The Key to the Heart is DESSERT!!!!!

OKAY OKAY OKAY OKAY - I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT I WROTE LAST WEEK, (because it was a whole week ago...) BUT HERMANA BUNDERSON AND I ARE STILL COMPANIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE SUTTON AND BUNDERSON TEAM KEEPS GOING ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK GOODNESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND WE DON'T THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE CHANGES BEFORE CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  SORRY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I SAID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA (that’s what you get for writing really fast!!!)

So pretty much this week was full of practices after practices after practices!!!!  We are planning for a big Christmas concert we are having the 12^th of December!!!  It is going to be in this huge and nice concert hall!  We finally have all the songs chosen, arranged, and now we are just starting the practices in all of the zones!!!  I AM SOOOOO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  What we are going to do is the life of Christ but reverse....  We are starting with the resurrection, then miracles, and all that jazz, and then ending with his birth!!!  The choir sounds good and everyday I get more excited!  But it takes a lot of time going to the offices almost every day - but it is going to be so worth it!!!  So if you all want to head down to El Paso and jump the border, the 12^th  would be the day to do it!!!!!  I could talk to my friends and see if they will let my white family through!!! ;)

Other than that our week was really great; we are working a lot with Lamar to get him all set and ready for the big baptismal day!!!  His family (the familia Rodriguez) are so great at supporting him and we absolutely LOVE visiting them and feeling part of their family!!!!  I also think it helps that they speak English!!!  But other than the great experiences with Lamar, we are teaching these two other crazy ladies that are a HOOT and a half!!!  Francisca and Tonia!!!!  They are friends but act like sisters; they invited us on Thursday (I think) to make a cheesecake, and since that moment we have had their trust!!!!  (THE KEY TO THE HEART REALLY IS DESSERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! COOKIES AND CAKE AND PIE!!!!!)  They read the Book of Mormon together this week and LOVED it!!!  Hermana Tonia just wants to know what happened to her two babies that died right after birth...  It is so amazing to be able to help people to realize the truths of our Father in Heaven.  This gospel is the only thing that really gives us true peace!  And it is true, like you said in your letter, I would be okay staying here for a few more.... YEARS!!!! hahahaha ;)  But the work is hard, and it hurts when people don’t want to listen, or you have a hard time finding people!  But EVERYTHING ALWAYS WORKS OUT!!!  Everything we go through is part of the journey!  And what a blessing it is to be on this journey right now!!!!

I KNOW I TELL YOU THIS EVERY SINGLE WEEK, BUT I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH AND AM SO PROUD OF THE DECISIONS THAT YOU ARE MAKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST IS THE GOSPEL OF HAPPINESS!!  THE PLAN OF GOD IS THE PLAN OF HAPPINESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE HAVE TO FIND HAPPINESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  AND I HAVE FOUND IT, ONLY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST CAN WE TRULY FIND IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I  KNOW HE LIVES AND HE LOVES US.

….1….    How’s the new Companion? 

SORRY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WROTE LAST WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE SUTTON AND BUNDERSON TEAM KEEPS GOING ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

….2….    Did you finally get the box with all the ties?  (I’ve been a little worried because I mailed them on Oct. 31 and they arrived at the mail drop location in El Paso on the following Thursday, Nov. 6.  They were in a big “Family Mix” licorice box and I didn’t mark on the box its contents but it’s all TIES!!!!)

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha - there is a long story with these mysterious ties....  Don’t worry mom, all is well!!!!!!!!! The counselor of the president has them supposedly!!!  I will keep you posted!!!!!!  BUT DON’T WORRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  ALL IS WELL IN JUAREZ!!!!!!!!!!!!! (kind of like Zion!!!!) THANK YOU A MILLION AND A HALF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are doing great, and loving our area and the members.  It has been a bit of a struggle but we are seeing a little bit of progress!!!!  Little by little, line upon line; sometimes I just want to jump the ocean, but we are building up the boat to start the journey!!!!!!! hahahaha  (I hope you like that analogy I just thought of!!!)

Keep doing what you’re doing - keep reading and praying and enduring the end!!!!  I WANT ETERNAL LIFE WITH YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;)  I love you forever and always!!!!  

