Monday, November 19, 2018

This week was interesting!  With Sister Rose it was so strange because it was her last everything.  On Thursday, when we were weekly planning, it was so strange because I was talking about the plans that we had for this week and basically it was like I was just thinking out loud because she'll be at home, enjoying Thanksgiving dinner.

No Scottish Thanksgiving, but THANK goodness (pun intended) we have a senior couple in our area. They are feeding us Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow!  Thank you Elder and Sister Edwards.

On Saturday we had a Relief Society activity at the church.  We made Christmas crafts!  It was lots of fun, but it was a poor turn out.  It was just us, Brooke, her friend, the relief society president, and one other member.  We got the moves call Saturday night and I was told that I would be getting Sister Cox.  Sister Rose and I also put up the Christmas tree we got from a member.  I know it's before Thanksgiving, but I made the exception because she was leaving.  

Sunday was HECTIC.  Sister Rose and I had to be at the mission home before 2, which meant that we had to leave church early.  We stayed for Sacrament Meeting (I had to play the organ..........Once in David's Royal City?  Really?)  and then had to rushhhhhh to the train station to catch our train to Edinburgh.  Because I was companion-less I was kind of in limbo for a while.  I spent some time with the departing missionaries, went finding with some sisters in Edinburgh, visited a member, and I was passed back and forth between teams of missionaries for a few hours.  Then, this morning I caught a train to Dundee.  Sister Cox and I met there, and then we got a train to Perth.

Sister Cox is from Las Vegas.  She just finished her training, but I've been in Perth longer than she's been on her mission!  It's also really strange because I've been out longer than all the missionaries in my area combined!  Apparently I'm old now.  It's so weird how fast time goes.  I'm super excited for this transfer!

Monday, November 12, 2018

 ____ is still planning on getting baptized, but he'll be getting baptized on the 24th.  He had his baptismal interview this week and passed, but his mom wants him to wait until the 24th because his grandma is going to fly in from Romania for the baptism!  He is so excited for the 24th.  His parents are getting excited for their wedding as well.  ____ said she's going to get her dress and shoes this week.  It is so fun to watch their excitement!

We were able to teach a girl named _____ this week.  She is Brooke's friend and she has already been to church 3 times and she went to the baptism.  She was excited to learn, especially about the Holy Ghost.  It's also great that Brooke can be there to fellowship her and help answer any questions that she might have.  

This week we had exchanges in Aberdeen.  It was significantly colder than in Perth and much much windier because it's on the coast. It was a good day and it's always good to be on exchange and see different styles of missionary work.  Funny story from exchange:  So Sister Rose and Sister Lough were going to take a bus to their lesson, but they got on the bus on the wrong side of the street and ended up the complete opposite direction of where they should have been.  They were going to be late, so they asked us to come get them in their car.  The only problem was Sister Lough had the car keys with her.  So we had to borrow the Elder's car and get them to their lesson half an hour late.  It was only a slight fiasco and everything worked out okay!

This week is Sister Rose's last!  It's weird to think that this is her last everything.  Next week we will probably spend Saturday and Sunday in Edinburgh.  So strange.  That also means next week I might not be emailing on Monday/the timing could be thrown off, so keep that in mind!

 

Monday, November 5, 2018

Halloween was lots of fun!  It was a pretty regular day, but that night we had our FHE.  We had lots of candy and played some Halloween games.  The Elders acted out 'the first Halloween' in the Book of Mormon.  It was when Nephi kills Laban and puts on Laban's clothes to get the brass plates.  It was pretty funny.  We had a competition to see who could make a mummy faster out of toilet paper (the girls won obviously).  Sister Rose and I made caramel apples and muddy buddies for everyone.  It was a good time!

Unfortunately, ____ who was going to be baptised on the 17th dropped us yesterday.  She has been taught for over a year and she texted us yesterday saying it's not something she wants in her life right now.  That was really sad. BUT on the bright side ______(9) got permission to be baptized on the 17th!  His parents are excited and they want to be married and baptised before Christmas.  What a miracle!

This week we taught a minister from the Church of Christ.  It is crazy how similar their beliefs are to ours.  They pray the exact way we do, they believe the Church was restored, etc.  They believe in basically everything except for temples and the Priesthood.  It was incredible to see our beliefs line up.

As I was reading the Book of Mormon as part of President Nelson's invitation to the women I noticed that every time or almost every time they talk about the commandments they refer to them as 'commandment's of the Lord' or 'the Lord's commandments' or something of the sort.  The Lord is always associated with commandments.  I think it's important to remember the why of the commandments and to know that we don't just do something or avoid other things.  We do them because we love the Lord and He has commanded that we live in a certain way.  And along with that there is always a promised blessing worth so much more than we give.  What a gift the commandments are!

Monday, October 29, 2018

This week was pure chilly baltic.  That means freezing.  The weather has changed drastically in the last week or so and wow.  It's cold again.  I almost forgot what winter is like here.  I even wore a scarf and Sister Rose wore a hat one day.  We've also made the transition to thicker tights. 

We had the primary program this week!  There's nothing I love more.  I love the simple testimonies shared by the children.  As I was listening I realized these are the things we teach people.  God is our loving Heavenly Father, He has a plan for us.  How important are those simple doctrines!  Simple enough that a child can understand, but powerful enough to change eternities.  Sister Rose and I helped out with it as well.  I played the piano (and for Child's Prayer sang the boy's part).  There were even 7 kids there!  

Our 9 year old investigator even gave a talk.  It was great and even better to have his whole family there.  His parents should be getting married in a month and then they can all be baptized together!  We are so excited for them.  His mom was even showing us pictures of the wedding dress and shoes that she wants!  Yesterday, the Branch President gave his dad a blessing to help him quit smoking.  They are so excited to take these steps and it is so fun to watch their excitement!

Today we got to go to Stirling Castle with our Relief Society President.  It was amazing.  Best castle I've been to.  Would highly recommend it.    On Halloween we have to go in at 6 or be at the church, so we decided to have a Halloween FHE.  It should be really fun!  We are super excited for it.