Elder Curtis Sudbury

Elder Curtis Sudbury

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Letter from Curtis Febuary 25, 2011

Dear world,

It never ceases to amaze me that, for almost a full year now, you have been reading these messages.  I don't know that I wouldn't have gotten bored with them after the first month :P.

We've had an interesting week.  We had four zone conferences this week.  The Assistants went to two and we went to two.  President gave the majority of the instruction, but wanted somebody there to help him show his plan in a role-playing situation, which is the real reason why we went.  We felt the Spirit strongly in the conference and I always left having learned something new, although I heard the same instruction 3 times.  All is going well. :)

I have seen miracles this week, especially in the offices.  I finished all of the largest, most important pending business on Monday so I could go to the conferences on Tuesday and Wednesday without problem.  Thursday I finished the last bit and Friday I was free to organize my computer a bit more.  It was truly a blessing to have that opportunity.

On the other hand, we have started to see great challenges in the area.  We saw the miracle of an investigator beginning to progress and understand how the Gospel can help her find the peace she wants in her life.  We also saw, sadly, another investigator who can't understand that the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has everything that he's been looking for for SO long.  He wants the Melchizedek Priesthood, he wants the opportunity to work with angels, he wants to be a missionary, but he can't see, no matter what we say, that this church has all of that.  We have an appointment with him tonight and I hope it goes better.  Another that has read the Pearl of Great Price and also believes it is true, but doesn't accept that the church can help her return with God.  My parents are going to see the play "A Tale of Two Cities" and it feels like the opening lines of that play right now: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way."  I hope all goes well.

I am growing to love the people here even more.  I said in my talk when I left (almost a year ago now) that the center of the Church and the Gospel is Love.  I affirm that truth.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is centered on Love.  One time an interpreter of the Law asked the Master what he should do to obtain eternal life.  The Savior returned the question to him and he answered, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your might, and with all your mind, and with all your strength; and love your neighbor as yourself.  The Savior said that that was correct, do that and you will live.  The very key to eternal life is Love!  I am learning that more and more and I thought I would share that with you.

This week's letter is brought to you by the Children's Hymn I Feel My Savior's Love
I feel my Savior’s love
In all the world around me.
His Spirit warms my soul
Through ev’rything I see.
He knows I will follow him,
Give all my life to him.
I feel my Savior’s love,
The love he freely gives me.

I feel my Savior's love.  I see it everywhere.  I know He Lives and Loves me.  I know that He has done and will do everything He can to help me grow, progress, and return with Him because He loves me.  He does not seek power or authority over us, although he has it, but rather seeks to lift us to where He is.  He wants us to be like Him and His Father.  That is the great plan of happiness.  That is the message of peace we bring.  Peace in this life and exaltation in the life to come is available to all.  Like the Savior said, Come and See.  I have come and seen.  I know that He is there and that this church has been established by Him to help us return to Him and be as He is.

All my Love,
Élder Sudbury

PS  Melanie, I hope you are feeling better.  Tim, have you decided what type of anesthesiologist you want to be?  Zoë, I received your letter.  Thank you :).  I love you too.  Ryan, sing on birdman ;).  Matt and SalleeAnn, I expect to know the moment you get news on your program.  Noella, I hope you get well soon from your tooth extraction.  Ju & Chris, enjoy Boston, I expect details. 

I love you all!!!


Saturday, February 19, 2011

Letter from Curtis February 19, 2011

Hello World,

I'm sorry if my letters have been somewhat brief recently.  We've been rather busy.  We don't really have any contact with the sister that went home, but i do hope she's alright.  We started zone conferences this week with a focus on teaching skills.  We found that many missionaries are focusing on lessons instead of people and so we're trying to help everyone become better teachers.  We're doing what we can.  We've found that one of the big problems is that missionaries aren't providing the context of why we need to have faith, keep the commandments, be baptized and confirmed, why there needed to be a restoration, and why we needed churches and prophets in the first place.  We are trying to help the missionaries understand that it is all part of God's great Plan of Happiness, the Plan of Redemption.  We are helping them teach investigators that we were with God before this earth and that our goal should be to get there after.  We're helping them understand that God created a plan to help them do so and that this church is a fundamental part of that plan.  We're trying to help them see where what we teach them fits in the big picture. :)

Things are finally starting to wind down in the office side of things.  I still have a lot to do, but significantly less.  The workload has dropped from ridiculous to mostly manageable. ;)  A few more things need to be put in order, but it's nearing the stability point :).

