Monday, August 20, 2018

This week was pretty eventful.  On Monday we went to the Black Watch Museum (Scottish War Museum).  Took some pretty rad pictures in a kilt.

Monday night was amazing.  We were chapping and after we finished one street we decided to pray where we needed to go.  Sister Hammond remembered there was a street that we only did half of, so we headed over there.  While we were there we chapped into this awesome guy named ____.  He invited us in, but there wasn't a woman there, so we talked on his porch.  He said he had met missionaries before, but they never really taught him anything.  We then taught him the Plan of Salvation on his doorstep and he loved it.  We taught him the Restoration and gave him a tour of the church later this week.  While we were in the primary room there was a chart showing the Articles of Faith that the kids had passed off and he asked what they were.  I explained that they were 13 of our basic beliefs.  Then he asked what they were and made me recite all 13.  Oof.  That was tough, but I did it.  He came to church yesterday and after sacrament meeting he said, "This is the most calm I've ever felt in my life and I'm definitely coming back next week."  AMAZING.  He texted us after church and said his cheeks were sore from smiling. 

We also taught ____ twice this week!  We taught her the Word of Wisdom and it was a crazy lesson.  We decided to teach at her gran's house, but there were so many people there.  Her gran, her inactive uncle, her nonmember 9 year old cousin, our Branch President, and us.  It was crazy, but so cool because her uncle was telling her how she needs to take care of her body and stop smoking.  He also pulled out his quad that he hasn't used since he was a teenager and was flipping through it.  After his daughter was flipping through it as well and her eyes lit up as she was turning the pages.  She also said she wanted to read the Book of Mormon with her.  The scriptures soften hearts!

Sister Hammond got something similar to the flu this week, so we were flat bound for a couple of 
days, but all is well now.   

Monday, August 13, 2018

Most dramatic train ride of my life!  So we had to run to catch our train to get to Dundee last pday.  The train only takes about 20 minutes, but about halfway through we stopped in the middle of nowhere.  They came on the PA and told us the train in front of us broke down.  They said we would continue to Dundee, but at a reduced speed.  Then they said we would be going back to Perth, then they said we would continue to Dundee.  Anyway...we sat there confused and bored and antsy.  Our 20 minute train turned into an hour and a half ride to get us there late, but it was fun and we went to the beach again.   

So unfortunately, ____ met with us and told us he felt like it wasn't for him.  We are supposed to meet with him again tomorrow, but he hasn't texted us back or answered our calls.  Sad to see that happen.  

Exchange: We took a train to Aberdeen on Thursday night (about an hour and a half) for exchanges.  They were lots of fun and we got to have dinner with Sister Milne (she's basically the mission grandma and you have to check it off your mission bucket list at some point).  We played frisbee and talked to a lot of cool people.  We taught this awesome guy named ___who's 19.  He asked amazing questions.

We pranked the elders so good this week on exchange.  We all played ultimate frisbee together for morning workout and Sister Hammond and Sister Lough stayed in the car saying she was 'having a hard time and just needed to talk.'  We went over to the elders car and were just casually talking to them while Sister Curtis opened the back door to the car without them noticing.  We went to play frisbee and then Sister Hammond and Sister Lough toilet papered their car.  It was so good and we got a video of their reaction too.  Gotta love it.  

Now for something a bit more spiritual...

This week I was reading about Moses, Aaron, and Hur in Exodus 17.   But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.  If Moses dropped his hands they would lose the battle.  Aaron and Hur couldn't take the rod from him, but they could support him.  This is how God answers prayers.  He won't take what we have to do from us, but he will send us our own Aaron and Hur to support us.  We still have to face these things, but the people that surround are able to bear us up and help us through the things we need to face.

God is good!

Monday, August 6, 2018 - Miracles and JOY

Our friend ____ is progressing so well!  This week we taught him the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the 10 Commandments, and the Word of Wisdom.  He loved it all.  He struggles with a few problems and says every time he meets with us, prays, attends church, etc. he feels so much better and we are able to see a physical difference in him.  When we taught the WoW he said obviously those things are bad for you and I need to quit smoking anyway.  HE'S SERIOUSLY AMAZING.

We were able to attend a baptismal service with him this week in Dunfirmline and it was amazing.  After the man came up out of the water he leaned over to Sister Hammond and said, "I just felt something."  It only gets better.  He told us it made him so much more excited for his own baptism.  Our Branch also has a temple trip planned for this Saturday.  They invited him to go, just to be on the grounds and at the family history center, and he is so excited.  What a miracle!

The Branch loves ____ and he just fits right in.  There is a lady in the branch that has a hard time walking so she needs a wheelchair or someone to escort her.  When he walked up to church they pulled up in the car.  _____ then escorted her in. What a champ.  She also tried to give him £10 in the middle of sacrament meeting.  It was hilarious.  

This week we were finding and starting talking to this man.  We could not understand a word he was saying and he was just mumbling.  I thought I would just ask him for a referral.  I said, "Do you know anyone that would be interested to learn more about Jesus Christ?"  He shouted back, "ME!"  So we sat down on a bench with him and started teaching.  

I love being a sister.  People give us food all the time.  This past week our Branch Mission Leader brought us enough food to seriously feed a family of 6 for a week.  Another member brought us frozen lasagnes because she couldn't have us over this week.  What a blessing!

I just want to say the Gospel brings joy!  This week I have been feeling so grateful for all the experiences I've had and as I've been reflecting it's just very apparent that all of those experiences bring true joy.  There is no other source of this and it is sweeter than any other thing in the world.  The Gospel bring joy!  I'm so grateful for the time I get to be a missionary.  I thank my Heavenly Father for it every day. 

July 30, 2018

Last p-day we went to Dundee (supposedly the sunniest city in Scotland) and went to Brody Ferry beach.  We met up with 8 other missionaries and played spikeball and frisbee while we were there.  I must say it was interesting wearing sweats to the beach and I hope I never have to do that again - hahha.  It was lots of fun and very beautiful!

We had our zone conference this week in Aberdeen!  On Monday night we took a train to Aberdeen and spent the night with the STLs there.  There were 8 sisters in a very small flat, but it all worked out and everyone was ready on time with only a few minor issues.  Conference was amazing and the Spirit was so strong.  There's nothing better than being in a room full of missionaries to get you energized with the Spirit!

We also had interviews with President this week.  I told him you were from East Carbon (for those reading this - President MacDonald and his wife grew up in nearby Price)  and we shared a moment talking about the wave pool.  He got so excited and said I made his day knowing about the wave pool.  He said that was one of the last things they did before they left.  I told Sister Macdonald and their daughter and they got really excited as well.  

Scottish summer might be gone.   This week it BUCKETED twice.  That might be it.  It's about 16 (60F) right now and it's sprinkling.  I just pray the summer lasts as long as possible.  Everyone has been saying with the really good summer we might get a really bad winter, so I'm bracing myself.

We met ____ this past Wednesday and we were able to teach him on the spot!  He was so ready to learn and open to listening to us.  We also taught him the Plan of Salvation this week.  We read 2 Nephi 2 with him and he was just soaking up the scriptures.  He was pointing out things he liked and asked questions on what didn't make sense.  He said he was excited for judgement!  What!?  Who says that?  He is awesome.  He also came to church this week. 

We also met with a super cool girl named ____!  Her gran is an active member and her mom is less active.  She was really excited to learn because she knows this will be a fresh start for her and it will make her gran happy as well.  She was so appreciative of us taking the time to teach her as well.  It was amazing and very rewarding to be able to teach someone who was so sincere.