Well, this week was very chaotic. Having to go to two zone conferences (Tuesday and Wednesday), wake up at 5am both days, be apart of the choir and sing took a lot out of me!
I think I have officially experienced my first real rainy day here. It rained all through the night Thursday, all the way through to Friday night... AND IT DIDNT LET UP!!! It was also falling pretty hard, so by the end of the day my feet were soaking wet, the same with my trousers. The rain here is acidic as well, so my white shirt had yellow water stains on it until I washed it. I hear that come winter, it rains like this all the time, plus it's cold. Not really looking forward to that but I guess it's all part of the journey and experience.
During Tuesday and Wednesday zone conferences, I switched companions with the choir director because his companion and mine aren't in the choir, while the two of us are. Because we needed to attend both zone conferences and the our companions only needed to go to one, we switched so that they could still have an opportunity to work during the second zone conference.
Tuesday night, Elder Cribbs (the choir director) and I had an appointment with a less active member in Elder Cribbs' area. As we talked with him, Elder Cribbs asked if he was reading the Book of Mormon. He answered no, and in fact he said that he has been reading the Bible more instead. All I thought was "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" inside my head. Don't get me wrong, reading the Bible is great and we should be reading it, but we should be using the Book of Mormon as our main source for truth and clarity. After he finished speaking, I bore testimony to him that the Book of Mormon will help him in his daily life and family's as he reads it everyday. Honestly, I don't even remember half of what I said. All I know is that I opened my mouth, and the Spirit did the rest. After which, I invited him to read the Book of Mormon daily, and promised him that the teachings in it will help keep us safe, both temporally and spiritually. I think he felt the Spirit, because he looked shocked and accepted the invitation.
The rest of the week was just inviting and trying to make new friends. Although on Friday, (the day of the great flood - lots of rain), we had a teaching appointment with one of our friends, Henry. He has come to church every week so far since we've been teaching him. He really has a strong desire to follow God, so we taught him about priesthood authority and the need to be baptised by the proper authority (he was already baptised as a baby), and he accepted a baptismal date!!! He is such an example of faith.
That same Friday, we also had a teaching appointment with another one of our friends named Shaun. He is a Methodist and he is good friends with the bishop of our ward (great man bishop is). We ended up having the lesson at bishop's house. We taught the Plan of Salvation, using the Book of Mormon and the Bible to show that we are not talking out of thin air and that the Bible does talk about it a bit. He felt the Spirit, but I'm not sure if he recognises it. He has trouble relying on what he is feeling to know if something it true. He doesn't think it is a reliable source. He is more of an evidence based person. We told him that he has the evidence (the Book of Mormon) and that he needed to test it and ask God if it's true. We also told him that God would give him a personal answer that he would understand to know that it it true, just as stated in 2 Nephi 31:3
"For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding."
I pray everyday that Shaun will receive an answer that he will understand.
Some people we talk to on the street don't believe that God speaks to us today, which is quite sad. God isn't a partial God. He is a fully loving God and because of that, He still gives us continued guidance and revelation. I'm grateful that we have a prophet on the earth today that can receive guidance for us in these troubled times. I am happy that God still gives us revelations of all kinds because He still cares for us. He still loves us and He wants to help us in our everyday lives because He is our Father. I am also grateful that I have been called to this place by a prophet of God and not just randomly assigned. They were inspired to send me to England for a reason. I was sent here because my unique talents and characteristics will help touch someone's heart, to help them receive the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that anyone can have personal revelation for themselves. As we strive to be worthy of His spirit and do the small and simple things that enable us to grow in faith and gain a testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel, He will help guide and direct our lives. It won't be something that we can't understand either. Heavenly Father only gives us things that we can understand if we are only willing to listen.
Anyway, thank you all! Love you all lots!
Cheers,
Elder Jakob
Old railway that was turned into a bike and walking path. Kind of like the Paris road trail.
I think I have officially experienced my first real rainy day here. It rained all through the night Thursday, all the way through to Friday night... AND IT DIDNT LET UP!!! It was also falling pretty hard, so by the end of the day my feet were soaking wet, the same with my trousers. The rain here is acidic as well, so my white shirt had yellow water stains on it until I washed it. I hear that come winter, it rains like this all the time, plus it's cold. Not really looking forward to that but I guess it's all part of the journey and experience.
Oh man, I love funky socks! Ted Baker sure has a lot of them!
During Tuesday and Wednesday zone conferences, I switched companions with the choir director because his companion and mine aren't in the choir, while the two of us are. Because we needed to attend both zone conferences and the our companions only needed to go to one, we switched so that they could still have an opportunity to work during the second zone conference.
Tuesday night, Elder Cribbs (the choir director) and I had an appointment with a less active member in Elder Cribbs' area. As we talked with him, Elder Cribbs asked if he was reading the Book of Mormon. He answered no, and in fact he said that he has been reading the Bible more instead. All I thought was "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" inside my head. Don't get me wrong, reading the Bible is great and we should be reading it, but we should be using the Book of Mormon as our main source for truth and clarity. After he finished speaking, I bore testimony to him that the Book of Mormon will help him in his daily life and family's as he reads it everyday. Honestly, I don't even remember half of what I said. All I know is that I opened my mouth, and the Spirit did the rest. After which, I invited him to read the Book of Mormon daily, and promised him that the teachings in it will help keep us safe, both temporally and spiritually. I think he felt the Spirit, because he looked shocked and accepted the invitation.
The rest of the week was just inviting and trying to make new friends. Although on Friday, (the day of the great flood - lots of rain), we had a teaching appointment with one of our friends, Henry. He has come to church every week so far since we've been teaching him. He really has a strong desire to follow God, so we taught him about priesthood authority and the need to be baptised by the proper authority (he was already baptised as a baby), and he accepted a baptismal date!!! He is such an example of faith.
Down in City Centre Bristol. A small little alleyway that looks pretty cool.
That same Friday, we also had a teaching appointment with another one of our friends named Shaun. He is a Methodist and he is good friends with the bishop of our ward (great man bishop is). We ended up having the lesson at bishop's house. We taught the Plan of Salvation, using the Book of Mormon and the Bible to show that we are not talking out of thin air and that the Bible does talk about it a bit. He felt the Spirit, but I'm not sure if he recognises it. He has trouble relying on what he is feeling to know if something it true. He doesn't think it is a reliable source. He is more of an evidence based person. We told him that he has the evidence (the Book of Mormon) and that he needed to test it and ask God if it's true. We also told him that God would give him a personal answer that he would understand to know that it it true, just as stated in 2 Nephi 31:3
"For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding."
I pray everyday that Shaun will receive an answer that he will understand.
Some people we talk to on the street don't believe that God speaks to us today, which is quite sad. God isn't a partial God. He is a fully loving God and because of that, He still gives us continued guidance and revelation. I'm grateful that we have a prophet on the earth today that can receive guidance for us in these troubled times. I am happy that God still gives us revelations of all kinds because He still cares for us. He still loves us and He wants to help us in our everyday lives because He is our Father. I am also grateful that I have been called to this place by a prophet of God and not just randomly assigned. They were inspired to send me to England for a reason. I was sent here because my unique talents and characteristics will help touch someone's heart, to help them receive the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that anyone can have personal revelation for themselves. As we strive to be worthy of His spirit and do the small and simple things that enable us to grow in faith and gain a testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel, He will help guide and direct our lives. It won't be something that we can't understand either. Heavenly Father only gives us things that we can understand if we are only willing to listen.
This was outside a church that was bombed during WWII. It's quite beauiful.
Anyway, thank you all! Love you all lots!
Cheers,
Elder Jakob
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