Elder Curtis Sudbury

Elder Curtis Sudbury

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Letter From Curtis March 19, 2011

Hello Family,
It's been a very long week. We've had the blessing of being able to work in our area more this last week than we have for some time, nevertheless, we've had quite a few interesting challenges. We have had some hard times with our investigators. One moved; two, we found out, don't believe in the Bible or in Sin and are quite firm in that belief and refuse to listen to any explanation; one is still waiting for her husband to get out of jail so she can focus more on the church; one thinks she's too old for church; and we haven't found the rest. I'm very tired, but I know that God will bless the work we've done. We haven't seen much success in bringing these people, who we love dearly, to the knowledge that has brought us so much joy, but we keep trying. We know there are many, many people in our area that are waiting and willing to listen and make the changes necessary to be truly happy. We are working hard to try to find them.

We have had some difficulties due to our assignment. We found out a couple weeks ago that my visa and those of a few other elders had not been appropriately processed and we had been illegals in México for almost a year. The good part is that it was a mistake of the national registry, not us, so we didn't have to pay. Nevertheless, it took quite some time to fix everything. Furthermore, two missionaries got rather sick this week and we've been bringing them authorization letters and medications and it's been very, very busy. We just barely got back from several errands we had to run in the morning. I'm exhausted.
Nevertheless (I've always liked that word, weird as it sounds), I know that God has been with us. I can't count the times we've been on the way home and needed to get there faster and I prayed for help and suddenly the traffic started to clear. On Friday morning we needed President to sign a check so we would have money for some elders who need it this weekend. We started to run very late and we were afraid we weren't going to reach him on time. I said a quick prayer and we went on our way. That trip at that time of day, due to traffic, has never taken me less than 2 hours. We got there in 45 minutes. It wasn't that I was driving especially recklessly, rather there just simply wasn't any traffic. I've never seen so little traffic at that hour. Perhaps outside traditional missionary work I have more faith because I've seen, over and over again, the hand of God in my life. I need to develop the same assurance in missionary work that I have for my daily tasks and chores. I'm working on it.
I want you all to know how grateful I am for all your support. I've been in the mission for over a year now and so many of you keep writing me, letting me know you're well, and that you love me. I really appreciate it.
This week's letter is brought by Each Life that Touches Ours for Good
Each life that touches ours for good
Reflects thine own great mercy, Lord;
Thou sendest blessings from above
Thru words and deeds of those who love.

What greater gift dost thou bestow,
What greater goodness can we know
Than Christlike friends, whose gentle ways
Strengthen our faith, enrich our days.

When such a friend from us departs,
We hold forever in our hearts
A sweet and hallowed memory,
Bringing us nearer, Lord, to thee.

For worthy friends whose lives proclaim
Devotion to the Savior’s name,
Who bless our days with peace and love,
We praise thy goodness, Lord, above.

I can't express how grateful I am for the many people in my life that have blessed me dearly. So many dear friends that have brought me closer to the Lord. So many times that I've seen the Savior's miracles through their acts. I know friends are a sacred trust and blessing. I know that the Lord is my best Friend. Each of my dear friends that leads me closer to the true path are living reflections of Him in my life. I know that He will always be with me. I know that He will stand by me, guide me, mourn with me, and always guide me. He is my Best Friend, my Redeemer, and my Savior. I am trying to become the kind of person that can be a Friend to Him. That is my goal. I will never let anything get between Him and me. I can't be more grateful for the feeling in my heart that He loves me, cares about me, and is my Friend. I hope, also, to reflect that Friendship to those around me so that they might, like I have, draw closer to Him.

All My Love,
Élder Sudbury

P.S. MA and Tim, heal well and take care of my darling neice and nephew. SalleeAnn and Matt, Congrats on matching, what program will it be? Noella, I haven't heard much from you lately, what's new? Ju and Chris, Congrats on MIT. Mom and Dad, thank you for your letters every week. Dad, I loved that line from last week you sent me. Mom, which Amanda? You'll be fine in stats. Things will work out. :) Just ask Ju and Chris. When Ju was writing me really frustrated with her work and colleagues and everything, just at the worst moment, everything worked out precisely as it was supposed to. "Things will work out. Keep trying. Be believing. Don't get discouraged. Things will work out" (President Hinckley). I love you all!

