Week #5 - July 31st, 2017 - Tim Tam Slams for the save

Sister Sughroue & Sister Howard

Kia Ora! wooohoooo I'm in NZ, have an amazing trainer, Sister Howard from Alaska and am in an amazing ward! Okay so saying bye to everyone at the MTC kinda sucked but I'm glad to be in this beautiful place! The plane ride wasn't to bad haha we flew to San Fran then to Auckland and I slept for like 9 hours.. jet lag is a real thing but I'm all good now!! It was so good to talk to the family!! 

So the assistants picked us up, Elder touhuni from Tonga! he went to Liahona high school (thought grandma would want to know!) and Elder Murphy from Oregon! We went and picked up more elders and a sister from the MTC in Auckland then went to the mission home and us sisters who flew forever haha got to shower! We then went back to President and Sister Cummings home and ate food, hung out, and had interviews! That night they put us up in a hotel and then Thursday morning we met our trainers!! My trainer is Sister Howard. She's the best! We are seriously the same. haha Two blonde Amercians taking on New Zealand!! President warned us to be careful and were not allowed to be outside when it's dark. haha There's heaps of Fijian/Indians from Fiji and Samoans and Tongans!!! The Indians love blonde Americans and it's kinda weird but keeps it fun and interesting. haha 

So Friday and Saturday were awesome!! At the visitor center people from all over New Zealand come to the temple and leave us with there little kids so they can go do a session! I've got the little kids to teach me Samoan songs so its fun!! And so many members drop of creme donuts and meat pies at the visitor centre. haha They're so good! So we've had no food at our flat and have eaten Tim Tam Slams (New Zeland cookie) for dinner a couple nights in a row. haha But today we went grocery shopping and bought real healthy food! So don't worry Lindsey ;) Anyways I don't have much time but all is good! 

New Zealand Hamilton Vistor Center Sisters

Sister Howard and I brought 5 investigators from different families haha to church with us on Sunday! I set one of them, Natalie, for baptism on Sept 2nd! So pumped!! God is so good! It's amazing seeing the light of Christ in the eyes of those that welcome us into their homes and accept the gospel! I'm learning every second of every day and am truly blessed! Elder Touhuni and Rogers sang a Tongan hymn to us yesterday becasue we invited people to baptism! We told them we'll sing in Samoan if they invite! 

Life is good!! I love it here! I'm in the Tuhikaramea ward and everyone is so loving!! Some moms and sisters are trying to set Sister Howard and I up with there brother and sons haha its funnny! I barely have anytime to email but I love you all and love it here!! New Zealand is the

Grocery Shopping for Healthy Food

place!

XO sister sughroue​​

ps I'm in the vc for half of the day and the other I'm out proselyting!

Yummy Food!

 

After the rain in New Zealand!

 

Week #4 - July 21st, 2017 - Last email from MTC

Class all day long!

 KIA ORA!! I leave Monday for new zealand!! so this is my last email till I get there! I'm so stoked!! Okay so this week has been so fun! I said bye to a lot of my poly friends that left Monday and bye to Sister Banner who left for Oregon, I'm gonna miss her, she was the best! But I got the sweetest new companion from Hong Kong! she is going to the Oakland Visitor Centre! So visitor centre training is actually the best! We had a person come down from Salt Lake and talk to us, he said "many are called, but few are chosen" this was really cool to hear! We gave tours of the new buildings and something I learned beforehand is that the money they used to build the new MTC was going to be used for a new temple but the First Presidency felt strongly that the new MTC was needed. Knowing this made me so grateful and blessed that I have been able to study in and give tours of these amazing buildings.. The buildings were designed with huge windows everywhere and murals of Christ and His disciples on the walls to really emphasize the LIGHT of Christ. We also did some online teaching and taught people over the phone, Matthew 28:19 is exactly what I'm doing, teaching people from all over the world. On our first day we chatted and talked with people from Australia, Norway, Ukraine, Canada, and the states it was really cool!!

Elder Packer
(my little brother I never had)

Temple walk!

Sister's in my District!

So Sunday we had a devotional from President and Sister Martino and they told us their conversion story which was really neat. Conversion is continuous and simply a change of heart, if we are continually changing our hearts to do good then we will become converted. And it is our testimonies that we will develop that will help us stay on the path of conversion. Tuesday night we had another devotional and the spirit was so strong! The couple that spoke has a granddaughter serving in New Zealand! Anyways he talked about how important temples are and right away I thought of my mission call and how lucky I am to be serving right next to a temple. Temples are truly the crowning ordinances of this gospel. 

