Tuesday, April 2

Sorry I didn't give any warning about not emailing yesterday. I forget that whenever there's an opportunity to take a holiday they take it over here. So yes, everywhere was closed yesterday for the Easter holiday.

Happy Late Easter!

It's been a good week or so! Sister Leslie is very nice and a really good missionary! We've been able to see a lot of good things happening! We went to go stop by some less-actives last night and one of them let us in and we had a lovely conversation and we'll be going back there on Thursday to make dinner for her and see her again. She has some physical limitations so we offered to come and make dinner for her and do a bit of service for her. So I think it will be a really good experience. We also saw one of our investigators named Samantha last night. We haven't been able to see her in weeks and weren't even sure she even wanted to keep meeting with us. We ended up feeling prompted to extend the baptismal invitation to her and she is now praying about whether or not she should be baptized on the 27th of April. So that was a good experience as well.

I can't believe it's April already! It doesn't seem to be with the weather over here, but apparently in 2 weeks it's supposed to start being really nice.

How was the Easter holidays back home? We spent it finding... and finding... and finding.... but it was good. We spent all day Saturday finding, but we met some really nice people that could become investigators in the near future! We taught a lesson Saturday night and we really are spreading the gospel to all the world. One of the members is from Ghana and she had family from Ghana visiting for the weekend and invited us over to teach her family about the church. We met and talked about the restoration. Before we even asked them to read The Book of Mormon, they asked if they could each have a copy to start studying. They were pretty happy and excited to hear that there is a living prophet on the earth today. They'll be staying down in London for the next month of so before going back to Ghana, but we gave them the information to know how to contact the missionaries wherever they are. They even ended up decided to come to church on Sunday as well! So even though they weren't able to become our investigators, I hope and pray they will get in touch with the missionaries in Ghana! Sunday was really good, we had testimony meeting. I think having so many people bear testimony of the Atonement really brought the Spirit very powerfully. The chapel was absolutely full of people and I hope they were all able to have their hearts touched in some way on a beautiful Easter Sunday morning.

So I wrote a while back about how I've had to deal with some creepy men as of late. I've actually had to deal with creepy men a fair bit on my mission. I wrote to President in one of recent weekly letters that sometimes it's just so hard being a sister and having to deal with things like that. He called me and told me I'm basically the only sister that has had to deal with it to the extent that I have. He has now committed me to staying away from creepy men. I'm trying. A man at the bus station the other day wanted to hold me hand. I called President that night for some reason and just mentioned it, he was less than pleased to hear about it. Meh, it's alright, I'm smart and am not going to allow myself to get into any truly tough situations. I just thought it was funny that I've been committed to avoid creepy men. The thing is, they all seem relatively normal at first...

Oh! I had an experience today, we were on the bus and Sister Leslie started to talk to someone. I kind of was listening a bit from where I was sitting and the girl was from China. She didn't speak a whole lot of English and so Sister Leslie asked me to come over. I was able to talk to her in some Chinese and understood a little bit of what she said to me in Chinese. We got her number and she said she'd be willing to meet with us to help her improve her English and I asked if she could help me with Chinese. So hopefully we can make something happen there! I was just really proud that I spoke Chinese to someone and they understood what I was saying!

Hmmm... I don't think I have a whole lot else to say today. The sun has been shining a bit more, so there's hope, it's still cold, but at least the sun is shining.

I hope you all will have a wonderful week!

 

I love you all so much!

Thursday, March 28

It's a Thursday and the sun is finally shining after days of blizzards and cold winds. But it's supposed to get cold again and stay dead freezing until end of April. I've been told I need to go see a doctor about being so cold and tired all the time. Some of the members think I might have an under active thyroid. I agreed to talk to a doctor. The members say it's just not normal to be wearing leggings, nylons, fleece and polyester tights, 3 pairs of socks, and boots and still come home at night with purple and red feet. So we'll see if I need to be tested for something.

I'm still in Oldham. New companion. Her name is Sister Leslie. I'm follow-up training her. She's been out 6 weeks so we'll complete the rest of her 12 weeks training (even though this transfer is only 5 weeks). President told me she is a really good missionary and I am her companion right now to prepare her to be a trainer in Oldham next transfer and then I will white-wash train next transfer. That's what he says... things often change. So we'll see. Sister Leslie is a really good missionary though! We've only been together less than 24 hours and I am just so utterly impressed. We talked last night of anything we feel individually we would like to see improve in ourselves this transfer and then during study this morning we set goals and expectations for this transfer as a companionship. We are going to see wonderful miracles! She is from St. George Utah, just turned 21 this month, and is studying nursing back home.

