Sorry for missing last weeks email. I finally left the MTC (Missionary Training Centre). I felt like I was there for 6 months! Once I made it to the mission office, they let us email home just to say that we arrived safely.
I guess this email is gonna to be a bit about my last week in the MTC and my first week out in the field. To start off, the Friday before I left the MTC, we did a Church history tour. We got to see the river Ribble where the first baptism occurred overseas. I also got to see the place where Gordon B. Hinckley stayed when he served as a missionary over in England. There is a lot of Church history over here, so it was pretty exciting getting to see and hear about it.
On the departure bus, I was the only Elder to transfer to the Birmingham area, so the rest were all sisters. The day we arrived at the mission home, we weren't assigned our trainers until the next day. President Hughes let us relax for the rest of the day and gave some devotionals. President Hughes is a very kind man and I really respect and look up to him. Everything he says, I tend to write down because it all resonates with me.
Since I was the only Elder, I wasn't allowed to stay in the hotel because I wouldn't have a companion, so I ended up staying in the mission office with the office Elders and APs (assistants to the president). That was quite the experience, but I'm really grateful for it because I was able to get to know all of them and to make new friends. The next day, we were assigned our trainers. Mine was pretty obvious because I was the only Elder in the room and that would mean that the only other Elder in the room was my trainer. We got to know each other a lot the night before so I knew him quite well by the time we left. My trainer's name is Elder Hardy. He is from Sandy Utah. He has already served for 21 months so he goes home in 3 months. He is a really cool guy and has been an amazing example to me. Even though he is 21 months out, he hasn't stop dedicating all his time to the Lord, so I know that he is going to be a great trainer. We were both assigned to the Downend, Bristol area.
Let's just say, the first real day out in the field was SOOOOOO long. I didn't think the day would ever end! We were white-washed in (means a new set of missionaries are transerred into an area) and so neither of us knows the area. We had a couple of appointments set up. One with a guy named Lee and one named Josh, although we aren't teaching them until later on in the week. We have been doing a lot of tracting around to get familiar with the town and to find out what are the best places to "invite". To be honest, it was quite terrifying. We went straight out to the street to start finding as soon as we made it to our flat. I could barely get the words out of my mouth. My trainer seemed so natural at it though. Makes sense, since he has been out for 21 months.
So far, we have handed out all of our Books of Mormon, and have found 2 new "friends" (people who are interested and are currently being taught the gospel). It really is quite exciting, and I can't help but feel God's love for them.
We went to the ward (church congregation) for the first time on Sunday. The ward was very welcoming and my trainer and I were able to share our testimonies in Sacrament meeting. It was quite fun. The bishop is also super nice and he has a great vision for the ward. He wants to get the missionaries more involved with the ward because he thinks that missionaries have been somewhat disregarded. He knows that using us will be a great help to people who are inactive, to help them come back to church.
Anyway, I am doing fine. At first, I was thinking, "how am I suppose to do this for 2 years?!" But I have asked Heavenly Father through prayer to give me the strength that I need to overcome my limitations. I know that prayer is real and that we can turn to prayer for strength. We can also turn to the Book of Mormon for strength and altogether, they can help make us better then we are. They change us and can help give us strength when we can't go on anymore. I bare witness that it does, as it has made a difference in my life and has changed it for the better.
For anyone who may be reading this who hasn't found out for themselves, I invite you to do so. Read the Book of Mormon. Ask Heavenly Father if it is true, and I promise that you will find out for yourself that it is true through the power of the Holy Ghost, who is the Spirit of Truth, and the Comforter. If for some reason you don't receive an answer, read Mormoni 10:3-5. I know that if you really ponder this scripture and apply it to your prayers you will find the answer.
3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
Well, I guess it's that time - the time to get back to sharing the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ.
Cheers, Love you all.
Elder Jakob
Editor's Note: "At one time Bristol was the second busiest port in the United Kingdom. It had a very high tidal range of 43 feet (13 m), the second highest in the world. At low tide when the water receded, the old ships would hit bottom and fall on their sides, and if the ships were not well built, they would be damaged. In addition, everything that was not carefully stowed away or tied down would be thrown in a chaotic fashion and ruined or spoiled."
