Blessings in Basingstoke

So, I moved to Basingstoke aka "Amazingstoke!" But I'll be honest, I cried like a baby. It was so painful to leave the Kingston ward after being there for 6 months. You don't realize how much you love the area and the people until you have to say goodbye.  I will definitely miss the ward family, my companion Sister Berati, and the investigators.

 

But, Basingstoke will be a great experience!  I already love it. It is a cute little city out in the middle of nowhere.  Right in the center of town is the train station, bus station, and shopping mall.  The great thing is we literally live right next door to everything we need! The flat is new in the mission and we're definitely blessed to have it. Sister Brooks is my new companion! She has been out for 3 months and is from a city just north of London.  How cool is that?!  I'm really excited to work with her. She told me she'd help me polish my British accent. :) The ward was so friendly yesterday, and I'm excited to begin working with them.

 

Although Sister Brooks has been sick the past week, we've already seen miracles in this area. "The field is white already to harvest!"  Last night, we taught a cute young Polish family about the Restoration and I can't wait to teach them again. I'm also excited for the upcoming holiday season and the great opportunity it will be to teach people about baby Jesus, His mission, and His Gospel. 

 

Scripture of the week: "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." Romans 8:16-17

 

Lost Sheep

I know every single missionary talks about how much they love the people where they serve, but it is so true.  This past week has been the last of the transfer and not knowing whether I will stay here in Kingston or leave has made me very conscious and aware of all the people that I have sure grown to love while being here. 

Yesterday I especially enjoyed every second of Church. I'm so grateful to the ward for making Church a place where investigators feel welcome and comfortable - a place they want to be!  After church, Sister Berati and I headed down to Claygate.  On our way, we stopped a man who spoke only a little English, but come to find out, he had travelled from Brazil to Italy and now here to England and was a member!  He didn't know we had a church so close by! We called our Bishop who knows Portuguese and he was able to tell him where our church was.  He's planning to come to church not next week but the next because of Stake Conference. This experience was a witness to me of how much Heavenly Father loves His children.  I'm grateful we were able to talk with him and I know he'll be such a blessing for the ward here.

Scripture of the Week: I love the example of Nephi in Helaman 10:4-5 "Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people.  And thou has not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will and to keep my commandments." 

Fwd: Happy Halloween and Happy Fall Weather!

Happy Halloween & Happy Fall Weather!! Time to pull out the puffy. :)

Baptism Calendar

This week Sister Berati and I made a baptism calendar poster for one of our investigators who has committed to be baptized!! We are so happy for him because of the faith he has exercised and the blessings he will receive for taking this important step.  On P-day we went and bought the supplies to make the poster.  The following day, we spent time finding passages in the Book of Mormon that will help him prepare for his baptism on a daily basis.  When we gave him his poster, I wish I had a camera to capture the joy on his face!  It's not really the poster that matters, but the faithful decision he's made to be baptized. I'm learning on my mission, how truly necessary it is for each one of Heavenly Father's children to enter into the waters of baptism.  Only by doing so, can we return to live with Him again and enjoy eternal life.  Not only does our baptism bring blessings in the life to come, but we are blessed beyond measure in this life when we covenant to follow Our Savior Jesus Christ.  We enjoy the peace and acceptance of the Lord through repentance, guidance and comfort from the Holy Ghost, and revelation and knowledge from the scriptures and our presiding leaders. Although we make a sacrifice to give up worldly desires, we gain so much more from the Gospel than the world could ever offer us.  I'm so grateful for my own baptismal covenants and the opportunity I have to invite others to do the same. 

With only one week in the transfer left, I'm hoping I'll get to stay here in Kingston for one more transfer.  I know it's up to the will of the Lord, and I'll serve where He needs me, but I sure do love the area and the ward here so much.  It has been a blessing to be a member of such an amazing ward FAMILY. Coming to church every Sunday feels like my home away from home.  I couldn't ask for a better ward. 