Sister Ballantyne went down to Wales (not Gaerwen area) and she is training there.

President Preston and I had a good long conversation yesterday. I just talked about some of my fears and struggles. It was good to talk to him. I told him I know perfectly well that I over analyze things. He agreed. He is proud of who I am becoming and just always tells me that I have so much that I am contributing to this mission.

I've apparently become the "mafia boss" of the sisters. Don't worry, it's supposed to be a good thing. I know most of everything that goes on with the sisters. The good, the bad, everything. Many of the sisters have permission to call me if they need to talk or if they're struggling or anything. I've had so many sisters call me in tears and saying, "I want to go home." I have come to realize that all the things I have gone through have made me that much stronger and I can honestly help these sisters get through many of the things they face because I've been there! Sister Ballantyne dubbed me the Mafia Boss.

We have a fast, find, and feast this Saturday. We will fast on Friday, Devote ourselves to finding on Saturday, and then have a feast sometime to complete the circle. If you could pray that we find new investigators it would be greatly appreciated! We want these wonderful miracles to happen, but we definitely need Heavenly Father's help!

So, that's mostly what's been happening in my life. It's still cold and damp, but everyone keeps saying spring is coming soon...

Mom and Dad, Hope you're having a blast in Belize, enjoying warm weather. Hailey, Liam is a fat little chunk ain't he? Aunt Judy sent some pictures. He looks like he is almost as big as Kimber! Maybe it's just the angles.

Anyway, I hope this letter finds you happy and well!

I love you lots!

Monday, March 18

Goodness, I can't even really remember what happened this last week. It's all a bit of a blur really. We currently have/had one investigator who is progressing, his name is David, and we are handing him over to the Elders in the area to start teaching him. He's 45 and kind of just gave us creepy vibes since day one, but I thought maybe I was just passing judgements, but no. He texts us all the time and he got mad the other day when we didn't text back within 10 minutes of him texting us. He refused to come to church yesterday because we had ignored his phone calls on Saturday... He also told us that we shouldn't obey the rules that are put on us and that we should be able to spend more time with him and let him buy us things. He then texted me the other night and said that he'd really like to keep in contact in the future if that's okay with me. He also bought me a monthly bus pass that he wants to give me the next time we see him.  Little does he know that the next appointment we set, the Elders will show up. Can't wait for the text messages and phone calls that will come after that since the last time when I left the area for a bit and had the Elders go teach I got a text message from him saying that I need to understand that I'm the only person that can teach him about "the Mormon book.".... President is happy to hear he has no idea where we live.

I also got asked by a 50 year old man the other day if he could be my "British boyfriend." There are weird people in the world. Our zone leader told us the other day that he had heard that Sisters become very attractive when they have the Spirit... so I should maybe take all this as a compliment?

All our other investigators are just very flaky. Brian told us he can't meet with us for 3 weeks because he's baking a cake.... Samantha needs to spend quality time with her cat because she's been ill lately... Robert can't read and doesn't want to listen to the Book of Mormon on CD... So we are working on contacting referrals and gaining new investigators. It can be rather frustrating.

Mom, It's really interesting that you mention catching a bit of a 24 hour bug/flu. I had a bit of that yesterday and wasn't able to sleep Saturday night and missed church yesterday because of it. 14 months of perfect attendance and then miss a Sunday. I called Sister Preston and was really distraught about it. I'm a missionary! I can't miss church! She told me I'd be okay.

I was able to see some pictures of Kade and Kimber in an email from Aunt Judy. Kade is a little chunk isn't it?! He looks nothing like Kimber or Tucker did. Although I am basing that judgement on 2 pictures.

I'm happy to hear Dusty got a job. I'm sure Rexburg will be fine. Hailey, if it gets too cliqueish at least you know you have family in all directions. Who needs friends when you have family!? Psh, Family is so much better. O'hana means family, family means no one gets left behind or forgotten... just throw in a little Lilo and Stitch quote.

Well, the sun is shining. I hope it stays that way. Mom, I forgot to print off the letter of intent last week before my time ran out. Maybe it would be better if you just took care of it if you have some time.

Mom and Dad, I hope you have fun in Belize, give my love Aunt Linda and Uncle Bill. I won't be emailing on Monday next week because it's transfers again next week! Yes, already that time again! I only have 3 more transfers left (plus a bit if I am able to extend) It's really not that far away. I'm finishing up my 10th transfer.

