Elder Curtis Sudbury

Elder Curtis Sudbury

Monday, January 24, 2011

Missionary Hero

Christmas Program

Curtis and his district

Curtis' Letter for January 24, 2011

Well, another week and another transfer has ended here in México.  I am happy to say that I am well and we'll be sending Élder Wayman with an endocrinologist next week to see if we can't figure out some more interesting things that are up with him...He still drinks, on average, 5 liters of water a day...I don't know what to think anymore :P.  All his tests came back negative.  That is the really weird part.  But oh well because........
 
I GOT TRANSFERRED!
 
I am the new financial and materials secretary in the mission offices.  I believe my preparation day will also be changed to Saturday as a result.  Élder Wayman will be staying in this area and I know he and Élder Brito will do a great job in Palmitas and Xalpa.
 
I will miss crazy Palmitas and Xalpa.  It's been a fun ride ;).  We've seen our share of blessings this week, nonetheless.  One person especially sticks out in my mind right now.  Leticia was a referral from a recent convert in Ixtla.  She is a bit rebellious but we've felt good about her and her progress.  This last Saturday I felt we should go by, although we didn't have an appointment.  When we started talking with her she started crying.  She commented on how crazy her life is right now.  She said that whenever we talked with her, it brought a great peace to her heart despite all the problems in her life.  She said that morning she was feeling especially depressed and wrote a rather harsh letter to someone else in her AA group and, just as she finished it, we knocked on her door.  She know that this is truth and that we are sent of God.  She could feel it. 
 
That's all the news I have for this week.  Once again I get transferred, but I know that the Lord wants me in the offices now.  That same peace that Leticia feels is the same peace in my heart as I ask about this new assignment.  All will be well.
 
The song on my mind this week is Ye Elders of Israel
 
1. Ye elders of Israel, come join now with me
And seek out the righteous, where’er they may be—
In desert, on mountain, on land, or on sea—
And bring them to Zion, the pure and the free.
O Babylon, O Babylon, we bid thee farewell;
We’re going to the mountains of Ephraim to dwell.
2. The harvest is great, and the lab’rers are few;
But if we’re united, we all things can do.
We’ll gather the wheat from the midst of the tares
And bring them from bondage, from sorrows and snares.
O Babylon, O Babylon, we bid thee farewell;
We’re going to the mountains of Ephraim to dwell.
3. We’ll go to the poor, like our Captain of old,
And visit the weary, the hungry, and cold;
We’ll cheer up their hearts with the news that he bore
And point them to Zion and life evermore.
O Babylon, O Babylon, we bid thee farewell;
We’re going to the mountains of Ephraim to dwell.
 This week I've been reading about Zion and the more I live in the very not zion-like city of Iztapalapa, the more I long to live in Zion.  I know that, one day, we will make Zion on earth again.  It will be a place of peace and joy in righteousness.  I'm excited for the day to either find a place that is like Zion or the day that we establish the city of Zion herself again.  I know that it will be established as part of the coming of the Lord.  I know that my Savior will come again.  I know that this church has been established to prepare the world for that coming of my Lord and Savior.  I know it is true because I feel it in my heart and have studied it in my mind.  It is true!  I know it!
All My Love,
Élder Sudbury
PS Mom, sorry about the expenses, I'm working on it.  Dad, please send that letter by Élder Packer, if you can.  SA and Matt, let me know how interviews are going.  MA and Tim, Ju and Chris, and Noella, I'm gonna write you in a minute. :)

Monday, January 10, 2011

Letter from Curtis, January 10, 2011

Hello World,
 
Well, it's been an interesting week.  We got the results back from the studies we've been doing with Élder Wayman but they were somewhat inconclusive.  We're trying a rather expensive treatment to see if it makes any difference in the amount of water he's drinking.  We'll see...  I somehow managed to get Plantar Fasciitis and had to rest for a few days, but I'm better now :).  I got to do some exchanges with the zone leaders this week.  They had one family in particular that it was simply a joy to teach.  The Spirit was quite strong and this family really wants to find Truth.  I enjoyed it immensely.  This upcoming week I have a mission leader's council and interviews with the President.  It should be interesting.
 
Due to our two doctor visits and exchanges, not much has changed in our area this last week.  We are finally making some progress in the stake, however, in establishing the rule that you simply must go to the ward that you pertain to.  My testimony of the Church being one of Godly order has certainly grown in this area.  On a side note, during our hours of having a spot in the local flea market, I've taken up knitting, being inspired by JuleeAnn's crocheting skills. 
 
