Yogyakarta (Week 32)

Holy Cow another week done!! I can hardly believe how time is flying right now. I can't believe I'm already 9 months into the mission ;) Well here's how my week went!

Senin: Because of PLD and a picnic, we decided to work on this day. It was just like any other work day. We met with the Jianto family and had a fantastic Family Home Evening. We also met with one of our new investigators. He lives on the street and has a very interesting situation but he is positive and happy and we love meeting with him! 

 

Selasa: Finally...after however many months of me saying I will buy a bigger and better bag...I broke down and bought one. It was time. My old one was starting to rip and mold (ew..). We met with the def couple again and did a lot of proselyting. I was really happy with our efforts that day because I felt like we were progressing. It's so nice to see progress! Speaking of...last week Hermana Burningham gave me a kind of goal to try and double our progressive investigators. Well I would like her to know, we accomplished that! I'm really quite excited :) 

Rabu & Kamis: we headed down to Solo for PLD. The first day we had interviews with President. He told me that I will be moving from Jogja :( But that's ok! The work goes on! We also got to spend a lot of time with Sister Donald which was SO fun! She's such a joy. We also found out that we are getting 4 new sisters...and none are going home...which means...opening more areas for sisters!! So Solo will now have 4 sisters instead of 2 and President is opening Surabaya (east java) for sisters! The work is progressing!! By agustus we should have 86 Missionaries! WOW!

 

Thursday was the actual PLD meeting. It was full with the Spirit and we learned tons! I love PLD and I got the award for being the most positive! Sister Olsen got most obedient and Sister Hasibuan got most contacts! GO JOGJA! 

Jumat: we had a picnik with the stake! It was fun to meet some of the members from Solo, Semarang, and Magelang.Our new investigator came with us which was really good. 

Sabtu: we tried to catch up on all the appointments we had. Good day We also became models of the Tugu...everyone wanted to take pictures with us!! 

 Hari Minggu: Hoppy Easter semuanya!! I just want to testify that I know Christ lives. He died and rose the third day. I know that I am here as a representatve for Him. I know that it is only through Him that we can all make it back to our Heavenly Father. I know it's through His help that I am able to do this work and that I would not be where I am today without Him. I know He loves you and knows you perfectly. Bring all your burdens to Him, your sins, your weaknesses, and He will make you stronger. Dalam Nama Yesus Kristus, Amin. 

Well Until next week! 

Love,
Sister Sperry :) 

Yogyakarta (Week 31)

Halo semuanya!

 

Wow another week has gone by! This week was another month marker. I am now 4 months in the wonderful city of Jogja and 7 Months in the great country of Indonesia. I'm still so new!! 

This week was great because we got to watch conference!! I hope all of you went out and bought Preach My Gospel after Elder Ballard's (?) talk. I loved his talk. I'm still waiting to hear all of it in English, takes a while to download. 

Well here's the week!

Senin: We had a nice p-day. Nothing super special. 

Selasa: It was BEAUTIFUL outside! Sure it was hot but wow. We road to Seyegan, which is pretty far away, and got to see the beautiful rice fields and the sky was so blue and ahhh I love this place. We worked hard and road our bikes a lot! It was a good day.

 

 

Rabu: This was election day so there wasn't a soul that wanted to meet or they had all gone home to the desan or country. But we got a lot of contacting done which was really good! 

 Kamis: We went to Magelang for ZTM (zone training meeting). Then because we achieved our goal we got to go to Borobodur! It rained but it wasn't hot which was so nice. Especially because the temple is all black rock. The statutes remind me of a mix between Star Wars and Dr. Who and there are statues inside the statues. There is a beautiful view. I will return someday :) 

 

 

Jumat: Today was busy!! We met with lots of people had had some good lessons. 

Sabtu: Conference!!!! It was such a blessing especially because I understood!!!!!!!! I was so excited! Sure I didn't understand everything but I got A LOT more out of it than I did last conference! Oh it was such a huge blessing and the Spirit was strong. I know those are men and women of God and that they have been called to lead this church. How grateful I am that God provides us with such amazing leaders, especially those that have the sacred duty of holding the Priesthood. I know Thomas S. Monson is a prophet. Oh how I love to hear him speak and how I love all the people who spoke in conference. We didn't have as many investigators as we wanted show up, so that was a bummer. But I've been strengthened and I will use that strength to help them!