I honestly learned so much this week, so here's a few things;  faith is action.. believing is just the beginning, only you will determine how much you learn and grow each week, and that He truly desires to help you. I want all of you to remember that Heavenly Father will always help you no matter what. I also

My district left on wednesday! </3

wanted to share that before coming here, I knew this is what I needed to do and I had reasons as to why I needed to come, but being here at the MTC especially in these past couple of days before I leave for New Zealand I have learned that the Lord has so many more reasons as to why I NEED to be on a mission, that I would have never thought of.. Never postpone a prompting, He knows you and exactly what you need. TRUST in His plan because I know with a surety that Heavenly Father puts people in our life and gives us different experiences for a very specific reason and purpose. I'm grateful for everyone I have met leading to this point in my life and the different experiences I have had. I also cant wait for the people im about to meet in New Zealand and the experiences im about to have. God is so good! 

I LOVE YOU all and know that if you continue to live your life in harmony with the spirit and the Lord then He will bless you! Also thank you to mom and dad

Sister Leung from Hong Kong
My new companion!!

for the packages and for mom sending Sister Felix cookies, she ran up to me during dinner and said that she had never received a present before and that she is so grateful. And thank you to Mama Carp for the package it made my day and was exactly what I needed! also thanks for all of the emails from friends and family, I love reading them!! Also try to change yourprayers from asking to listening! much love!! WOOHOO I cant wait to be in NZ! 

ps. I will send pictures later and am going to be a missionary on temple square tomorrow!! and possibly walk over to the temple around 3 on sunday. <3

pss. I also met a Tongan Elder Lutui who says he knows and is related to Sione! ill send a pic

XO sister sughroue

Elder Mokofisi (Tongan from Australia) and Elder Lama (from Aamoa) 

Elder Le' Ota from Mesa, AZ knows the Udalls!
Elder Lutui (Nia Paongos nephew, related to SIONE somehow!!) 

They made me make them "cute" name tags haha

Sister Parungo going to Sydney, Australia South!!

Week #3 - July 14th - KIA ORA!!!!

Sister Sughroue & Sister Banner
CHIP Cookies!
Thanks MOM!

KIA ORA! Okay so this week has been absolutely amazing. I am so blessed to be a missionary!! I love every second here at the MTC and have learned more than I've ever learned. This gospel is so good and can do wonders for your life if you allow it to! So first off, shout out to everyone for the sweet letters and to Mom and Dad for sending me packages! Okay so I get my travels plan today and could be leaving for New Zealand on Sunday the 23rd or Tuesday the 25th!! I'm doing laundry right now haha and just met a bunch of poly sisters going to Auckland so we'll be on the same flight! Woohoo I'm so STOKED! Each day I meet someone new from one of the islands and the Kiwi sisters got them all to yell Sugarooo when they see me haha I have a couple of other nicknames here to.. like  Sugarcube haha.. okay but I'm having so much fun here! I still get "the stare" when I start dancing but then people join in so its all good! Also my journal with my quotes that I draw apparently was getting passed around and I have random people asking me to draw in their journals haha and then they ask for me to put my email. lol Oh and we started playing sand

My lovely District &
cute teacher!

volleyball so I just pretend I'm home at the beach minus the ocean haha also i literally have the best companion ever! she leaves Tuesday for Oregon and I'm gonna miss her so much!! 

So anyways the MTC is truly sanctified and sacred grounds. during our Tuesday night devotional Elder Bruce Hafen told us that the reason this place is sanctified and sacred is because of the sacrifices we have all made to come on missions. That was so sweet to hear and now whenever I'm walking from classes or just around campus I cant stop thinking about that and I immediately feel the spirit. The spirit here is so powerful its insane. So this week we had some pretty amazing experiences. Both of our investigators committed to baptism and one of them is, Sophia from Mexico and she's older in about her 70s and grew up Catholic. We were reading in Moroni 7:33 and when we finished reading she looked at me and said you have all of the power as missionaries. And oh boy that hit me hard.. she is so right, as missionaries, God gives us power as He helps us share the love He has to the people we meet if we are obedient and focused. We had another investigator, Dumdi from Texas/ Nigeria and when we would teach her she would explain what she understood and she explained the things we taught her in such depth, I immediately knew it was the spirit teaching her. You cant fake the spirit its so real. Anyways I cant really describe how cool these experiences were for me and Sister Banner but what I can say is that whenever we teach people here I feel that there

My cute companion and I
watch the sunset
every night!

teaching me more and it's an incredible feeling. 