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Hermana Sutton!

p.s.  We found the new computer place a few weeks ago, and just so you know, they sell diet dr. pepper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  My prayers have been answered!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Kisses to all of us

We wore matching colors

Homemade Apple Turnover

from her District Leader

Street Serenade - CRAZY!!!!!

BUENAS TARDES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Como esta mi maravillosa familia????  Estamos aquí al empezar otra semana y wow que rápido!  La verdad esta semana pasada fue excelente,  El Senor esta bendiciéndonos mucho con experiencias, desafíos, espíritu, y mucha risa!!!!!!!  Esta semana hicimos TANTAS cosas, no puedo empezar a explicarlo todo, pero aquí son algunas cosas que puedo explicar con palabras!

Google translate:  (How is my wonderful family????  We are here to start another week and wow that fast!  The past week was really good; the Lord is blessing us with much experiences, challenges, spirit, and lots of laughter!!!!!!!  This week we did MANY things I cannot begin to explain it all, but here are some things I can put into words!)

On Saturday we pretty much had the greatest day we have ever had as a companionship!!!  IT WAS A WEIRD ONE BUT IT WAS GREAT!!!!  To start it off, we found an old investigator that we hadn’t seen for a long while, and now she wants to learn and come to church.  We had a lesson super powerful with her and everyone was in tears!  Everyone has their timing!  After that we ate with the Rodriguez family!  (THEY ARE AWESOME!!!)  They are the parents-in-law to Lamar (if that makes sense to you guys).  We ate Chinese food and just being with them is so uplifting!!!  After that we went and saw Hermana Patlan and the whole family, and they are all reading their scriptures and saying their prayers and progressing MUCHO MUCHO MUCHO!!!!!!!!!!!  I really have not had a baptism on my misión that I have seen such a huge change in someone as I see in her and her family!!!!!  I am so grateful for them!  

After that, it turned a Little weird.  We went to see one of our investigators who is a bit crazy, and long story short we were headed to the internet café to find something he needed help with and a weird guy stopped us on the street and serenaded us with “Nirvana”....  yup, it ruined the song!!!  BUT IT WAS HILARIOUS!!!  We tried everything we could to get away from him but our investigator thought it was funny, and so we were caught in a pickle!!!!!!!!!  After that we went and saw Francisca and shared with her for the first time the book of Mormon!!!!!!!!!  WOW - I WISH I COULD EXPLAIN THE AMAZING SPIRIT THAT WAS ACCOMPANING US!!!!!!!!!  The Book of Mormon is so powerful.  We really didn’t do anything too special to share it, but with our testimonies and the power of the book the hermana was almost in shock!!!!!!!!  It really was something amazing!!!

To end the night, we were walking home, and I mentioned to my companion that we failed to find anyone new to teach today....  I then was thinking about the things I could do to improve and the desires I have to help the Lord in this work.... and that is when we saw a family outside pushing their broken down car.... and us being the huge "muscles", powerful - hot looking missionaries we are went and helped them out!  Then started talking to them, and we are going back on Wednesday to get to know them!!! :)  AWESOME RIGHT??????  I am so grateful that our prayers are answered, that we really have a Father in heaven that is aware of us and our situations and He loves us!!!!!

…1…  So how is your attitude been?
GREAT OF COURSE!!!!!!!  I AM A SUTTON; YOU CAN’T EXPECT ANYTHING DIFFERENT  ;)  hahahahahaha

…2…  Seen any strange happenings in Juarez?
Every single day we see things really strange.... but I think I am numb!  hahahaha   But I would say the weird serenade in the street was the winner for this week!

…3…  When do you get to go to the temple?
OHHHHHH!!!  Hardly ever, but that reminds me that I a need to get all my 4 generations done in my family tree before December, is there work to be done??  And maybe if you could send me a copy of your family tree dad y mom!!!  If we have all our generations done we get to go to the temple in December!!!!  HELP ME OUT!!!!!!!!!!! ;)

…4…  Do you ever get to go to a soccer game or athletic events?
IN MY DREAMS...... ;)  No we really don’t do anything like that here!  But I did meet some cool guys on the bus one day that were baseball players!  That is as close as I have gotten to see a game!!! ;)

Sounds like you guys had a great week.  Tell Scott congrats and hi to everyone!!!  Also this week I got some more ties, from the Merrells and from the Dance family!  So far I have 20, but I am sure the rest are coming!  I talk to the President, and he wants you guys to write a little something to put on the bags... like a “MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!  Love, the Sutton family! (or something like that!) If you want to send me the Word doc I could print them out!! ;)  Between us, the President is super happy and grateful for everything you guys are doing for Christmas; he got a little sentimental about it!!!  THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

STAY STRONG AND REMEMBER HOW MUCH YOU MEAN TO ME, BUT EVEN MORE HOW MUCH YOU MEAN TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a great week,
Hermana Sutton

My New Best Friend !!