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Curtis, now the mission secretary, shares an office with other missionaries

Curtis and his companion

Letter From Curtis March 12, 2011

Well, it's been an interesting week.  Transfers were this week.  We received a new Assistant to the President, Élder Carreón, here in the offices.  Élder Villaseñor and I didn't change at all.  I feel significantly better from my sunburn, I appreciate all your prayers on my behalf.  We were busy for the majority of the week with the many changes that tranfers require.  Picking up new missionaries, bringing them to instructions, instructing them, helping Sister Chávez cook and clean, taking some of them to their areas, ferrying here and there the missionaries that were leaving, taking care of all the things we need to do in the offices by the deadlines we have...it's been a busy week. :)  We finally got to go to the area yesterday.  It was a great blessing. 

I have come to really enjoy the time we have to be with President and his family.  Perhaps it is because he is so dedicated to his work as Mission President or perhaps it's just how he has raised his family, but the Spirit of God is always very strong in that house.  I admire Sister Chávez a lot.  She is very spiritual and full of light, although being a mission president's wife is perhaps one of the hardest things I can imagine.  I've also recently grown more and more grateful for having President Chávez as my mission president.  He loves the scriptures and requires of us conscious, heartfelt change.  He is always seeking to teach us and make us better.  I'm very grateful for that blessing.  We met some elders from one of the other missions near here this week.  They were secretaries and assistants, but it was clear that their president put emphasis in different things than ours.  Their shoes were not polished and looked like they hadn't been in several weeks, but their hair was impeccably kept.  They had some habits that we've taken great pains to get rid of here such as informal speaking.  They seem like small things, perhaps, to the rest of the world, but to a missionary they are each important.  We've had those habits, speaking informally and being less than well dressed, in this mission; but what I'm grateful for is that we have a mission president who cared about us and this work enough to point out that it's not OK.  I've learned to be more and more grateful for the correction I receive from my leaders.

That's about all the news that we have this week.  God keeps blessing us with miracles and trials to help us grow.  We're learning, bit by bit. :)

This week's letter is brought to you by the hymn of our mission, We'll Bring the World His Truth
We have been born, as Nephi of old,
To goodly parents who love the Lord.
We have been taught, and we understand,
That we must do as the Lord commands.
We are as the army of Helaman.
We have been taught in our youth.
And we will be the Lord’s missionaries
To bring the world his truth.
We have been saved for these latter days
To build the kingdom in righteous ways.
We hear the words our prophet declares:
“Let each who’s worthy go forth and share.”
We are as the army of Helaman.
We have been taught in our youth.
And we will be the Lord’s missionaries
To bring the world his truth.
We know his plan, and we will prepare,
Increase our knowledge through study and prayer.
Daily we’ll learn until we are called
To take the gospel to all the world.
We are as the army of Helaman.
We have been taught in our youth.
And we will be the Lord’s missionaries
To bring the world his truth.
We are as the Army of Helaman.  We have been raised by good people who have done their best to teach us the paths of truth.  We must do as the Lord commands, for we have covenanted to do so.  We will bring the world His Truth.  I have found such great peace as I have learned and lived the gospel.  The peace that fills my heart and the joy in my life doesn't come from me, I know it comes from my Father and the testimony of the Holy Ghost.  I know it is true.  In my heart is that peace.  For anyone reading this, please, ask Him if it is true.  I know, if you do, you will find a great peace that will fill you with the knowledge of its truth.  It is the peace in me and whoever you are, wherever you are, I want you to have it.  Ask and you will know.  That is my testimony.
All My Love,
Élder Sudbury
PS I feel much better, really, thank you.  Mom and Dad, the valentine's package got here this week.  Thanks for the candy and the card.  Melanie, feel better.  Tim, your card got here ;).  SalleeAnn and Matt, have you found out where you've matched yet?  Noella, I'm not sure I told you, but your card got here.  How are you? What's new?  Ju and Chris, have you decided on MIT yet? ;)  I love you all!

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Curtis on top of the volcano several missionaries hiked to on P-day

Closeup of the missionaries who went to the volcano

At the volcano

Letter from Curtis March 5, 2011

Hello World :)