Okay so this may be a long email but at least read this.. wednesday night as a sister training leader we welcome in all the new missionaries into our zone. That night we got a phone call that one of our sisters just arrived but was in complete cultural shock and didn't want to be around anyone. After meeting with all the new elders and sisters, Sister Banner and I went and saw this sweet sister. This sister is from Nigeria, it took her 3 days to get here, she was left at the Salt Lake airport for 5 hours because of miscommunication. She came with a little bag and thats it. That night I prayed to look for opportunities to serve others and asked for help to continue to develop charity. I carefully prayed for humility as well, haha. The next morning I was getting ready in the bathroom and this sister from Nigeria, Sister Felix saw me and her face lit up she was so cute. Her companion pulled me aside and told me she hadn't been endowed yet. So long story short that day Sister Banner and I took Sister Felix everywhere, she goes through the temple in a couple of weeks! But we took her to get x rays and got to go off campus which I saw Savannah Allred at the doctors!!! But we then realized she had barely any clothes so here at the MTC they have a little mall for missionaries who come with nothing and literally give up everything to come serve. When we were in the dressing room and  she came out in a dress she asked me if she could keep it and I said of course she then began to cry.. this was truly a humbling experience. We got her clothes and winter gear

Sister Felix from Nigeria

because she's serving in TEMPLE SQUARE where Lindsey served! This sister is seriously an incredible person..she had never worn shoes before coming on the mission so I made sure we got her shoes! I was going through my things to give her stuff but the church took care of all of it. This is why donating to the missionary fund is so important and tithing is so important! Anyways Sister Felix is doing great and I bought her the same journal Lindsey bought me and wrote my testimony in it for her. She is truly going to change lives as she has changed my life. My companion and I missed all of in field orientation yesterday as we helped Sister Felix but I learned more in this one day through this experience that I wouldn't want it any other way. . our branch president told us that there is a purpose Sister Felix came on a mission and he told us it was so she could meet Sister Banner and I. 

Heavenly Father answers prayers. He has answered mine in so many ways. Everyone read Moroni chapter 7 it is my favorite chapter and talks about how we can all develop charity. I cant even explain the love that He has for each and everyone of you. Okay I LOVE YOU all remember to always smile and have fun with life! Oh and I'll be walking around the temple at 1pm on Sunday and am going to be on Temple Square all day next Saturday for Visitor Centre training ;) I also found out i'll probably be coming home

Savannah Allred!
Friend from BYU!

December 11th or in October of next year.. crazyyyyyy Okay, I love you all thanks for the prayers and email me!! I can read emails throughout the week!

XO sister sughroue

ps. Shoutout to Aubs for her mission call to Oklahoma!!

Laundry TIME!!!!

Week #2 - July 7th, 2017 - "week two baby!"

Sisters vs. Elders during devotional

Sister Sughroue & Sister Banner

 Hello everyone!! Ignore the last email haha so I've been here for 9 days now woohoo!! I just love this beautiful gospel and being a missionary!! Okay so it is so true that the days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days.. I found that it's okay to ponder for a little in between classes ;) but for real I'm so exhausted but a good exhausted!

So this week was great Sunday I watched the Character of Christ by Elder Bednar, it was great!! It's is so true that instead of turning inward we must turn outward towards Christ. I am so grateful for my savior and his love and to know that He loves and cares for all of YOU! He will truly always be there for you. This week we began to teach investigators and I had some incredible experiences but one in particular was one of our investigators started to testify of her faith and love for Christ and as she did my prayers were answered about something that I have been praying about for a quite a while. Heavenly Father truly does answer prayers in so many different ways!

The Sisters in District 42D

My zone is also the best we are super close and are about to play kickball in front of the temple!! I'm so stoked!! and as of temple walks I think we may start them next Sunday!! The food  is also alright here haha but they do make chicken wraps and good salads so that's good and they have like no good fruit so I just eat bananas haha and I usually run and then play volleyball everyday which is super fun!! Anyways one thing I've been thinking a lot about and that has given me strength is that God TRUST me, if He didn't then I wouldn't be here and knowing that He trust me is enough for me.. remember that He has trust in you and loves you and is always going to be there for you with His hand extended to you and all that you need to do is reach for Him and have faith!

