Thursday, May 2, 2013

So I've been moved. I am now in Southport (close to Liverpool). I am serving with Sister Nkosi who is from South Africa and has been out about 6 months. We white-washed into Southport opening a new area. They already had elders here but now they have sisters too! So we arrived at a new flat last night that only had a table, two chairs, and 2 beds. We had to go buy quite a bit of stuff last night and they are supposed to be bringing us more stuff. So it's an adventure starting in a new area with no one to teach and no idea where you are. Yay fun! Southport is super posh! Huge homes and elaborate architecture.

Anyway, Sister Leslie is training this transfer. So she stayed in Oldham and was asking me so many questions before I left! If there was ever a moment where there was no one to talk to while we were walking she would pick my brain for "words of wisdom." sometimes I feel like a martial arts master when people ask me to share my "profound wisdom"... I just have a large vocabulary... I think they confuse that with actual knowledge.

We had a good week at the beginning of the week. We were able to see a lot of people before I left. They started a new thing where they let us know on Saturday where we are going so we can actually say good bye to people at church. So that was nice. We went and visited with the nonmember friends of President Preston that he referred to us in Oldham. We've seen them a few times but Ken says he doesn't want to come back yet (former member) and his wife Jenny says she's not interested at the moment. We had an incredible visit with them yesterday morning though. We were explaining a bit about the restoration to Jenny. Ken started talking about how all of us wonder which church is true and how we can know it. He then told the whole story of Joseph Smith and started crying. He waved his finger towards the ceiling, looking up, and said, "clever." And then said that he knew that Joseph Smith had a vision and that he knew the church was true. He just doesn't want to return without Jenny, but Jenny's just not ready yet in her mind. I'll stay in touch with them though.

Life's pretty good. Mom, the pharmacy charge was because I got an eye infection in both eyes. My eyes just kept becoming blood-shot most days for 3 weeks. So I went to the doctor and they didn't give me an official diagnosis but gave me a prescription for antibiotics. So that's gotten significantly better.

I'll have to let you know next week about time to skype on Mother's day. I don't know any of the members yet and who has a computer and all that fun stuff. I won't be emailing Monday most likely because from what I hear it's a bank holiday meaning the libraries are closed.

Glad to hear the family's well. As for flying back to Hawaii I was thinking something like the 5th of September, but not sure.

Love you all!

Monday, April 22

It's been a really good week! We've been super busy and have been enjoying missionary life. On Tuesday, we had a district meeting and then had 4 less-active lessons. We've been teaching an investigator named David. He's really prepared. He was the one that came to general conference and then to church. He came again yesterday and we've met with him twice. He's praying about a baptismal date in May. So that's pretty wonderful.

 

Before I forget, transfers are next week so I won't be emailing until later in the week next week.

 

I'm going to go get my haircut today. Just a trim. I haven't cut my hair in a year! crazy!

 

We had 2 lessons this last week that were intense. Spiritually intense. We let the Spirit teach more than anything and we just bore testimony to what the Spirit said. We have a less-active who is trying to come back to church, but just isn't quite finding the motivation so we talked about Jesus Christ and having faith. He started teaching himself by the things he himself said. He was beating himself up pretty bad about not keeping commitments so I just said that it's important to look at what we do do and use those we don't do merely as a reference to make small steps back to right way. Then he said one of the most profound things. He said, "I've come to realize that when we put ourselves down or over think things we are devaluing a gift from God; we are devaluing our worth which is a gift from God." I was like WOW! That is such an intense idea! That really struck home.

Not a whole lot more interesting things are happening. I got an email back from the landlady in Hawaii that I emailed. She said she put my name in one of the spots in the house and that we will complete the rental agreement and logistics in July. SO I have a place to live! Which is good! I just need to email Brother Ferre still and see if I'll have a job!

 

I'll keep Grandma Nannenga in my prayers and hope that they figure out what's happening. Glad Hailey, Dusty, and the kids are doing well. What's happening in Chandra's world now-a-days? I don't often hear about her!

 

I saw in the headlines of the newspapers about the explosion in Texas. I thought it might impact dad in some way even if he may not have worked on that plant. So you were in my thoughts earlier this week as well.

 

Anyway, I've spent most of the time sorting out school, housing, and other things so I have to keep it pretty short. I still need to write President. I love you all so very much!

 

I love you!