Elder Quentin L.Cook, https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/shipshape-and-bristol-fashion-be-temple-worthy-in-good-times-and-bad-times?lang=eng
I guess this email is gonna to be a bit about my last week in the MTC and my first week out in the field. To start off, the Friday before I left the MTC, we did a Church history tour. We got to see the river Ribble where the first baptism occurred overseas. I also got to see the place where Gordon B. Hinckley stayed when he served as a missionary over in England. There is a lot of Church history over here, so it was pretty exciting getting to see and hear about it.
The Ribble river
Beautiful stained glass at the cathedral we visited on the church history tour
The outside of the cathedral
Beautiful view outside cathedral window
When I left the MTC, it kind of felt like when I left my family at the airport to start my mission. The MTC is really small and there were about 40 people in it. Because it is so small, you get to know everyone and develop a good relationship with them. So when I left, it felt like I was leaving my family again. It was kind of sad but I think I have gotten over it. I will be keeping in touch with them as well.
Elder and sisters from the MTC
A tunnel near fish ponds that was pretty cool
On the departure bus, I was the only Elder to transfer to the Birmingham area, so the rest were all sisters. The day we arrived at the mission home, we weren't assigned our trainers until the next day. President Hughes let us relax for the rest of the day and gave some devotionals. President Hughes is a very kind man and I really respect and look up to him. Everything he says, I tend to write down because it all resonates with me.
Since I was the only Elder, I wasn't allowed to stay in the hotel because I wouldn't have a companion, so I ended up staying in the mission office with the office Elders and APs (assistants to the president). That was quite the experience, but I'm really grateful for it because I was able to get to know all of them and to make new friends. The next day, we were assigned our trainers. Mine was pretty obvious because I was the only Elder in the room and that would mean that the only other Elder in the room was my trainer. We got to know each other a lot the night before so I knew him quite well by the time we left. My trainer's name is Elder Hardy. He is from Sandy Utah. He has already served for 21 months so he goes home in 3 months. He is a really cool guy and has been an amazing example to me. Even though he is 21 months out, he hasn't stop dedicating all his time to the Lord, so I know that he is going to be a great trainer. We were both assigned to the Downend, Bristol area.
The train station I arrived at in Bristol
On the bus in Bristol
Let's just say, the first real day out in the field was SOOOOOO long. I didn't think the day would ever end! We were white-washed in (means a new set of missionaries are transerred into an area) and so neither of us knows the area. We had a couple of appointments set up. One with a guy named Lee and one named Josh, although we aren't teaching them until later on in the week. We have been doing a lot of tracting around to get familiar with the town and to find out what are the best places to "invite". To be honest, it was quite terrifying. We went straight out to the street to start finding as soon as we made it to our flat. I could barely get the words out of my mouth. My trainer seemed so natural at it though. Makes sense, since he has been out for 21 months.
A street we tracted on in Bristol
So far, we have handed out all of our Books of Mormon, and have found 2 new "friends" (people who are interested and are currently being taught the gospel). It really is quite exciting, and I can't help but feel God's love for them.
Classic British Telephone Booth
Anyway, I am doing fine. At first, I was thinking, "how am I suppose to do this for 2 years?!" But I have asked Heavenly Father through prayer to give me the strength that I need to overcome my limitations. I know that prayer is real and that we can turn to prayer for strength. We can also turn to the Book of Mormon for strength and altogether, they can help make us better then we are. They change us and can help give us strength when we can't go on anymore. I bare witness that it does, as it has made a difference in my life and has changed it for the better.
For anyone who may be reading this who hasn't found out for themselves, I invite you to do so. Read the Book of Mormon. Ask Heavenly Father if it is true, and I promise that you will find out for yourself that it is true through the power of the Holy Ghost, who is the Spirit of Truth, and the Comforter. If for some reason you don't receive an answer, read Mormoni 10:3-5. I know that if you really ponder this scripture and apply it to your prayers you will find the answer.
3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
Well, I guess it's that time - the time to get back to sharing the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ.
Cheers, Love you all.
Elder Jakob
Editor's Note: "At one time Bristol was the second busiest port in the United Kingdom. It had a very high tidal range of 43 feet (13 m), the second highest in the world. At low tide when the water receded, the old ships would hit bottom and fall on their sides, and if the ships were not well built, they would be damaged. In addition, everything that was not carefully stowed away or tied down would be thrown in a chaotic fashion and ruined or spoiled."
Elder Quentin L.Cook, https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/shipshape-and-bristol-fashion-be-temple-worthy-in-good-times-and-bad-times?lang=eng
Spot on!
ReplyDelete