Short Hills Week 8 - Mission week 50

Elder Sumsion will reach his one year mark (HALF WAY) on July 24th - I am sure he would love a letter from you.

Elder Ben Sumsion
New Jersey Morristown Mission
5 Cold Hill Rd S.
Suite 10
Mendham, NJ 07945

Hello family!

This week was a good week. We had a lot of little success and had tons of fun doing it. We have been pulling tons to increase a few of our numbers and find some more prepared people. About 3 of our investigators dropped us, so that was a little tough. I have learned a lot from Elder Lopez about inviting versus forcing the Gospel on people. We are inviting missionaries not forceful missionaries. Obviously, we have to take control of situations at times and be persistent with people, but you can't change someone's heart against there own will. They are going to have to let the good in themselves. All we offer is more love and more happiness. Sometimes I feel like "Come on people. This stuff is going to make you happier not hold you back." I wish people just saw that more. I wish I saw that more. The only way to be happy is to do whats right- live what Christ says. Somehow we all just forget that at times.

Yes we moved this past week! Our new apartment is way cool. Our last one was massive but our new one is kind of like living in the barn. Its all one room. with a small bedroom and bathroom of to the side. We also have access to a spiral staircase up to the attic (super nice still) where we set up a exercise/weight room. Its pretty fun. The move took a lot of time this past week, so were happy its done and we can get back to full work.

On Tuesday we visited with one of our investigators, Al---, and his son was there as well. We taught them both a little about the Book of Mormon and invited them to read it. Randomly, the son Ale--- (20 or so) has Mormon friends that go to BYU, but never talked much about the Book of Mormon with them. They are awesome and are seeking the truth. I really want to help them see these blessings. They have some real potential.

I'm not sure if I've ever mentioned it, but every Thursday we have a no-driving-day where we get to walk all day. I love it, walking days are my favorite because you get to be out and run into random people in the streets. But we had a walking day on Thursday and we were about 2 miles from home and it starting raining so hard. We had nothing. NO umbrella or jacket. We didn't even have any members nearby or less actives or investigators. We ended up just walking and we got drenched from head to foot. We even tried knocking a few more doors in the area before it was night and time to hear home. Oh we were just laughing the whole way home. We were walking through like 3 inches of water all the way home. It was a mess but we loved it.

** We have been working more with members lately. Our favorite lesson is we start with a picture of this 1970's car production line and explain how every part of the line is important for the car to work at the end. We have to prepare each part so it is ready in the end. Then we read Alma 37:6-7 and talk about small and simple things bring to pass great things. And then we help them thinking of ways they can prepare their friends to learn about the Gospel. They are loving it!

For the 4th of July, we were allowed to be out until 11:00 so we got to go see some fireworks. The town of Summit has some money so they had a nice long firework show. The rest of the zone came up and watched it with us. Pretty fun. Im glad to hear the PC parade is still going strong and helping out at the Scout breakfast too. Nice work Sam. 

Things are going good here. Super hot lately. Hopefully that will spark some desire to get in the cool waters of baptism. Ha

Also pretty funny, yesterday we were in Elder's quorum in church and the teacher was talking about ranking how well the class was doing on their home teaching. 1 being low and 10 being the highest. There were a few 1's a few 0's. Elder Lopez and I said " I think were at a 10" with a fist pound to each other and the whole class started laughing. I love being a missionary.

Love you all,

 Elder Sumsion

#Weare

#AllAboutTheLove