seem to work really well together so far. Our first lesson with our investigator Robert went...not according to plan but not terrible. We had to teach it in broken Indonesian and I hope it made some sort of sense! It was really neat to hear him speak it so fluently when he read out of the scriptures! Some day I'll be able to do that too!! Right now I can bare a small testimony, pray a little, and say small things. It's so fun! Also people say Hello and How are you in their language that they are learning so it is fun to be able to do that too. Our teachers are great also. Our first day they ONLY spake Indonesian to us...AHH! But super cool :) I know that this is the Church of Jesus Christ and that Joseph Smith restored it to this Earth. I am so grateful to have it in my life. I love and miss you all!! Love, Sister Sperry :)

I ran into Elder Maddox who was in my ward in Highland, Ut!

MTC Zone