Sister Ballantyne and I are still getting along well. We more likely than not won't stay together next transfer, but it's been fun. Once again the prospect of making another attempt at being a trainer next transfer lingers in the air...but we'll see. President wanted to keep me in this area for a while still, but with our investigator being the way he is, I might get moved. Who knows!

Anyway, I think that's about all I have to say! I hope you are all doing well... I can't remember if daylight savings time will happen for us this coming weekend or next, but sometime soon it'll happen.

I love you all very much!

Monday, March 11

 

Kara entitled this one "Finding Nature"

Dovestone Reservoir

Well, We've just had a flash blizzard. left the flat about 20 minutes ago, walking in warm (ish) sunlight. And within the last 20 minutes, the sky went dark, it started snowing and now there's already an inch of snow on the ground.... Britain.

They came out with a new rule this week for missionaries... well a revision. We can now email friends. Surprise! We sat there and were like... really? So I thought that was quite the change. So I'll email Emily about housing for fall.

This week was really good. Last P-day Sister Ballantyne and I went to Dovestone Reservoir. I just needed to get out and get some fresh air. So we hiked around the reservoir and saw a beautiful sunset over the hills. So that was very nice and calming. I wrote a very extensive letter to President this last week about how I've been feeling and he came to see me on Saturday. He laid my letter in front of us and said, "You could get a master's for such in-depth analysis." Then said some of it just went over his head, but he understood a bit better what I was thinking. He then reminded me that I have a "Big Presence" in this mission and that hopefully I can once again start being a strength for other missionaries and whatnot, and I need to make sure I'm being a presence for good and not for bad. So that was nice. He then took us to Liverpool for a baptism. I got to see all the members that I left a year ago now. They all asked when I'll be transferred back to Liverpool. It was good to see that they still remember me.

We took one of our investigators to a fireside at the mission home last night. He enjoyed himself and is now talking about wanting to get baptized. We might hand him over to the elders here soon, we're praying about it, we just get a really odd feeling when we have to meet with him. We're trying to figure out why.

Oh look, the sun came back out again... snow just melted... Britain.

We've gotten a lot of referrals lately. We hope to get in contact and have a bunch of new investigators! Sweet!

Well, that's mostly all the exciting things from this side of the world.

Well, I hope you have a wonderful week! I want to see more pictures of Kade! He's getting on 4 months here soon!

I love you all very much! Take care!

Monday, March 4

 

I'm back in Oldham and now with a sister who is called Sister Ballantyne. (in purple)  She's from Utah and has been on her mission for almost 5 months. I was staying with her and Sister Telefoni this last week and a half and we got along really well so President moved her with me. So it's good. It's been a good week. Trying to still relax and clear my mind, but now we are getting back into the swing of things here in Oldham.

Last P-day we went to a castle with the Bolton elders and the zone leaders. It's basically in ruins. We just used it as a giant playground basically. It was lots of fun. I'll try and attach a picture.

I think I'll probably go back to BYU-Hawaii. I've heard back from Brother Ferre and I realize how much I absolutely love that place. So mom, could you look into what exactly I need to do for a letter of intent?

It's been a tough couple of weeks, but I know this is where I am meant to be. I would not choose to be anywhere else right now. I feel like a mouse in a maze sometimes... trying to find the cheese.... and I know remaining calm is the best option otherwise I might cause myself a heart attack before reaching my goal. not the best analogy, but it works. I will probably choose to extend my mission. I know how much you would like me home, but I feel like I need to stay. I do have things to contribute to this mission and I know that my time staying would not be wasted. I'd be home like the 19th of August and BYU-Hawaii doesn't start until the 9th of September. I know that it seems like a short amount of time to be home, but I feel like it would be the best. If I came home in July, you would soon start school and business and I wouldn't want to jump into getting a job right then and there, plus who would take me for a month? If I would not be working and you'd be off to work and other things, it would leave me sitting fairly idly at home and the idle mind is the devil's playground. I would rather be serving my Heavenly Father than subjecting myself to a situation where many good return missionaries fall. It's not that I don't want to spend time with you, but I am just trying to look at a bigger picture. I'll continue to pray about it though and I invite you to do the same. I am grateful for the opportunity that you have allowed me to have in serving a mission. I am grateful for the support and love that you give.

Well, I don't have a whole lot else to write about, but know that I love you and hope that you have a wonderful week.

Thursday, February 14

So... Transfers... I'm training a new missionary again. Completely stressed to be honest. Her name is Sister Dunn, she's English.  She's a lot older than I am; it will be a challenge. Sister Smith is also training this transfer, so I must have done something right before.

