Well, this past week has been a busy and fun one! Full of fun events and learning curves!
Tuesday was when the new missionary arrivals happened. Let's just say that is was a roller coaster ride! In the morning, the APs (assistants to the president) were going to Gadfield Elm (one of the oldest church buildings in our church) to meet with the new arrivals to have an opening orientation. It was raining a lot on Tuesday and on the way to Gadfield Elm, the APs hydroplaned on the motorway and crashed into the median going 65 mph. They are both perfectly fine and nothing is wrong with them. It really is a miracle that they are ok and nothing bad happened, but the car is totaled. No salvaging that thing! The rest of the day was pretty good though. I took pictures of all the missionaries while the others were getting interviewed by President and got them sorted out with railcards and explained to them how the area book works and how to use it. Some of the senior couples also took some time to explain things to them. There were two missionaries who flew in from the Provo, Utah MTC and they are already hitting the mission field running. Boy, do I feel bad for them. They must be so tried trying to adjust to the new time zone of seven hours difference while having a full day out on the streets proselyting!
Wednesday is when the departing missionaries left to go home. I had to book taxis the day before and in the end, it went over pretty well. When I booked the taxis online, it only gave me two taxis for 11 missionaries and 33 suitcases! Something was not right there so I ended up calling in and canceling the booking in exchange for 3 taxi vans to bring them to the airport instead. The new arrivals meeting carried into Wednesday as well. This is where the new missionaries got to meet their trainers and were assigned to their areas. These arrivals were like the reverse of mine. I was the only Elder in my arrival group with the rest being Sisters, but this group had one Sister and the rest were Elders.
On Thursday, I was trying to book flights to Guernsey all day. Every single one of the mission cards that I used was declined for some reason even though they just reset the day prior. I had to call the Bank of America to see what was up and they said that the problem was on Flybe's end (That was the flight provider I was using). So I spent 1h looking for their phone number in the UK and finally found it and called them. I booked their flight over the phone and then it FINALLY WORKED! I spent a whole day trying to book their flight and I was just so happy that something so seemingly simple was finally over.
Yesterday we moved back into the flat. The showers look pretty good! I'm happy to finally be back in the office and not have to drive here every day compared to just walking down the stairs when we live here. Also, there are three showers. In the other flat, there was only one that all for of us had to share. That wasn't so much fun. But everything is all good now. We also rearranged a lot of the flat at the office and now it looks pretty awesome!
We got a few new referrals that we are hopefully going to get to tonight, so I'm pretty excited about that!
General conference is coming up in the following week! It is very exciting! I always love listening to the words of the Apostles and of the Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson. I have been listening to the talks of the past general conference and the Spirit really is witnessing to me that these men truly are called of God. It is so important that we listen to the words of the Prophets and Apostles. As it says in 2 Nephi 1:28
"And now my son, Laman, and also Lemuel and Sam, and also my sons who are the sons of Ishmael, behold, if ye will hearken unto the voice of Nephi ye shall not perish." (Nephi was a prophet)
I see this verse this way:
"And now behold, if ye will hearken unto the voice of [the Prophets] ye shall not perish."
It really is the Prophet who receives revelation for the whole church. He can foresee dangers headed our way in the world today and can help us to stay spiritually strong and clean as well as help us prepare for the future. Why? Because his words are the words of Jesus Christ Himself and by listening to them, we are following Him.
I know that President Russell M. Nelson is called of Jesus Christ to be the prophet of God to lead and guide the Church right now, and I know and promise that by following and applying his words to our lives, they will improve over time and help us to become spiritually strong and capable.
Oh yeah... I forgot to say that I got a new companion! His name is Elder Fenton and he is from Draper, Utah.