It's been an interesting week.� I think I have parasites again :P.� I'm super hungry all the time and my stomach has been feeling funny and I poop a lot...classic symptoms of parasites.� I'm going to set up an appointment with the doctor to get myself checked out.� Past that, we actually changed our Preparation day to yesterday...but some interesting things happened.� We decided to go climb one of the volcanoes in Amecameca called The Sleeping Woman.� We thought it would be a relatively easy climb...not so.� After the first three hours we really had to turn back in order to get home on time.� We weren't anywhere near the top, but it was time to go.� Unfortunately, with the exception of one, they didn't want to go back without getting closer to the top.� I stayed with the one, Elder Jessup, at about the halfway point.� I felt that I was starting to get burned quite badly, not thinking we were going to be up for too much time I didn't put on sunblock, and I suggested that we go back to the car.� He was worried for the others that one of them might get hurt and need help down, so we stayed there.� We thought they were going to be gone for another half an hour, at the latest, but three hours later we finally decided that we needed to get back down, as both of us were getting dehydrated and were already quite badly burned.� We got down and got water.� We got enough signal to call them and they told us they had gotten a bit lost but were headed back down the mountain.� We waited for them in the car and they finally got down, but rather late, very dehydrated, and very tired.� We finally got home at 9:30 at night.� I'm very badly burned and don't believe I'll make it to the area today to work.� They had learned an important lesson that I had been thinking about most the day.� The Hebrew word for repentance also means "to turn back."� The appropriate time to leave came and went and, despite our urgings, they stayed on the mountain.� They didn't reach the top and, realizing the danger they were in, decided to "repent" and "turn back."� They way was not easy and they got lost more than once, for they didn't know the path back and it was getting dark.� They were blessed to finally make it to the bottom without too many problems and they were, by that point, very repentant.� I learned more deeply for myself the meaning of a favorite scripture:

And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.
They almost procrastinated until the end and the consequences could have been much more drastic.� The night of darkess will eventually come where it will be too late to repent.� The happy message that we bring to people is that that day has not yet come for them.� No matter how dark the day of life seems to them, even some who think the sun is gone and will not return, all those still alive have a chance to return, repent, and be healed.
Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out of your synagogues, or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them;
I have learned more and more that that promise is true.� None is cast off yet, for they are still alive.� Turn back and God will heal you.
Well, that's about all that is new with me and mine in the mission.� President is finishing changes tomorrow and we'll see how it goes.�
This week's song is one that has been going through my head recently, it is called, Let us All Press On:
1. Let us all press on in the work of the Lord,
That when life is o弾r we may gain a reward;
In the fight for right let us wield a sword,
The mighty sword of truth.
[Chorus: Soprano]
Fear not, though the enemy deride;
Courage, for the Lord is on our side.
We will heed not what the wicked may say,
But the Lord alone we will obey.
[Chorus: Alto, Tenor, and Bass]
Fear not, courage, though the enemy deride;
We must be victorious, for the Lord is on our side.
We値l not fear the wicked nor give heed to what they say,
But the Lord, our Heav地ly Father, him alone we will obey.
2. We will not retreat, though our numbers may be few
When compared with the opposite host in view;
But an unseen pow池 will aid me and you
In the glorious cause of truth.
[Chorus: Soprano]
Fear not, though the enemy deride;
Courage, for the Lord is on our side.
We will heed not what the wicked may say,
But the Lord alone we will obey.
[Chorus: Alto, Tenor, and Bass]
Fear not, courage, though the enemy deride;
We must be victorious, for the Lord is on our side.
We値l not fear the wicked nor give heed to what they say,
But the Lord, our Heav地ly Father, him alone we will obey.
3. If we do what痴 right we have no need to fear,
For the Lord, our helper, will ever be near;
In the days of trial his Saints he will cheer,
And prosper the cause of truth.
[Chorus: Soprano]
Fear not, though the enemy deride;
Courage, for the Lord is on our side.
We will heed not what the wicked may say,
But the Lord alone we will obey.
[Chorus: Alto, Tenor, and Bass]
Fear not, courage, though the enemy deride;
We must be victorious, for the Lord is on our side.
We値l not fear the wicked nor give heed to what they say,
But the Lord, our Heav地ly Father, him alone we will obey.
This song has helped me a lot.� Sometimes when I'm tired and sick, though well enough to go to the area (unlike today), I just don't want to.� But this song reminds me of the glorious cause in which I am engaged, the cause of Truth.� I will always press on, for I know the Truth and am filled, often, with the love of God for His children.� It is hard for me to rest because, though I don't know everything, I have a strong feeling in my heart that it is true.� I know enough.� Many people seek to cause me to doubt, citing references of something or other, but nothing that anyone could ever say can change the feeling in my heart.� I know it is true.� I know this is the cause of Truth; to help others feel what I feel.� I hope to "press on" in this work all my life, without fear and courage for we will be victorious in the end.� I will obey my Lord forever.
All my Love,
Elder Sudbury