I had to go to the mission home Tuesday night for the "Train the Trainers" meeting. So we travelled over that way Tuesday afternoon and I said goodbye to Sister Fortuna and she was off to her new area (Newtown) that night with her companion. Then some of us that are training stayed in the flat near the Manchester chapel (there were 7 of us in the flat, crazy!) So that was fun! Then we went Wednesday morning to transfers to pick up the new sisters. We got stuck in traffic last night for over 2 hours. It snowed and everything just went into a stand still. So we got in the area and had a bit of tea and then hiked up to the Bishop's to let Sister Dunn meet him and his family.

I'm really stressed about everything. I'm already second guessing everything I do. It's a lot different than training in a car area. I fail at contacting people on the bus, I just find it so awkward to talk to people on the bus. I am supposed to be teaching her to just suck it up and do it, and I can't even do it. I can't very well be a hypocrite now can I? So I dread the moment we get on a bus later today. Also, there are so many Muslim people in our area... majority. They are lovely and nice, but just not interested most of the time. So we have no investigators and so we just find and find and visit less actives and find... Just trying to stay positive about it all.

Happy Valentine's Day though!

4 sisters left yesterday; they finished their missions. It's weird to think about because that leaves only 3 sisters out longer than me in the mission. The rest came out with me or later. Weird! I had one Elder who was going home yesterday ask me to write him.... that was a bit odd, but we'll see.

Well, I don't have a whole lot else for news. I don't know, I'm just a bit scatter brained today. Pray for me!

I wrote a letter to a Professor I had at BYUH who is now retired, I asked what he would suggest for my schooling. He said I should go back to BYUH because he says that is what I need. I'll keep praying about it though and see what the other BYUs have to say as well. I'll keep May in mind though.

Monday, February 4, 2013

I can't believe it's February! Hailey, Happy birthday tomorrow. I thought about it the other day and had a hard time believing you're going to be 26, but then again I haven't really accepted I'm 22.

Well, it's been a good week. We got a phone call last week from one of the young women saying that she had a friend who wanted to meet with us. So we met with her this week so we have a new investigator. She's a really sweet young lady who says she's atheist. but seems genuinely curious and interested in the concept of God. It was a really good lesson and she listened intently. The young woman from the ward was so happy to see her friend being taught and she would bear testimony on the importance of prayer and what the Spirit feels like. So it was really good to have her there as well.

I had a very interesting conversation with the zone leaders at the beginning of the week. We keep getting put down because our numbers are so low. I was irritated because we can't always control the number of lessons we have in a week. People have their agency to choose and if they don't want to meet with us they don't want to meet with us. So I just called the zone leaders up and said, "What in your eyes are we doing wrong?" They both kind of froze and said that they didn't see us doing anything wrong and then I told them that I just felt like we were facing belittlement from different people and we were flat out told we weren't fulfilling our potential. They apologized if they had done anything to cause that and they said they would speak with others about not criticizing, They thanked me for my blunt honesty. I was calm the entire time having this conversation by the way, no shouting or yelling. So we had a nice conversation about what needed to be done. Then they asked what my favorite foods were and I said chocolate and Yorkshire puddings, so they showed up the next day with 8 chocolate bars and a box of Yorkshire puddings. So that was nice. Then they invited us to attend district leader council meeting this past Saturday, and we went and put some input in to let the district leaders know some of our thoughts and feelings. So I guess it was a good week. I was just really open and honest with everyone and I think I gained a lot of respect from doing so, Honesty is the best policy after all!

Transfers are next week. We have no idea what is going to happen. There are currently 24 sisters in the mission. We are losing 4 next week as they've completed their missions, and we get 10 new sisters in. Half of the sisters are going to be training starting next week and then the next transfer has another 10 coming in so we will all be training at the same time probably. crazy! A bit nerve racking to think about!

Well, I'm sorry to hear the kidlets are ill. I'm facing a bit of head cold now too. It's been going around the ward here. miserable how we share everything with the wards as missionaries.

I don't have a whole lot else to share this week. It's been rather uneventful. My back is feeling loads better. We had a sports day this week with the mission and I couldn't play which was sad, but things happen.

I hope Hailey has a happy birthday and the kids get better soon, thanks, Hailey, for sharing the little Kimber story with me, it did make me smile! Haha! She sounds like she's quite the character!

Dad, Hope you travel safely this week and get a lot of work done.

I love you all loads!