Meet Sowmya
Mission: India Bengaluru (Bangalore), 2018-2019
Age: 28
From: Hyderabad, India
Family: Married; mother and only child
Favorite hobbies: Cooking, trying new recipes, drawing, and painting
Sowmya’s conversion story
My mom and I were Hindus before we joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For ten years or so, my mom went to a church she found through a friend. One day, missionaries were knocking on doors to find people to teach, and that’s how the found us. I use to stay in a hostel, because I lived far away from home to study. So they approached my mom first, and then I came home for the holidays. The missionaries started teaching us about the Book of Mormon, and we said we weren’t really interested. We were going to a different church, and we were comfortable there. But the missionaries never gave up, and they were always stopping by, asking us if we needed any help. They would help us out and share a simple testimony with us.
One Sunday, we were getting ready to go to the old church, and my mom felt that we should go to the missionaries’ church. I don’t know why she felt it, but she randomly said, “Let’s go to that church and see how it is.” I agreed to go with her. We had nothing to lose!
We went to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and it was nice. Everyone was welcoming, and we really liked it. We didn’t understand everything of course, including the sacrament and classes, but we felt peace. We were happy, and we didn’t know why we were happy, but that’s all we knew.
Then, we came back home, and the missionaries came by. They brought with them a few of the members, who we were able to fellowship with. We asked so many questions because we had gone to church, including, “Why is the Church so different? Why are there no statues?” We threw so many questions at the missionaries.
The missionaries explained everything, and the members shared their testimonies of how the Church has changed their lives. We were like, ok, and we continued to go to church.
After three months or so I as baptized (in 2014). My mom took some time, but after I came home from my mission, my mom got baptized in 2022.
How did you prepare for your mission?
I went to church for so many years, but because I lived in a hostel for a long time, I didn’t go home and didn’t go to church all the time. I didn’t know much about the Bible even though I’m Christian.
After getting baptized, I suddenly thought one day how neat it is that missionaries help other families, share the gospel with them, and give them joy. I realized that’s something I want to share with others. I prayed about it and felt good about it, and I talked to my bishop about serving a mission.
I took one year to prepare myself before applying to serve a mission. I didn’t know a lot of Bible stories or anything, since I didn’t get to go to church when I was living at the hostel and studying. I finished reading the Book of Mormon, read Bible stories, and then applied to serve a mission.
What was one unexpected challenge you experienced?
I left for my mission in May 2018. It was nice but also really hard. Usually, missionaries go to the temple and then to a Missionary Training Center (MTC) before going to the area, or “field” you’re called to serve in. But for me, there was a visa issue, so I couldn’t go to the temple or to the MTC, so I went to the field directly after orientation.
My first city was Rajamundry. I really liked it. In the beginning, it was hard for me though, since I didn’t go to the MTC, but my companion and everyone in our apartment helped me.
After four months I went to the MTC in the Philippines, and it was a different experience. I already knew all the stuff they were training me on, because I’d already done it. I got to stay only week, and it was nice to go to the temple and get endowed. I felt really peaceful when I attended the temple. Then, I came back to the mission and served in almost every city in the Bengaluru mission, besides my hometown, Hyderabad.
What about companions?
I had an amazing experience with my companions. Some companions were hard, but those are the people closest to my heart, because I learned patience from them. I loved every bit of my mission.
What was it like learning the language?
When I went to different states with a language I didn’t know, I had a desire to speak the language, so I could talk and connect with people. We’d visit families and it was hard to understand the language, but when I started writing down the basics of conversation, it was easy for me and the members helped with the language. The gift of the Spirit really helped me, even when you don’t know the language, the Spirit automatically helps guide and teach you.
At the beginning, before the MTC, I didn’t know what to share at appointments. I used to feel so sad and cry. I’d think to myself, “Why am I on a mission and I don’t feel anything? Why can’t I share anything when I go to people’s houses?”
For the first couple of weeks, my companion took me to people’s houses, and when she asked me to share something, I really couldn’t. It made me feel awkward and so sad that I couldn’t do it. Then I started thinking, “Maybe I can’t do this, maybe it’s not for me.” But I never gave up, and I like that about myself. No matter how hard it got, I always told myself that I can do this; I want to do this.
I did it, and the Spirit always helped me. I learned the language, and when I went to speak, stuff just came to my mind. The Holy Ghost helped me share stuff that touched other people.
*For more tips about learning the language of the Spirit, read chapter 13 of YOMO! You Only Mission Once: A Guide for Sister Missionaries, coming out soon!
What was one special experience you had?
There was one experience when I was in Chennai, when we taught a young woman named Rosy. She was working in the city and lived far away from her parents. She came to church once, and then we met her and started teaching her. It took a long time and she had many questions. Then, it was time for her to be baptized.
I was doing my scripture study, when I had a feeling that Rosy wasn’t ready to be baptized yet. I was reading [in Alma 32] about the word being a seed, [that faith is something that needs to be nurtured], and I had doubts about her being ready or not, if things were moving too fast. I read that verse [about faith] and started crying. I didn’t know what to do, it was my first baptism, and I decided to call her and set an appointment just to talk.
We went and talked, and Rosy said she wasn’t ready. I read that chapter and God helped me know to not rush Rosy into baptism. The Lord helped me take time to actually know and understand her. It was a very spiritual moment for me on my mission.
We took more time. One day, she was actually ready, and we baptized her. It was my first baptism, and I was crying so much. I was so happy.
What did you learn on your mission about yourself and about God?
I grew up in a hostel, so I didn’t have knowledge of the outside world. From the ages of 10-15 I studied and lived at the hostel. I didn’t learn about myself, but on the mission, I learned so much about myself. I learned that I actually have patience.
I had one companion that was the hardest companion I had. She taught me more about myself. I learned so much patience and had strength and courage to be with her. She was always sick, and we never went out much. She never wanted to go to appointments or anything. I just took care of her. I learned that I can actually serve people. I know that no matter how the people were, how hard people were on Him, even beating Him, the Savior still loved them and showed mercy on them. I felt like that. I could’ve said a lot of things to her or could’ve ran away, but I didn’t. I patiently waited and took care of her and was there for her.
Later on when we were no longer companions, the mission president’s wife called and asked me, “Hey, do you want to be her companion? No one else wants to be with her. Can I send her back to your city?”
I didn’t hesitate. I said, “Of course I’d love that.” The mission president’s wife thanked me, and she came. My companion was different, but some things still hadn’t changed. This time, I was leading us, so I got her to go to more appointments. I’d say, “This is a beautiful city, let’s go out.” We had a good time, and at the end of our transfer(s) together, she said, “I’m so glad I got to serve with you. I learned so much from you. You were always patient with me and there for me.”
It was really hard for me, being her companion at first. I cried to my mom as I wrote letters to her, saying, “I can’t do this anymore. I want to come home.” Even though my mom wasn’t baptized yet, she always went to church. She told me, “Is this why you worked so hard; why you prepared so much? And you want to give up now? You have to finish what you started.” My mom always encouraged me. I don’t regret serving a mission.
What advice do you have for sisters who are preparing to serve an LDS mission?
One thing I’d definitely say: It’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be super hard, but don’t give up, no matter what comes your way or what hits you. The Lord has prepared you to serve your mission, so there’s a reason why you are in that [particular] place. You can change people’s lives, so don’t give up.
What did you love about your mission?
I loved serving people, getting out there, and learning about the families. I used to think I had so much going on in my life and in my family, but when you get out there and learn about other families and their situations, you learn so much about other people [and it gives you perspective]. I loved sharing something that gives people joy. I loved sharing the gospel that God has given us.
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