Cheers,
Elder Jakob
Tuesday was when the new missionary arrivals happened. Let's just say that is was a roller coaster ride! In the morning, the APs (assistants to the president) were going to Gadfield Elm (one of the oldest church buildings in our church) to meet with the new arrivals to have an opening orientation. It was raining a lot on Tuesday and on the way to Gadfield Elm, the APs hydroplaned on the motorway and crashed into the median going 65 mph. They are both perfectly fine and nothing is wrong with them. It really is a miracle that they are ok and nothing bad happened, but the car is totaled. No salvaging that thing! The rest of the day was pretty good though. I took pictures of all the missionaries while the others were getting interviewed by President and got them sorted out with railcards and explained to them how the area book works and how to use it. Some of the senior couples also took some time to explain things to them. There were two missionaries who flew in from the Provo, Utah MTC and they are already hitting the mission field running. Boy, do I feel bad for them. They must be so tried trying to adjust to the new time zone of seven hours difference while having a full day out on the streets proselyting!
The car the APs totalled. Everyone is ok.
Another picture of the totalled car with Elder Toone beside it.
Wednesday is when the departing missionaries left to go home. I had to book taxis the day before and in the end, it went over pretty well. When I booked the taxis online, it only gave me two taxis for 11 missionaries and 33 suitcases! Something was not right there so I ended up calling in and canceling the booking in exchange for 3 taxi vans to bring them to the airport instead. The new arrivals meeting carried into Wednesday as well. This is where the new missionaries got to meet their trainers and were assigned to their areas. These arrivals were like the reverse of mine. I was the only Elder in my arrival group with the rest being Sisters, but this group had one Sister and the rest were Elders.
We made a roast. It tasted so good!
Serious about food! APs are in the back, Elder Fenton in the front.
On Thursday, I was trying to book flights to Guernsey all day. Every single one of the mission cards that I used was declined for some reason even though they just reset the day prior. I had to call the Bank of America to see what was up and they said that the problem was on Flybe's end (That was the flight provider I was using). So I spent 1h looking for their phone number in the UK and finally found it and called them. I booked their flight over the phone and then it FINALLY WORKED! I spent a whole day trying to book their flight and I was just so happy that something so seemingly simple was finally over.
AP Elder Roth. He's smiling in this picture.
Yesterday we moved back into the flat. The showers look pretty good! I'm happy to finally be back in the office and not have to drive here every day compared to just walking down the stairs when we live here. Also, there are three showers. In the other flat, there was only one that all for of us had to share. That wasn't so much fun. But everything is all good now. We also rearranged a lot of the flat at the office and now it looks pretty awesome!
One of the new showers in the flat
We got a few new referrals that we are hopefully going to get to tonight, so I'm pretty excited about that!
General conference is coming up in the following week! It is very exciting! I always love listening to the words of the Apostles and of the Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson. I have been listening to the talks of the past general conference and the Spirit really is witnessing to me that these men truly are called of God. It is so important that we listen to the words of the Prophets and Apostles. As it says in 2 Nephi 1:28
"And now my son, Laman, and also Lemuel and Sam, and also my sons who are the sons of Ishmael, behold, if ye will hearken unto the voice of Nephi ye shall not perish." (Nephi was a prophet)
I see this verse this way:
"And now behold, if ye will hearken unto the voice of [the Prophets] ye shall not perish."
It really is the Prophet who receives revelation for the whole church. He can foresee dangers headed our way in the world today and can help us to stay spiritually strong and clean as well as help us prepare for the future. Why? Because his words are the words of Jesus Christ Himself and by listening to them, we are following Him.
I know that President Russell M. Nelson is called of Jesus Christ to be the prophet of God to lead and guide the Church right now, and I know and promise that by following and applying his words to our lives, they will improve over time and help us to become spiritually strong and capable.
Oh yeah... I forgot to say that I got a new companion! His name is Elder Fenton and he is from Draper, Utah.
My new companion Elder Fenton and I
Cheers,
Elder Jakob
Soooooooo very happy to hear of all the things you are doing on your mission
ReplyDelete