A Space Heater

A Little Home Cookin'

Costco Chips (now we just need some homemade salsa)

My New Companion !!!!

Hermana Ellsworth

"I AM FREEZING"

CAN YOU BELIEVE WE HAVE HIT NOVEMBER???  Where is the time going!!!!  News in Juarez - November brings cold!!!!  I AM FREEZING!!!!!!!!!  I think my body is so use to the boiling hot that when a little cold comes around I am dying..... my companion told me she doesn't believe that I am from Utah!  But we are doing our best; I bought some tights and I am getting my boots fixed today and all is well in the City of Enoch!!  (well - one day Enoch....)

This week was a good one; my companion was a little bit sick, but she is feeling better and we are out and about doing what servants of the Lord do!!!!  (TALK TO EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!)  Today we were in Costco, and we were talking about California (that is where Sister Ellsworth is from) and some random guy came up to us and told us he is also from Cali.  We had a good little chit chat,  gave him a Book of Mormon, and I am pretty sure he is going to get baptized!  People are searching for the gospel!  And not just here in Juarez, but in little old Brigham City!  AND JUST THINK!!!!  WE HAVE THIS AMAZING THING THEY ARE SEARCHING FOR!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)  But the guy in Costco was pretty awesome and he says he goes to Puerto Vallarta a ton, so pretty much I think he is our relative or something, I told him we could meet up there one day... (that is if grandma and pa still have the lovely time share!!!!)  I think vacations to Mexico would be a whole new experience now that I can actually talk to the people and know the crazy thing they say about us “white peeps”!!!!!

Hmmmmmm - what else happened this week????  We had the mission leadership meeting on Thursday and Friday and then today is the zone conference!!!!  (I absolutely love all of the meetings that we have; they are so uplifting and you learn a ton!!!!)  Oh also.... hahahaha - yesterday we had a cool experience!  So our church starts at 10 so at 9 we called Rafa y Jose (if you remember who they are) to wake them up to tell them to come to church.  Jose starts laughing and tells me, “Hermana Sutton, we are here at the church waiting for you guys....” (Remember, it is 9, one hour before the meetings start!!)  He said he was just so excited that they decided to go early!  AWESOME RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!  NOT ONLY THAT THEY CAME TO CHURCH BUT THAT THEY EVEN BEAT US THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Rafa and Jose are doing great; we just need to get them married!  Also, this week the Jehovah’s Witnesses stopped by their house and Rafa told them that she was really sorry and respected what they had to say, but that she is a Mormon and isn't going to change!!!  So yup we just need to get them in the water; they are so ready!!!!!!!

Oh yesterday also, in the afternoon we had a missionary meeting with a few families of our ward and the counselor of President, and we prepared a special musical number with the flute and everything and we shared stories of conversion!  Of course I shared Dad's story and well the whole congregation was in tears!  The spirit was so strong, and I really think that we took a huge step with the members!  I wish I could explain to you how strong I felt the love of the Savior in that meeting!!!!  I think it was one of the most spirit filled meetings I have ever been in.  I KNOW OUR FATHER IS LEADING THIS WORK, AND WOW IS HE HASTENING IT!!!!!!!!!

…. 1 ….  Is there anything you would love me to send down in the next package?    

 HMMMMMMMM - CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  WARM CLOTHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  A HUG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

 …. 2 ….  If you were a guessing gal, do you think you & your companion will stay or be transferred on the next rotation?

HMMMMMM - that is a tough one.... but I don't think so!  I think we will be together for Christmas! :)  But who really knows!
 

I think that is about it folks!!!!  OH YEAH, and I mentioned we went to Costco today!!!!  (oh, and I got my debit card, the first thing I bought on it was a mango smoothie at COSTCO!!!!!!!! )  THANK YOU I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The church is true. I know it is.

