God's Pocket

The other day this lady told me that a nickname for Chichester is "God's pocket." How perfect is that?! She said the reason it gets its nickname is because this is one of the sunniest places in England. Don't quote me for fact on that one, because I'm pretty sure it's just hear-say, but I wholeheartedly agreed with her.  Not only is the weather nice here, but the people are too.  I loved hearing that comparison and it made me think just how many blessings we receive as we strive to draw closer to our Heavenly Father.  I'd love to think that when I have the Spirit I'm in "God's pocket," and that's where I want to spend my life. :)

We had an amazing week of miracles.  One of them being our new best friend Morgan!  We met her at the bus stop last week and had a first teach with her this week at Josie's (member) house. It went really well and we felt the Spirit.  She is really eager and excited to read the Book fo Mormon.  I'm grateful for these lovely people Heavenly Father places in our path that are truly open and want to understand how religion and the gospel can help them in their own life.  We just help them make the right decision.

Another miracle this week was Ian! We met him down in Selsey (down on the coast, just south of Chichester) We went to visit a person on the ward directory, but he said she didn't live there anymore, so we gave him a card and invitation to church and didn't think much more about it! He ended up calling us later that day and told us he actually wanted to come to church in Chichester because he'd been married there 4 years before. .....? Interesting. We told him about Stake Conference in Portsmouth instead and he decided he'd rather just wait til next week when church was back in Chichester.  Then, you won't believe what happened! Sunday morning we got a phone call during our personal study and it went like this: "Hi, this is Ian... I hope it's not too early to call but I was just thinking that I'd actually like to come to Portsmouth today for church..." We were thinking, "OH MY GOOOODNESS!!! THIS GUY'S AMAZING!! He didn't want to come on Thursday when we last talked to him!!!!" So then we said, "Oh great! That sounds really good! Do you need us to arrange a lift for you?!"  Ian: "No, that's fine, I'll just drive. What time does it start?! 10?" Us: "10:30" Ian: "Okay great, well I'll find a close parking space then." Whoa. Just blew my mind. I couldn't believe what just happened!  I had felt so sad that no one was able to come to stake conference with us and I was wondering what I could've done better to find someone that week, and then at the last moment, Ian called and Heavenly Father provided a way and a change of heart. I know it was a blessing for us as missionaries and it was a blessing for Ian because he really seemed to enjoy coming to Stake Conference. My heart was so full of gratitude that morning and my testimony was strengthened to know that Heavenly Father really does love us and is truly mindful of each of our situations and scenarios. What a tender mercy moment it was! I am so grateful for that!  We are planning to meet up with him again later this week!

Scripture of the week:  "7 Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

 8 For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

 9 Or what man is there of you, who, if his son ask bread, will give him a stone?

 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" -3 Nephi 14:7-11

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​1st Temple Trip for John (baptized in June) :)