Monday, May 26, 2014
Stranded in Blandford
What an eventful week it has been. We had some really great miracles and also got stuck in some funny situations - never a dull moment. The first of which was on Tuesday after making an hour long bus journey down to Blandford. Blandford is the small city just south of Salisbury and we went there to visit a member and work in the area for the day. After our lovely BBQ lunch with Sister McGowen, we knocked in the area and were told that the bus would take us back into Blandford town (3-4 miles away) at 4:25pm, after which we could catch the bus going from Blandford town into Salibury at 4:45pm. It was a perfect plan, until we got to the bus stop and our bus never turned up! We double checked the bus time and realized we had been give Saturday's time instead of Tuesday's! Because we missed the first bus, we'd miss the second one taking us back to Salisbury. Stuck. Sister McGowen had left for work and was no longer in the area to give us a lift. So our only option was to walk 3 miles back into town and catch 3 buses for a total time of 3 hours on the bus before we'd get back to Salisbury. It was CRAZY. It was at this point that I realized the drawback of public transportation. Never once have I had this problem yet on my mission! As we discussed our new plan to get home, Sister Taylor, a fabulous member in our branch, saved the day and called us to see how we were doing. We explained how stranded we were and she offered to drive down 45 minutes just to come pick us up and she did! We were so grateful for her. Not only did she give us a lift home but she fed us dinner and came on a teach with us right after that. She's an amazing person and we couldn't express to her how thankful we were. One day I hope to be as supportive of a member for the missionaries in my ward as she is for us. After that experience, Blandford may or may not be our top priority of places to visit. :)
On Thursday we were invited to play football (soccer) with a less active in the branch and his friend! It was a blast! It even started raining as we played and we had a grand ol' time sliding, kicking and chasing the ball around. It's fun to be able to do missionary work in a way that's not always tracting and knocking, but working with the members always brings some great results.
We were most excited this week about Carly coming to church!! We were so happy for her and she's now planning to be baptized on the 5 July. It was truly a miracle to meet her in the chip shop and we're excited to continue teaching her.
I've learned a lot this week and I've realized how much improvement each day requires of me. There are always attributes, characteristics, habits, skills, gifts, and talents for us to be working to attain and develop. We can't achieve all that Heavenly Father wants us to if we don't rely on Him to strengthen, help, support and teach us on a daily basis. I am forever grateful to my companion and all I'm able to learn from her as well as the great example the other missionaries set for me. I keep telling myself ,"There is so much to read, so little time. So much to learn, so little time and so many people to talk to, and so little time!!" I appreciate every second I have to be a missionary and hope I can improve to spend my time how the Lord wants me to while I'm set apart to do His work.
Scripture of the week: "For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors." -Alma 34:32
Monday, May 19, 2014
Conferences, Exchanges, and Carlys...
It's been one full week. To start, we had Zone Conference on Tuesday - which was lovely. We got to see not only all the missionaries in our zone, but 2 other zones as well. There were about 90 of us! Nothin' like being in a big group of missionaries to recharge and spiritually fill up the tank for the next few weeks. :)
After Zone Conference we went on exchange with the sisters in Weymouth. I went with Sister Draper to her area and we had a great time and learned a lot from each other. I love going on exchanges because the Lord always provides miracles...without fail. Just on our way back from conference, I had an impression to talk to the man across the aisle in the train. At first, we offered him a mormon.org card and he wasn't interested and gave it back to us, but as we continued to talk to him he became more and more interested in the beliefs and outlook we had on life. He continued to tell us how he knows there's something more to life and always turns to his friend for spiritual upliftment through hard times. We promised him that the gospel would answer his questions and bless him in his life. He ended up taking a Book of Mormon, Restoration pamphlet, and the same mormon.org card he thought he didn't want at the beginning. :) We set up a return appointment with him and the Weymouth sisters committed to see him on Saturday. He even said he would bring his friend along. What a blessing it was to meet him! I know the Lord places people in our path that are ready to hear the gospel.