Hermana Sutton

 

Cyber Cafe

Juarez Hermanas

Hermanas (L to R): unknown, Ellsworth, Bunderson, Sutton

Party at Costco !!!!

Baking Cookies Could Be the Start of Something Great?

GOODBYE SUMMER FOR US TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I am in a love hate relationship with the cold....  I am SOOOOOO excited for Christmas and the cold weather and to wear scarves and share more the story of Christ, and not be burning hot all the time!  But the thing is....  Once winter comes and goes, the misión is over!!!  THAT I AM NOT READY FOR!!!!!!!!!!! hahahahahaha  But bring it on right!!  God has given us so many wonderful opportunities; we have to take advantage of them  :)

This week was a great one!!!!  Let me first answer your questions and then I’ll tell you a little about what happened!

Questions:

… 1 …            What is you Mission President’s name?  

Rodolfo Derbez

… 2 …            Can you tell us about his family (kids, wife, etc.)

Sure!!  His wife is Hermana Derbez  ;)  And she is super sweet - a little bit quiet but when she talks you can just feel the spirit coming off of her lips!  She really is an example to me and to the whole misión!  They have 2 boys - one is on a misión in Guadalajara (I think) and the other is in high school, his name is Dahl.  He is really awesome and preparing to go a misión too!  Their whole family is really awesome!  I have learned so much from them and their dedication to the church and the misión!

… 3 …            Do you have a favorite scripture of the week?

OF COURSE!!!!  We just started the Book of Mormon over again, so we’re pulling the good stuff from the wonderful NEFI!!!!  1 Nefi 17:3.  The promises of the Lord are HUGE!!  We just have to do our part and he blesses us more than we can imagine!!

… 4 …            What street do you live on?

Monterde and 21 de Marzo!!!  (creeper stalker family)  hahahahaha ;)

As for our week!!!  Lately we have been seeing the power of the Book of Mormon in the lives of EVERYONE!!!  Really it is the key to progression and the key to receiving a testimony and staying active in the church!!  We are teaching a family that we had found a week ago; we only have been able to visit them a few times!  One time we made cookies and the other we did get to know them and shared what our purpose was!  But this day we felt impressed to leave them a Book of Mormon!  We quickly explained a little what it was about; but to be honest, we didn’t do it very good or thoroughly!  BUT THE LORD ALWAYS WORKS MIRACLES!!!!  We went back later this week, and the Hermano is half way done with the book and the Mom is done with 1st Nefi!!!  Now if you are not familiar with missionary work --- IT IS HARD TO GET ANYONE TO READ!!!!!!!!!!  But they have desires and are willing to act!  They both told us when we got to their house, that they are thinking about leaving everything from their old lives and starting a new one!!! (and remember we haven’t even taught the first lesson!!!!)  THEY ARE AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!  I am so grateful that we have such a powerful tool to help the people recognize the path we need to take in this life!!  I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God!!!!

A few other things from this week!!!  We had an awesome reunión with all the missionaries in Juarez with the President!!!  IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!  We also had stake conference yesterday, and the last minute I had to play the piano for the choir!!!  (Nothing like sight-reading some crazy music!!  Thank you mom again...)  Also, today we are headed to Centro again to check out a few things for my comp, for the Winter!!  We are excited to get out and explore a little!!!!  And well.... we are doing great, and loving the missionary life!!!  NOTHING IS BETTER!!!!!! :)

Okay a few other things before I forget!!!!!  THANK YOU KEN AND SUSAN AND EVERYONE FOR THE AWESOME PACKAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!  MY COMPANION AND I ARE THRILLED WITH EVERYTHING!!!! :)  Also, BARBARA FOR THE CARD AND THE RELIEF SOCIETY!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I AM THE MOST SPOILED MISSIONARY THAT THERE EVER WAS!!!!!!

And that is all folks!!!  Have a great week, and remember  -  “every trial and experience we have is necessary for our salvation!!”   Thomas S Monson

Love you ALL!!!!!!!!!!

Hermana Sutton

 

Juarez Family

The Juarez Sisters

Hermana Bunderson & Hermana Sutton

We found the key to success

Bake Cookies