Also thanks for the packages and LETTERS, I love getting stuff in the mail!! I can read emails all the time just can't respond till Friday!! But I LOVE and pray for you all!! Thank you for 

My companion Sista Banner (the new building
is gorgeous!! Myclasses are on the
4th floor and I watch the sunset  each night during
class:))

your prayers and support and also let Kate know that I look at her picture she drew me every night before I go to bed and love it!! and I also read Abby's sweet letter all the time! Also read D&C 88:67!! Much love everyone!

XO sister sughroue

Elder Tambe (friend from school left for Zimbabwe)

We got to watch the fireworks
from stadium of fire in the new building!!

Celebrating the 4th w/the package mom mailed us!

​

Week #1 - June 30th, 2017

It's real!! I'm a missionary haha it feels pretty crazy! I just got here Wednesday but I feel like I've been here forever! also the MTC is the best place ever!! it is honestly one of the most spiritual places on this earth and is pretty fun (at least I'm having fun) i think it gets a bad rep buts its great! 

Family send off at San Diego Airport!

Saying bye to the fam was a little rough but once I got on the plane and saw Elder Fox (Nolan) i felt so much better! Adam was at my gate waiting for me when i got off the plane before he flew out to California so that was fun to get a big hug from him! Austin picked me up and then Addison took me to Gurus, Sodalicous, and then we still had time to kill so we went to the Y parking lot so I could see where I was going to stay for the next 4 weeks! So that was fun! Oh ya my bag broke again haha so that's cool!

Anyways I was surprised when Addy was dropping me off with how happy I was, I honestly couldn't stop smiling! Thanks to the best cousins for getting me to the MTC! 

So after I got my name tag we meant our companions and went to a devotional. within 5 seconds of walking into the devotional I turned to my companion and said that lady looks like Hilary Clinton.. haha well it turns out that lady got up and introduced herself as Sister Martino (the MTC presidents wife) oops!

The MTC "AAA" Drop-off
Thanks Austin, Addison & Adam!
The best cousins!

So my companion is Sister Banner from Santaquin and she's great! we like to have fun and have little dance parties haha also just so Lindsey's not worried I'm still whipping and nae naeing even though some sisters are super serious and look at me like I'm crazy.. (I don't think they approve but I still LOVE them!) My district is awesome, the elders are going to Arkansas and Oregon and the sisters are going to Oregon and there's 2 others with me going to NZ! All the elders just graduated high school so thats fun.. they're cool. 

Sister Sughroue & Sister Davis

I also met a lot of Kiwis from Hamilton!! There going to Fiji! Whenever they see me they yell "everyone it's SUGAROOROOO" haha I love them! and I have also seen so many people that I know from school here! we're all going different places throughout the world!! But I saw Sister DAVIS!! (aka skizzymars or izzie) I've missed her so much! She leaves for Panama on Tuesday!

Something pretty cool happened to me last night.. so we were meeting our branch presidency and getting interviewed by them, when it was my turn the executive secretary of the mtc wanted to interview me.. haha i was worried i did something wrong, but he just wanted to get to know me and as I was about to get up cause I thought we were finished  he told me that he felt strongly that I am going to not only help the people I teach but help all the missionaries  around me here at the MTC and in the field.. I never felt the spirit as strong as I did when he told me that. I just smiled,I didn't know what to say and then he told me I have a special light and then I cried haha only time I cried though here! But I guess why I'm sharing this is to let everyone know that we are all capable of influencing those around us and we all have a light within us. :)

Remember that everyone has worth and a purpose, and to just be HAPPY! you are loved by your Heavenly Father so much! One thing I have been trying to do is instead of praying for comfort and convenience to pray for purpose and perspective and oh boy i have for sure been able to have a different perspective about everything! Heavenly Father loves you more than He loves you being comfortable! 

Elder Cole Benson - Rancho CA Ward - Temecula
Elder Nolan Fox - Pauba Ward - Temecula
Sister Makayla Sughroue - Rancho CA Ward - Temecula

Well today I'm going to the gym and then the temple so im excited about that and Sister Banner and I also got asked to be the Sister Training Leaders.. haha i laughed when I got told and the counselor in our branch just smiled at me.. It'll be fun! Oh I also got some sisters to do lunges with me in the halls of our dorm!

Well I love you all! try to keep a positive attitude and perspective on things!

there's a reason for everything and remember everything in life is a choice, life is what you make it, so make it good! oh and thank you for all the prayers!!

xo sister sughroue

The Kiwi & The Finn
Sister Makayla Sughroue - Rancho CA Ward
Elder Collin Jacobsen - Rancho CA Ward