We have started to implement this idea of helping investigators see the big picture with our investigators.  I really like it.  It has helped me focus on them and love them even more.  I'm now helping them understand, not just helping them get information.  The Spirit has a much bigger role, I think, in helping people understand than just getting information.

It's been great to see the amount that God prepares people to look for the message of truth.  One person in particular, Monika, has passed through some very hard times recently.  She has been rather sick and needed a surgery, she has three kids, and her husband recently went to jail.  She had her surgery and has had a rather miraculous recovery.  Her husband has found an even closer link to God in prison and she has realized that the hand of God is really in her life.  Just as everything started to blow up in her face, a great missionary named Élder Segura decided, walking down the street, to go up to her and invite her to listen to the Gospel message; it is a message of peace and healing to all who will come and see.  She knows that there was a reason that he felt he should talk with her.  God truly prepares people.

That's most of what's been going on this week.

We went to the wax museum and the ripley's believe it or not museum today as a district (us and the assistants).  It was an interesting trip, but Élder Villaseñor really liked it, so I'm glad we went.  We've been having a couple problems lately, but we had a good long talk tonight.  We didn't feel we were very united as a companionship, and we started figuring out why.  We used the "When you_______, it makes me feel _________" model (thanks Mom) and it worked out fantastically.  We are getting along, with our ups and downs.

This week's letter is brought to you by I Know that My Redeemer Lives:

1. I know that my Redeemer lives.
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead.
He lives, my ever-living Head.
He lives to bless me with his love.
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed.
He lives to bless in time of need.
2. He lives to grant me rich supply.
He lives to guide me with his eye.
He lives to comfort me when faint.
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears.
He lives to wipe away my tears.
He lives to calm my troubled heart.
He lives all blessings to impart.
3. He lives, my kind, wise heav’nly Friend.
He lives and loves me to the end.
He lives, and while he lives, I’ll sing.
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.
He lives and grants me daily breath.
He lives, and I shall conquer death.
He lives my mansion to prepare.
He lives to bring me safely there.
4. He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”
He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”
In the last several weeks I have come to rely on my Savior more and more.  I know that my Redeemer lives!  I know that He is there to silence all my fears, wipe away my tears, and calme my troubled heart.  I know that, sometimes when everything seems to be blowing up in my face that, as I have knelt and asked for help, a great peace has filled my heart.  That peace did not come from me.  He lives and loves me till the end.  I know that He loves me, despite my many faults, because I have felt His Love.  I can't explain it, and I don't deserve it, but I know that He loves me and is with me forever.  I know, without doubt, that, though I can't see Him, that He lives!  I know he is with me, for I have felt him holding me up, standing, and walking by my side.  I will never forget this, I know that my Redeemer, Savior, and best Friend lives!
All my Love,
Élder Sudbury

Monday, February 14, 2011

Letter from Curtis on February 14, 2011

Hello World,

Well, there was a sister in our mission, Sister Rodriguez, that had been in a bit of pain for some time.  She kept seeming to get worse and last Friday afternoon the doctor decided to send her to the hospital.  We, having one of the only two cars in the whole mission, picked her up, took her to the hospital, and left her there.  We got a call the next day (Saturday) that the sister needed to go home for medical reasons.  We made the flight plans in the morning, and then went to the hospital.  We had to tell this dear sister that she was being sent home.  She has a very large hernia in her back.  It is apparently pushing up against her siatic nerve and causing her a LOT of pain.  It must be operated on and there's the possibility that she will be paralyzed from the waist down after the surgery.  If you could all pray for her, I would really appreciate it.  I was very impressed with this sister.  Weird as it may sound, she was filled with so much light and love that I couldn't help but love her, very much like the many friends I have back home.  For a minute I felt the love God has for her and it was so contagious that I couldn't help but see her as a dear sister from that time on.  I very much hope all will be well with her.  We spent the day with her and her companion and took them to the airport in the night.