Scripture of the Week: "Marvel not that ALL mankind...must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God." -Mosiah 27:25-26

Influence of the Spirit

Sister Berati and I have had a great week! The ward has been so helpful to come on teaches with new investigators - which really makes all the difference.  I've really gained a strong understanding of why the members are so important in missionary work. We can't do it without them. My favorite way the members help out is by inviting us over for dinner and allowing us to bring investigators along. I'm grateful for the Spirit the members keep in their home which provides a great atmosphere for lessons. 

One experience that was special this week was our visit to our friend Bill's house.  We've met with him a few times and he has been curious and interested to learn about our Church, but just as mere entertainment, not as something he'd like to embrace in his own life. Although we invited him many times to pray, he declined. However, this past visit with him was different.  By the guidance and help of the Holy Ghost we were able to talk with him and ask him questions that really made him think about how he could find more happiness in his life. We shared a couple scriptures (Alma 32:27 and Ether 12:6) to explain to him how just the desire to believe would be enough for him to receive an answer to his prayer.  He recognized his own desire to be happier and we knew that the Gospel was the key to his happiness!  Toward the end of our conversation, we asked if he would read the Book of Mormon and pray that night to know if God was there and after a long pause he said, "Alright...but how can I know what the answer is?!" This was music to our ears!! We then explained about how the Holy Ghost would answer him.  What a great experience it was to feel the influence of the Holy Ghost in our discussion with Bill. Without it, I know that he wouldn't have felt compelled to accept the challenge to pray. How grateful I am for the gift and power of the Holy Ghost - especially in missionary work.

Scripture of the Week: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding." Proverbs 3:5-6, 12-13

New Investigators Miracle!

Holy cow! This week has been crazy! We have been so blessed to find so many people this week who are ready and willing to hear more about the Gospel. The coming week will be full of return appointments and member present lessons - I'm so excited! The amazing thing is that it's nothing Sister Berati and I have done. It's simply the Lord showing us where we need to go and who we need to talk to. 

This week our Bishop suggested that we stop by the cutest little cafe you could imagine next to the train station.  It's called the Chocolate Teapot and we went there to follow up on these ladies that members had contacted and become friends with.  The members moved back to the U.S. but suggested to the Bishop that we stop by to see if they'd be interested to learn more.  It was a busy day in the cafe, but we left a mormon.org card for her and she was so excited to have it.  We'll be stopping by again soon to hopefully leave a Book of Mormon to her and the owner. After leaving, less than 15 minutes later we knocked on a woman's door who wasn't interested and she told us the person next door probably wasn't either. Despite her suggestion, we knocked on her neighbor's door anyway.  A sweet lady from Africa opened the door, took a copy of the Book of Mormon and we set up a time to meet with her again on Wednesday! It was a miracle! 

I also was reminded how much I love church this week.  Two investigators that live near our home both came to church for the first time, stayed all three hours and asked if they could come again next week.  We were so happy!  Usually we have to try and drag people to church!  There is such a great Spirit there and we know that's really what makes it so special for the people that come for the first time.  They can feel the difference and the love the ward and their Heavenly Father has for them.  

Scripture of the Week: "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of Him to declare His word among His people that they might have everlasting life." -3 Nephi 5:13

Spirit of Music

This week was definitely a little out of the ordinary, but a great week nonetheless. :) One of our investigators from Albania is 7 months pregnant and doesn't speak much English, but she got sick this week! We helped her get to the hospital and within 3 days she was feeling much better!  Thank goodness Sister Berati was here to translate! During those few days, we didn't have much time to door knock or street contact, but it was a great opportunity to serve our investigator in a time of need for her. We're happy she's doing better. 

It was a blessing on Saturday to be invited to play my violin at the London Temple Visitor's Center for a musical fireside! I felt so privileged to be there and played How Great Thou Art.  We went with some members in the ward and also one of our investigators, Dave. I think everyone, including myself, went home feeling edified by the great Spirit that was there. It was special that everyone performed their song right next to the Christus statue, so as we listened to songs centered on Christ, it brought a powerful feeling of His love and sacrifice for us.

I've become more grateful and aware of the impact music makes in the Church. I think D&C 25:12 says it best, "For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads."