Yogyakarta (Week 35)

We got to Skype with Sister Sperry today!  It was great to see her face and hear her voice!  She's doing well and as happy as ever.  She sends her love and "hello's" to all of her friends and family and her only request is for letters! We love her and are so very proud of her and her decision to take 18 months out of her everyday life to go and share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the people of Indonesia.  It was the best Mother's Day I've had to date!

Yogyakarta (Week 34)

WOW! It's already Mei! Where did April go?

This week wasn't quite as good as last week, we had a couple hardships, but it ended on a really good note and this week is a new week which will be great! I'm quite excited. 

The reason this week wasn't quite as good is because lots of our investigators aren't quite progressing and we are losing a few. But it's OK, they'll accept this glorious message some day, whether in this life or the next, and then they will say, "oh that's what Sister Toegono and Sister Sperry were talking about...oh why didn't I understand that before?" Everyone has their own time. 

But I would like to share what I learned at Stake Conference. It was in Solo and it was really good! It was all about hastening the work of salvation and we had 2 from the area 70 here. They both delivered great messages about the importance of missionary work and family. I never quite realized how much missionary work and family are similar. They are the same work. We are all family, all sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father. Also doing missionary work blesses our earthly families. It actually helps family grow closer. Even though I'm the furthest I've ever been from my family I can feel us all growing closer, including my relationship with extended family members. Parents are missionaries for their children, siblings can be missionaries to one another, and we as members of the church are missionaries to all those that don't know the blessings of the gospel yet. 

The Stake Choir - Sydney even got to lead one of the numbers they sang!

One important part of missionary work is strengthening less active members. These are people that have felt the blessings of the gospel but for some reason or another have fallen away. We have a responsibility to help them. In my experience sometimes less active members are harder to teach than investigators. But we need to help them. This church needs to be strengthened in this time and we need the help of the less active members. We all know someone who isn't very active. Maybe this week instead of looking for someone to baptize, invite a less active member to dinner, to church, go visit and share a good message, serve them, anything! They need our help. 

I know that the family is ordained of God. I know that we are all brothers and sisters and I know that God loves us all. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Good luck with your missionary work this week! Let me know how it goes :) 

love,

Sister Sperry :)

Yogyakarta (Week 33)

Dear World,

Wow another week has FLOWN by! And it was a wonderful week. We really saw the hand of God in our work this week and it was such a great blessing. God has not forgotten about Indonesia! The work my be slower than it is in other parts in the world but it is hastening. Before you know it I'll be coming back for the opening of the Indonesian Temple. Wooh!! Well here's how my week went:

Senin: Me and Sister Toegono bought some Batik fabric and had some dresses made. They are so cool! We are going to buy more today ;) I love the cultural stuff here! Also we met with Eddy and Hoa, the def couple, and committed them again to baptism. Great lesson! 

 

Selasa: We went on splits with the other sisters so I was with Sister Olsen for the day! It was so neat to be her companion again and to see The progression that we've both had! We taught some good lessons and practiced with the choir for Stake Conference (which Sister Peni invited me to lead one of the songs! I am SO excited!). Sister Hasibuan and Sister Toegono worked in our area and they helped 2 more of our investigators commit to baptism. WOW!! It was so great to hear! 

 

Rabu: Was a pretty normal day. Worked hard, contacted people, and had an overall good day.

Kamis: We went to Kelatan and I met a pastor on the bus that wants to read the Book of Mormon. I "lent" him the book and I invited him to church but he didn't come. That's something that President has asked us to do, lend the Book of Mormon. Then we automatically have an excuse to meet with them again and hopefully teach a lesson. Now we just need to find him to get my Book of Mormon back. We also visited a good Katolik family. 

Jumat: We helped one of the ward members move, had a good District Meeting, and had some awesome lessons with two Investigators that both have baptismal dates. I have never had so many people committed to baptism at one time! It's so neat! And I know it only came after Sister Toegono and I made some covenants with Heavenly Father and sacrificed a few things. If this is the reward I am more than happy to sacrifice anything. This is amazing~! 

Sabtu: Another normal hard working day. The hand of the Lord is in this work I just know it! 

Hari Minggu: Yet another baptismal commitment to someone who lives in Kelatan! Wow! And it rained really hard while Sister Toegono and I were trying to get to a members house. We had to stop and then the road we wanted flooded...Needless to say we got wet. But the storm was AWESOME! 

I can really feel God's Hands in things. I know this is His work and that in His own time things will be done. Indonesia is progressing, the whole world is progressing, and it is exciting! I hope we all call work together to see this church grow and help our friends, family, and everyone we know receive the blessings from this Gospel. 

Have a great work! Work hard, have fun! 

With love,

Sister Sperry :) 

Look at your phone. Does that contact know you're a member? Have you talked with them about the church? You don't think they're interested or wouldn't be? Who are you to judge? ;) (That's from President Donald. He's pretty great). 

SUPER MISSIONARIES!