Hari Minggu: Same as Sabtu! 

This church is true. I hope we all pay close attention to what was said in conference and apply those things in our lives. I hope we can all join together and do this work. Now is the time for members and missionaries to labor in the Lord's vineyard together. Maju Terus, Gereja ini Benar! Bekerja keras! 

I love you all!

Love,

Sister Sperry :) 

Yogyakarta (Week 30)

Howdy Ya'll,

I heard that there was an Earthquake in Chili? Is everything ok? Sister Toegono and I were at the church when we felt another little earthquake (this makes the 4th so far here in Jogja). We've also had some crazy weather but all in all it's been pretty cool here! I had a pretty good week hopefully you all did too! Well here's my week:

Senin: We ended up going to Prambanan again with a mission couple. It was really cool, again. Then we went to Ratu Boko which is a palace place for the queen. There was an absolute GORGEOUS view and if it's a clear enough day you can see Mount Merapi in the distance and we could see Prambanan from there. It was awesome and I will come back to Indonesia to see that again! We also went to Tamansari which is an old bathhouse for the king and queen. It was super neat! Sister Olsen and I got a little sunburned but not enough to hurt.

 

Selasa: Pretty good April Fools. When we tried to prank the elders we ended up pranking ourselves. Well, I learned my lesson ;) We had some pretty good lessons too with two investigators that have oooodles of potential. Overall it was a good day!

Rabu: this was the day we felt the earthquake. We were waiting for our dinner appointment at the church, I was playing the piano when the wall started to shake. Sister Toegono and I just kinda looked at each other, it finished, and we decided to walk outside. And that was that! Our expressions were extremely calm. Oh and earlier that day we taught an English class were there was a previous investigator from Magelang. He asked lots of questions in class so I got to answer a little and we want to meet with him again this week.

Kamis: we went to a 1000 day remembrance for one of our investigator's husband. Because she's a different religion it was a little different than what I'm used to but it was a good culture experience. I even got up the courage to share my testimony in their mini testimony meeting. It was neat and I'm glad we could be there to support her (Mama Hawk!).

Jumat: we went searching and searching for this ibu that we meet. She gave us her name and address but when we went to the address no one had any idea who she was. But on the bright side EVERYONE decided they wanted to talk to us so we made a ton of contacts! It was really cool and we felt super blessed! I love the people here!

Sabtu: We tried to find some more previous investigators and got a referal from one of our current investigators. The little neighborhood of Kricak Kridul is going to make a great ward ;) Almost all of our new investigators are from there!

Hari minggu: Church was really good! There were some great testimonies and lessons given that we felt our investigator needed to hear! Afterwards choir was also good and it rained the rest of the day. We made dinner for one of the sisters investigating families and taught them about faith and hope. The father is sick and can't work so they don't have a lot right now. I felt very humbled at their experience.

We also made a mexican/indonesian burrito dinner. It was awesomely enak!!

Well I'm off to start another adventurous week! I love misisonary work and especially I love INDONESIA!!

Love,
Sister Sperry :)

Yogyakarta (Week 29)

Howdy Ya'll!!

I have successfully taught one of the Indonesian sisters here how to use "ya'll" and Sister Olsen taught her "ham it up". It is so great! There's also a "rule" (not really) that the Indonesian sisters in the house have to speak in English and the bule sisters have to speak in Indonesian. It's so funny! But really great and we are all learning. Javenese is a free for all, you can use that whenever.

 

Well here's how my week went!

Senin: We made food and ate a ton. We ended up getting permission to watch The Lion King. I never realized how funny that movie was! Then we went to family night with Bro. Nanang from the bishopric and his family.

Selasa: it was a pretty normal day of visits and proselyting. Sister Toegono really works hard and I'm loving our companionship. We also met with a previous investigator from 2006 and we were able to answer all of his questions. There's lots of potential with him and I hope that he progresses!

 

Rabu: We met with another previous investigator who wants to write a book about "Mormons" and what it is really like, not what the world thinks it is. We explained the Restoration and I could feel the spirit. I know he did too. He's also the younger sibling of one of the new converts in the ward! They are wonderful people and I love them both!

Kamis: A pretty normal day until an Indonesian showed me up in English class...again. I feel like I don't know my own language...But I learned something new which was good! And I think the class did too. Maybe he can teach instead :)

 

Jumat: We had a good District Meeting with the Zone leaders. There was a family night with the whole ward for the...70 day remembrance of Bro. Margono (the brother that past away in December). The Lucherini's (a mission couple from Idaho) are in town! I love those two, they are so funny.