Another cool happening this week was...drumroll....... Randomly on Thursday, Sister Nelson and I decided to go get a Fish N' Chips at Stoby's to celebrate my 1 year mark for lunch. Right after we got our fish, the girl at till finished her shift and followed us out. We invited her to come eat lunch with us and she accepted! We went with her and told her about the Book of Mormon and we got her phone number. She committed to come to church on Sunday and it was great! Not only that, guess what her name is! CARLY! What?! And she spells it the same! It was such a miracle and blessing to meet her. We're looking forward to meeting her again tonight or later this week. :) She's our "nbf" as my mom would say: our new best friend. :) I love being a missionary and I'm grateful for the wonderful week we've had. The beautiful sunshine and warm weather have made it that much better.
Scripture of the week: "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation. Therefore, with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say: Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted." -2 Nephi 22:3-5
Monday, May 12, 2014
To My Brothers
Well this week for my blog, I feel inspired to write a few words of advice for Wy leaving at the end of June to Guatemala, and Wes and Wade as near-future missionaries. :)
First and foremost, be obedient. Read the white-handbook and respect the fact that the Prophet and His Apostles have written these rules for our physical and spiritual safety and protection as missionaries. They want us to be the best missionaries we can be, and the only way we do that is by abiding by the white handbook. Dad likes to call it the "white bible" because it truly becomes the new law around everything you do. The important thing to remember as a missionary is that you aren't doing what YOU want to do anymore, you're doing what THE LORD wants you to do. He won't be able to help you if you don't let him, and being obedient is the first step. You will be blessed with opportunities to teach more people and the Spirit and power will be added to the words and message you share. I have experienced such blessings, so be obedient. D&C 130:20-21
Second, prepare yourself everyday through scripture study and prayer. Your study in the morning will your greatest help if you put some effort in. The Lord is so willing to enlighten our minds and answer our questions if we do our best to understand His doctrine and prepare to teach it. I have received so many insights and answers to prayers as I've studied and truly "feasted" on His word. I find so much comfort and peace in the words we have to read from, especially in the Book of Mormon. That will be your greatest tool to help someone gain a testimony of the Restored Gospel. It would only make sense that we do what we ask our investigators to do, and that is to read and pray. By so doing, we not only continue to build and strengthen our own testimony but we are then more prepared to answer questions and resolve concerns that our investigators may come across. Alma 37:36
Third, follow the Spirit. If you are being obedient and studying hard, you will have the Spirit with you. He will tell you where to go, what to say, and how to act. You will feel of the power and authority you have as a full-time missionary and the Spirit is what gives you that power and authority. Pray to receive and recognize the promptings and then do your best to act on that guidance. If you have faith to find, teach, and baptize, the Lord will show you the way through the companionship of the Holy Ghost. D&C 100:5-8
Fourth, remember that it isn't easy, that's why they call it missionary WORK, but you will find joy as you focus on the people around you and those you serve. If you try to love and serve the people with all your might, you will feel of Heavenly Father's love for them and you will gain a greater understanding of how much Heavenly Father loves you. The companions you serve with, the members you serve with, the investigators you serve, and everybody else you come in contact with will all help shape you as a person and help you become the person Heavenly Father wants you to be. You can learn something from each person you work with and if you will enjoy your time with them, they will become dear friends in this life and the eternities. Luke 9:23-24, D&C 130:2
Fifth, love the Lord and love His gospel. Preach My Gospel says at the beginning of Chapter 3, "The lessons in this chapter contain the essential doctrines, principles, and commandments that you are to study, believe, love, live, and teach." I love that! If you truly love the Lord and love the message that we have to share, people will see it in your eyes. They will want to listen to the words you share and they will feel of the Spirit you have. They will be able to recognize your sincerity and love for the gospel. If you don't enjoy and love what you're living, what is the point of trying to share it with others?! Mark 12:30
I could probably write a novel of all the things I've learned and the advice I could give, but these 5 points will have to do and I know as you do them and serve the Lord with all your heart, might, mind and strength, He will not only bless you and change you to the person He wants you to become, but you will bless an innumerable amount of people through the service you give. I love the Lord and His Gospel and I'm so grateful to be a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I wouldn't trade my mission for anything. The experience and the lessons I've learned are priceless. The last two scriptures have been my favorite throughout my mission so far: D&C 123:12-17 and D&C 4.
I love you boys and have full faith and confidence in you! Do your best and the Lord will do the rest. I know that to be true. 
Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, England
Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, EnglandMonday, May 5, 2014
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