And that's the way it is. :)
 
This week's email is brought to you by Lead Kindly Light
Lead, kindly Light, amid th’encircling gloom;
Lead thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home;
Lead thou me on!
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene—one step enough for me.
I was not ever thus, nor pray’d that thou
Shouldst lead me on.
I loved to choose and see my path; but now,
Lead thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years.
So long thy pow’r hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone.
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile!
I know that that Divine Light has and does lead me.  I have felt its light and warmth.  It is real.  I know that God Himself lives and loves us.  I know that this is His Church.  That makes all the difference to me.
All My Love,
Élder Sudbury
PS Mom and Dad, I'm excited to play Dominion when I get home.  MA, Tim, Ryan, and Zoë, I hope you enjoyed your new years festivities.  SA, Matt, Hannah, Sammy, and baby-she-hulk, Good luck on matches, you're in my prayers.  Noella, I got your card, thank you :).  JuleeAnn and Chris, best of luck with all those baby booties.  Good luck on the whole choosing where to go to school thing ;).  I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Letter from Curtis January 3, 2011

Well, I sent a letter on friday, so there's not a lot of news.  Élder Wayman hurt his back, but some injections prescribed by our mission doctor and a bit of rest seem to have done the trick.  We're going to get back the results of the studies we've been doing on wednesday and going to the doctor.  It should be exciting.  Lots of people should be getting back from vacation this week, so I hope all goes well :).
 
This week's email is really short, as I really haven't anything to write about...but here's one of my favorite hymns: How Firm a Foundation
How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said,
Who unto the Savior, who unto the Savior,
Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?
In ev’ry condition—in sickness, in health,
In poverty’s vale or abounding in wealth,
At home or abroad, on the land or the sea—
As thy days may demand, as thy days may demand,
As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be.
Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not thee o’erflow,
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee, and sanctify to thee,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply.
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, thy dross to consume,
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
E’en down to old age, all my people shall prove
My sov’reign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And then, when gray hair shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs shall they still, like lambs shall they still,
Like lambs shall they still in my bosom be borne.
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, I’ll never, no never,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!
I know that My God will never forsake me, for I rely on His Son.  I know that everyone, no matter what race, creed, background, gender, or anything else they may be, is a son or daughter of God.  I know that everyone can find healing at the feet of the Savior, the great physician.  I know that God lives.   I know He loves all of us.  I know that no one is separated from the love of God.  He gives us trials, but he knows how to refine us by them.  I know this is His church.  I know it.
All my love,
Élder Sudbury
PS Happy new years to all, I'll have more to write next week.  Ju, mom, and dad, I got your emails.  Noella, I got your christmas card.  Thank you :)

Letter from Curtis, December 31, 2010

Well, it's been a pretty good week.  Not many people made it to church this week, but we still got to do a lot of good work.  We met again with the family of Julio and his wife Laura.  They seem to really want to progress.  They also have three teenagers that seem willing to at least listen and see what's there.  I'm really excited about them!  They promised to come this week to church as well, so I'm excited!
 
I went on exchanges yesterday for my birthday ;).  It was actually really nice.  I went with Élder Robinson, an ex-secretary of the mission that has always done good work.  We did some good work yeterday and all went well.  I oficially feel old...two decades! ;)
 
Other highlights include one of the elders in my district being in pain from wisdom teeth and requiring a special transfer that he requested, today being new years eve, and eating a LOT of tacos at the bishop's house today.  It was pretty fun.  We played some games with them as it was our preparation day and we had the time.  Good old fashioned stick-pull was one of my favorites...I never lost...even against the rather strong bishop :).  A fun day.
 
Well, being the end of the year, the song I would like to share is Ring Out Wild Bells.
Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light.
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
Ring out the old; ring in the new.
Ring, happy bells, across the snow.
The year is going; let him go.
Ring out the false; ring in the true.
The year is going; let him go.
Ring out the false; ring in the true.
Ring in the valiant men and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand.
Ring out the darkness of the land;
Ring in the Christ that is to be.
Ring out the darkness of the land;
Ring in the Christ that is to be.
I've always loved the sound and imagery of this song.  The idea of bells has always been important to my family and we love ringing in the new year.  At this time of year I want to add my voice as one to "ring in the Christ that is to be."  I know He came.  I know he is coming!  I hope to recommit, repledge my strength to build up the Kingdom of God this year.  With the apostles, I add this affirmation: "God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son."  I know He came, lived to guide us, died to save us, and rose again to give us hope of the same.  I know that this Church is His and I hope to spend all my days serving Him.  He is my Savior, my Redeemer, my all.
All my Love, and Happy New Year!
Élder Sudbury
PS.  Mom and dad, enjoy ringing in the new year.  Melanie, I'm not sure I've properly thanked you for all those discs.  Thank You!  Feel better!  Tim, It was good to talk with you.  I hope all is well in your family.  SA and Matt, I hope the five of you enjoy a good rest for the holidays.  Noella, I hope you enjoyed the party with Justice Neering.  Any plans for the upcoming year after you leave that office?  JuleeAnn and Chris, I'm sorry I couldn't call you.  I'm only authorized to call the number of the padres.  I miss you and hope you enjoyed Christmas!  Ju, I'm excited to see Despicable Me (here it's called My Favorite Villain), I've heard it's pretty good from my companion and so, in two years or so, I'll watch it with you ;).
I LOVE ALL OF YOU!!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!