Sabtu: This was a good busy day. We had Omni, a member that just got her mission call, come to a couple of lessons with us. I hope I get a chance to work with her when she comes into the mission! There was another family home evening as a ward where I gave a short lesson. It was hard to hear but I think it went well.

Hari Minggu: For third hour of church I tried to translate for Sister Lucherini. They were discussing some of the things that the Lucherinis discussed in a meeting the night before about 72 hour kits and help from the church. Poor Sister Lucherini...I think she just about had a heart attack because I didn't translate very well and I think I might have mixed some things up. But In the end everything was ok! I'm gonna work on that...

 

You know I've really learned a lot about sacrifice and how important it is. When we sacrifice things for the Lord, He blesses us in return a hundred fold. I've also learned a lot about Christ-like love and may I just say I love this country. I love these people, I love this language and I am even a little bit ok with the occasional cockroach. I'm still trying hard to love the mosquitos...that's a tough one. I love that I met Sister Olsen before my mission because I feel like I have a friend here with me and also a friend when I get home (so I can keep up my Indonesian!!).  Missionary work is known to make one happy ;) I don't think I've ever been so happy before. The two best things I have done in my life so far are going through the temple and serving a mission. I know this is preparing me for the rest of my life and although I joke about serving in Jogja for 3 years I am excited to apply the things that I've learned. I love what President Donald sent me in his email last week. He said he sends us out on missions first and formost to shape ourselves and in the process He uses us to help others. Then when we become the perfect missionary we want to be, He sends us home to help out in our ward, with friends and current family, and then to raise up a family unto Him. President also told me I was a success the day I came into the MTC. I think every missionary needs to hear that!

Have a great week every one! I know this church is true. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love,
Sister Sperry :)

 

Yogyakarta (Week 28)

Selamat Pagi Semuanya!!!

And what a wonderful morning it is! I woke up at 5, went to pasar (market), ran, swept my dirt and cleaned the house a bit and now email. After this we'll clean a little bit more and then meet up with the elders to cook and watch The Best Two Years. I'm super excited! And The impossible has happened...I'm becoming a morning person!

Well here's my week! 

Senin: Prambanan was really neat! I lied last week, it's a Hindu temple not Buddhist. It was cool to see all the symbolism although I still don't really understand what all of it means. Unfortunately a couple years agao (2012?) There was an earthquake and some of it was destroyed. But still really fun and cool to see!

Selasa: We got caught in the rain...for 2 hours...that was the down part of the day. But we still met with people and had a decent day! I also tired Durian for the second time...blah! It was a little easier to eat this time but still gross...

 

Rabu: We started helping out at another english class. I feel like there's a lot of potential in this class for new investigators. They are all really cool and really want to learn english! I hope we will be able to really help them. We also met with Mbak Atin and Pak Eddy&Ibu Hoa. All is well. Oh and Sister Clara who climbed Mt Everest. She is preparing to climb Mt. Miklenli (in Alaska..I don't know how to spell) next year. Sweet right?

Kamis: Just another normal day. We had a really good lesson where the spirit was pretty strong and I feel like I saw something tell me it entered but they haven't really acted yet! But that's ok. they will!

Jumat: DDM was really good! We tried to proselyte at UGM campus which is a really popular university in Indonesia. It was really neat to walk around campus. But, no music programs...bummer.

 

Sabtu: A normal day! Sister Toegono and I "boceng" for a little (where one person rides on the back of the bike while the other person peddles!) because we had a member come to one of our lessons and they didn't have a bike. I can successfully boceng and I feel very proud of myself. I feel like a native!

Hari minggu: We went to Kelatan again for Sacrament. There was a good turn out of about 20 people, mostly members. But there was one non member family and then the father of another. There really is potential for progress out there!

Well I love being a missionary and especially in Indonesia! I really am happy and I love this work! I know this church is true, I know it has the restored Priesthood and I know that I am a representative of Jesus Christ. I'm learning so much that I can apply into my life now and when I go home in 3 years (didn't you hear? Sister serve for 3 years now! And all 3 will be in Jogja ;) )

Thank you all! I love you all!

Love,
Sister Sperry :)