English People and the Good Word

Week 19~ March 21, 2016

This week was an interesting one! We were so busy. 

BEST NEWS. 

On Wednesday on the train ride home from District Meeting there were two guys sitting in the aisle across from me and one was being SO LOUD. I was super annoyed so in an attempt to quiet him down I started proselyting (judge me for not doing it right away please). Well, it didn't work. Then at the next stop, the loud guy got off the train and I noticed the other guys actually studying the pass along card I gave him. So I genuinely started proselyting. Turns out he is GOLDEN. His name is Andrew. We taught him the Restoration two days later and he just ate it up. He came to church on Sunday and loved it and the ward LOVED him. Everyone was talking with him and he is YSA age and the YSA people did such a good job fellowshipping him. I have never been more proud of my sweet Bracknell Ward then I am right now. Andrew loved church and he fit right in. 

Wednesday night we also had a Reach Out night inviting investigators, less active members, and just anyone else. The Stake President and Bishop came and the success was good! There was 16 people there. Although it kind of turned into group therapy, it was still good.

We had many lessons this week and the work is really picking up. We had some awesome dinner appointments which I absolutely adore. One was with an American family. They are SO COOL. He is a lawyer and she is a doctor and they are just so interesting. Both of them have lived around the world and went to Ivy League Schools and its safe to say that I basically idol them. 

This ward has such good people. I LOVE LOVE LOVE English people. Best people. Phillip, a recent convert took us out to dinner and he ALWAYS spoils us. He is the kindest man ever. He bought us groceries as well and it was literally everything and so much more that we would have needed and wanted. And the Hamiltons are amazing as well. I think it is safe to say that this ward has the best ward mission leader in the church. He is always taking us out to teach and to visit people so we don't have to bike and I just love them. I think I love them so much because they feel like family to me, and they laugh at my dumb jokes.

We invited Albert to be baptized, and he isn't ready yet, but he is doing well too. Science studies the creation and religion studies the Creator. He has a hard time mixing the two. 

A few weeks ago we started teaching a man from Romania, English. He wasn't too keen about learning about the Gospel, but we were able to help him out for a bit. Then, we had to drop him because he tried to hold my hand and was asking me 'why I am so beautiful'.... It's amazing what people can learn in a new language when they want to. GAH. I have such a phobia to men nowadays. On a different day, a different investigator shook my hand and then leaned close to kiss me! I didn't know what the heck he was doing so I turned my head super quickly and he was like 'what? you don't do kisses?' and I was like NO. AWKWARD Sister missionary life at its finest. 

Sister Hailee

Anyways, lots of love, 

Sister Hailee

Sister Hailee

Sister Hailee and Sister Lacey

Sister Hailee and Sister Lacey

The Sun DOES shine in England

Week 16~ February 29, 2016

Are you alright? That's the English way of saying 'Hello, how are you?'

THE SUN IS SO GOOD. I think Heavenly Father has been making the days longer just for me. SO HAPPY. You wouldn't believe the difference it makes to have the sun out for longer. It's still chilly though. 

Things are going pretty good. This last week we did a MOUNTAIN of finding. We found plenty of potentials via street contacting. That is always good! Last week we decided to take an hour out of our P-day for a miracle hour. It was a miracle hour indeed! We found a ton of great potentials to teach. Although none of them have become progressing investigators yet, it is still so good to know Heavenly Father is placing people in our path.

Sister Lacey and I have been doing really well together. I really enjoy being with her. She has been really understanding and we laugh a lot which is good. She has helped me so much! She pushes me, but doesn't over do things. Last week she cut my hair for me. I know what you are thinking, I let an amateur cut my hair?! Well... the mission changes you. And I don't want to spend my time in a hair salon. 

As a companionship we set a goal to meet everyone on our ward last, and if they let us in (there are a LOT of less active members here) then we teach them a lesson we planned and knock the area around them. It has been pretty successful. Both of us are still getting to know the ward though so it is always pretty awkward when we knock on a door that we THINK is a less active because neither of us recognized the name, and then it turns out to be an active family. It's okay though because we want to teach EVERYONE. Basically our goal is to teach everyone the Restoration. I love the Restoration because it really does invite the Spirit and when people feel the Spirit they can hopefully remember the reasons they joined the Church in the first place. We are striving to get more members involved and to help them see us in action as missionaries.

One of the less active members we teach struggles with the Word of Wisdom. So in an attempt to help, we said we would eat more vegetables if he would follow the WOW. Then, we set a companionship goal to only eat dessert at dinner appointments.... That lasted about three hours. 

One of the sisters that used to serve here came back and stayed with Chelsea (love her!) And she is good friends with Sister Lacey. Funny story- her dad actually baptized the other sister's dad in Norway. They lost contact until both of their daughters showed up on their missions. So, on Friday we went on splits all day and then came back for a wonderful Roast Dinner. English people love their Roast Dinners. They are so good. It's like I get Thanksgiving (but not the same) all the time. Thanksgiving food still tops all Roast Dinners. Yorkshire puddings are the bee's knees though. DELISH.

This week I have been focusing a lot on not comparing myself to others and recognizing my own progress. It has made a HUGE difference. How often do we compare our own weaknesses to other's strengths? Too often. Weaknesses are not a sin, they make us humble and allow Heavenly Father to strengthen us. Yet, sometimes weaknesses can consume us. I am starting to recognize that I have to applaud myself for my strengths and still recognize my weaknesses, but not focus on them. It is tough, but worth it. 

Anyways, I love your emails and hearing from everyone. It truly makes a difference!!

Love always,

Sister Hailee