The whole matter was filled with miracles.  We couldn't open the garage door to go pick them up to take them to the hospital because the power went out.  We knelt and prayed and, almost as soon as we said "amen" the power came back on.  The doctor that attends missionaries at this hospital should have left some two hours before we got there, but he was in a surgery that ran late and got out right as we got there.  We got a flight ridiculously fast.  The sisters came from the area furthest away in the mission and we sent the assistants in the van to pick up their luggage.  The flight left at seven and at 4:30 they still hadn't gotten to the house of the sisters.  Somehow the assistants picked up her luggage and got to the airport, a trip of an hour and a half to two hours, by 6:00.  Again, miraculously, there was absolutely nobody in the airport so we got the ticket and got her to security VERY fast.  God's hand is over this sister.  I do hope the miracles continue for her.

We've been seeing miracles all week.  We had three investigators come to church this week.  They all seemed to really like it as well.  I'm so grateful for the blessings in our area and in the offices.

The only downside that I can see right now is that I'm a bit sick.  I've thrown up today and am not feeling well.  I'll be fine :P.

I'm currently fixing all of the ward boundaries in google earth so that my job as records secretary assigning referrals is a little easier.  Busy busy busy :P.

Well, that's about all from the battle front for now.  All is well. :)

This week's letter is brought to you by Onward Christian Soldiers

1. Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
Christ, the royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See his banners go!

Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
2. At the sign of triumph
Satan’s host doth flee;
On, then, Christian soldiers,
On to victory.
Hell’s foundations quiver
At the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices,
Loud your anthems raise.
Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
3. Like a mighty army
Moves the Church of God;
Brothers, we are treading
Where the Saints have trod.
We are not divided;
All one body we:
One in hope and doctrine,
One in charity.
Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
4. Onward, then, ye people;
Join our happy throng.
Blend with ours your voices
In the triumph song:
Glory, laud, and honor
Unto Christ, the King.
This through countless ages
Men and angels sing.
Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
I am part of that Royal Army.  I know the battle I am fighting.  It is for the souls of men.  I know my God is with me, my King fights beside me.  I know that, as bad as the world gets, God will triumph at the end of the world.  I know that day is coming swiftly.  I know that this world will suffer much, but will rejoice over the few people who trust in the Powers of Heaven.  I know that this Church is God's Kingdom on the earth.  I know that, should earth and hell combine against us, we will still prevail.  I know that God has a plan for us to be like him and, should we put ourselves in His hands, He will do everything possible to guide us into Eternal Life.  Let us do so!  There is nothing greater!  It is worth all the pain, suffering, sacrifice, lost friendships, time, and anything else to receive that greatest of all gifts.  I know that Eternal Life is my goal and I know I can receive it.  I hope to be faithful to that charge all my life.
All my Love,
Élder Sudbury

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Letter form Curtis February 4, 2011

Hello World,

This has been one of the craziest weeks ever.  I've been up pretty late most nights and have worked extra hours in the office.  My predecessor, good as he was, was not especially organized.  That simple fact has cost me a lot of time.  I've almost got everything back to where I want it, however, so I'm happy. :)

Allow me to describe a bit more about where I live and what I do.  There are two of us in this house.  It's rather large, 3 floors.  There is a sleeping capacity of some 20 missionaries but, except when the assistants come to stay the night, it's usually just Élder Villaseñor and I here.  The mission president and his family have a separate house about an hour away.  We are located largely in the middle of the federal district and it's an interesting place.  I am in charge of finances and records.  Anything that happens in the mission that has to do with money, be it reimbursements, medical expenses, monthly money, etc, it's my job do deal with it, record it, and pay for it.  Furthermore, all the referrals that pass through the mission have to be logged and assigned, and the baptismal records have to be recorded and submitted.  It's a lot of paperwork and busywork.  I'm changing a few things so that I don't have to spend quite so much time in the offices.  My companion doesn't have his licence, so I have to drive him to the various places he has to go.  Our mission vehicle is HUGE.  We'll see what happens. :)  My companion is in charge of the visas and the materials of the mission.  We're both very busy.

We haven't been able to do a lot of work in the area recently due to the demands of getting the secretary work under control, but we've been seeing miracles all around us.  At times I'll get lost driving around the labirynth that is the federal district and I get a distinct feeling to turn down a completely random road that ends up taking me exactly where I need to go.  I will be logging something and not know where to find the information I need and the Spirit tells me to look somewhere very random.  The information is always right there.  I know God is with me.

I'm grateful for all your support and love, thank you for the letters and the prayers :).

This week's letter is brought to you by, Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel.
1. The world has need of willing men
Who wear the worker’s seal.
Come, help the good work move along;
Put your shoulder to the wheel.

Put your shoulder to the wheel; push along,
Do your duty with a heart full of song,
We all have work; let no one shirk.
Put your shoulder to the wheel.
The Church has need of helping hands,
And hearts that know and feel.
The work to do is here for you;
Put your shoulder to the wheel.
Put your shoulder to the wheel; push along,
Do your duty with a heart full of song,
We all have work; let no one shirk.
Put your shoulder to the wheel.
Then don’t stand idly looking on;
The fight with sin is real.
It will be long but must go on;
Put your shoulder to the wheel.
Put your shoulder to the wheel; push along,
Do your duty with a heart full of song,
We all have work; let no one shirk.
Put your shoulder to the wheel.
Then work and watch and fight and pray
With all your might and zeal.
Push ev’ry worthy work along;
Put your shoulder to the wheel.
Put your shoulder to the wheel; push along,
Do your duty with a heart full of song,
We all have work; let no one shirk.
Put your shoulder to the wheel.
We are putting our shoulder to the wheel here.  All our heart is in this work.  I cannot stand idly looking on, but rather must work and fight and do all good things. :)  I'm exhausted, but happy.  I know that God is guiding me.  I know that, the more we put ourselves in this work, the more He puts His hand in it to help us.  I know that He loves me and is happy with my work.  I know that He is there to support me and guide me.  I know He lives, for I feel His healing, loving power.  I love Him and I know He loves me.

I hope all is well with all of you.

All my Love,
Élder Sudbury

PS Thanks for the support one and all.  Mom and Dad, I live in the mission offices, not the mission home ;).  MA and Tim, I wrote you seperately, thank you for the emails.  SA and Matt, let me know when you match.  NA, I hope you're healing well.  What's on your mind recently?  Ju and Chris, how much longer can you stay in the apartments where you are? Just curious. :)  All my love, my dear family. :)

Curtis' letter January 29, 2011

Hello World,

Well, I am absolutely exhausted.  The first week of the transfer in the offices is officially the craziest thing I've ever dealt with.  We are now the only two secretaries and I'm being trained until tomorrow morning.  I haven't had a ton of sleep for trying to catch up on all the things that I need to learn.  After this week things should calm down a bit. 

My new assignment, for the majority of the time, will occupy the first half of the work day and then we leave to work in our area the second half.  We haven't had much time to do that this week with me learning, taking missionaries back and forth from the airport, taking materials in the mission van, and everything else we have to do.  I hope we have a good week this week that is coming.  I actually really like it, though.  I get to be put in contact more often with President and the assistants.  All will go well. 

Some missionaries left this change.  We got to go to that dinner and help Hermana Chávez to clean up.  We heard some of what President told the missionaries that were leaving.  It was a really spiritual evening and I really enjoyed it (and the food). :)

We got a new missionary yesterday.  He hung out in the Utah Ogden Mission while he waited for his visa as well.  His zone leader was Élder Banda, my companion.  It was good to hear a little news from that mission.

That's all the news I really have.  It's been a strange, very busy week.  Mexico city streets are completely crazy and I have to drive up and down them.  I've already gotten super lost twice :P.  That's my biggest news.  God's hand is over me, though.  Even after getting lost in México sometimes I'll get the impression to turn down some street I've never even seen before and it just happens to be exactly the street we need to get home.  God is watching over us.  :)

This week's email is brought to you by the number 3 ;).  And the song: Lead Kindly Light
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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, so often, I have been led by that light, seemingly "o'er grag and torrent."  In all the hectic schedule of life, in all the madness that is the world, I can always trust in that Divine Light.  I know God is guiding me in my life.  I know He is there and that He loves me.  I know that he will do all he can to help me as I put myself in His hands.  I'm so grateful!  I rejoice in my God, for He is all powerful.  I love Him and I know He loves me. :)
All my Love,
Élder Sudbury
P.S. Thanks for the vote of support everyone :).  Ju, good luck in the work life.  NA, you didn't tell me you slipped a disk.  How long is recovery?  SA & Matt, got your christmas card, I loved it.  Your kids are adorable ;).  MA & Tim, I hope things are going well, you should share an experience with me from work/life.  Mom & Dad, wow, time does go by fast.  Ryan will be coming home this Christmas...crazy.  So you all know, you can still write me Sunday if you feel like it, I'll just read them the following Saturday.  I love you all!