Hiya! Hope everyone had been well.
I am again sorry for not writing home these past couple weeks. Life as a zone leader and being companions with a Mandarin speaking missionary that covers two zones is actually quite busy. We also had interviews on our preparation day last Monday, so I was traveling that whole day (I am the driver in the companionship, so I couldn't write home or doing much else).
As I said, I've been very busy since being a zone leader. We travel a lot to work in other teams areas to help them out in their finding and teaching efforts. A lot of the times I'm not really even in my own area. Having said that, we still take care of our area and have a solid teaching pool here. On top of all this, we travel to Plymouth (2 hour drive one way) around once a week because there are a lot of Chinese people there and it gives my companion the opportunity to improve his Chinese as we teach. This past week, we actually traveled to Plymouth three times. Once was for interviews on Monday, Tuesday was the "Zone Games", and Wednesday we had a teaching appointment set up with a Chinese friend and had Hot Pot after!
Tuesday was the Zone Games. It was the Plymouth zone, and my zone, the Poole zone. In each zone there are two districts, so we had 6 districts total there. The Mission President, his son, his wife and his daughter were all team captains. Our team captain was Conor, their son. He is honestly the coolest person that I've ever met! At the beginning, our first task was to create a team banner and chant. We won first on the banner design and second place on the chant. We then started to play "Minute To Win It" games like, most baskets from the free throw line and volleyball. It was all really fun. To end it off, we did tug of war! I was a little nervous because there was one team that was all Elders, but we managed to beat them with stratagem. Overall, our district placed first! It was really fun, but I think the most important thing is that it brought all of us missionaries together in each zone as we cheered everyone on, regardless if they were on our team or not.
Wednesday, we traveled to Plymouth and set up a Hot Pot appointment with a Chinese member that is in Plymouth and invited our Chinese friend to come along so we could have the member fellowship with her. A quick miracle before we continue... The previous week we were teaching our Chinese friend and asked her if she knew a 'Sunny' (that's the member's name). We began by telling her that Sunny had two boys. She thought she knew her but it turns out she didn't. At that lesson, we put our friend on a baptismal date, and she agreed! She even told us that she felt the Spirit and that she wanted to follow the example of Jesus Christ! ... Fast forward a few days... Sunny was going into town with a friend, and they were taking the bus. Because they were talking and weren't paying attention, they missed their bus and had to take the next one. When they got on, her friend told her "Sunny come sit here!" Well, guess who was on the bus? Yes! That's right, our Chinese friend who we are teaching. She stopped Sunny and asked her if she was "the Sunny from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" and they got to know each other on the bus! How cool! Now to continue, unfortunately, our friend was sick and didn't make it to the Hot Pot, but we were able to have a lesson with Sunny. Sunny has been a member for almost 2 years and hasn't been to the temple yet, so we wanted to teach her all about it and help get her there. The first counselor in our mission presidency was there because he lives in her ward and offered to take her! It's so exciting to be able to see people progress and make covenants with God. It also brings me so much joy.
Thurday and Friday were exchanges with the Yeovil Elders. What a fun bunch! I was with Elder McFarland and we went to help a lady out with her dogs. Unfortunately, things are not going well for her at present. She is really stressed and has a lot on her plate. Because of this, we want to do anything we can to help lift the burden. A member who is this lady's friend has been keeping in touch and fellowshiping her for years has helped the missionaries find opportunities to help her out. After walking the dogs, we shared a spiritual message on Alma 7:11-12, from the Book of Mormon.
"11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people."
"12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."
After this scripture, we shared the rest of our message. She told us that we would never understand how much it meant to her that we do this for her and the message that we shared with her. The next day, during our daily contact, we sent her the Video 'Mountians to Climb' voiced by Henry B. Eyring. Definitely give it a watch, it is very motivational.
That is pretty much it. I feel like I just wrote a ton, because it's from my phone!
I know that this is Jesus Christ's church on the earth today, and I am grateful to be here doing this work to assist my Father in Heaven. There is nothing I would rather be doing at this time. I know that the Book of Mormon can and will bring us strength as we read, study, and apply what we learn from it. I am grateful for all of the many blessings that I have been given by my Heavenly Father and I invite you to think about all of the blessings that you have in your life. I promise you that you will begin to see things from a different perspective, that you will have more joy in your life, and that you will focus more on helping those around you. 'Because I have been given much, I too, must give'.
Love you all and thank you for your continual support and prayers!
Cheers,
Elder Jakob
Pictures of the coast of Portland where they had sailing events when the summer Olympics were held in London
I am again sorry for not writing home these past couple weeks. Life as a zone leader and being companions with a Mandarin speaking missionary that covers two zones is actually quite busy. We also had interviews on our preparation day last Monday, so I was traveling that whole day (I am the driver in the companionship, so I couldn't write home or doing much else).
Me and my companion Elder Parker
As I said, I've been very busy since being a zone leader. We travel a lot to work in other teams areas to help them out in their finding and teaching efforts. A lot of the times I'm not really even in my own area. Having said that, we still take care of our area and have a solid teaching pool here. On top of all this, we travel to Plymouth (2 hour drive one way) around once a week because there are a lot of Chinese people there and it gives my companion the opportunity to improve his Chinese as we teach. This past week, we actually traveled to Plymouth three times. Once was for interviews on Monday, Tuesday was the "Zone Games", and Wednesday we had a teaching appointment set up with a Chinese friend and had Hot Pot after!
Tuesday was the Zone Games. It was the Plymouth zone, and my zone, the Poole zone. In each zone there are two districts, so we had 6 districts total there. The Mission President, his son, his wife and his daughter were all team captains. Our team captain was Conor, their son. He is honestly the coolest person that I've ever met! At the beginning, our first task was to create a team banner and chant. We won first on the banner design and second place on the chant. We then started to play "Minute To Win It" games like, most baskets from the free throw line and volleyball. It was all really fun. To end it off, we did tug of war! I was a little nervous because there was one team that was all Elders, but we managed to beat them with stratagem. Overall, our district placed first! It was really fun, but I think the most important thing is that it brought all of us missionaries together in each zone as we cheered everyone on, regardless if they were on our team or not.
After the "Zone Games"
Wednesday, we traveled to Plymouth and set up a Hot Pot appointment with a Chinese member that is in Plymouth and invited our Chinese friend to come along so we could have the member fellowship with her. A quick miracle before we continue... The previous week we were teaching our Chinese friend and asked her if she knew a 'Sunny' (that's the member's name). We began by telling her that Sunny had two boys. She thought she knew her but it turns out she didn't. At that lesson, we put our friend on a baptismal date, and she agreed! She even told us that she felt the Spirit and that she wanted to follow the example of Jesus Christ! ... Fast forward a few days... Sunny was going into town with a friend, and they were taking the bus. Because they were talking and weren't paying attention, they missed their bus and had to take the next one. When they got on, her friend told her "Sunny come sit here!" Well, guess who was on the bus? Yes! That's right, our Chinese friend who we are teaching. She stopped Sunny and asked her if she was "the Sunny from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" and they got to know each other on the bus! How cool! Now to continue, unfortunately, our friend was sick and didn't make it to the Hot Pot, but we were able to have a lesson with Sunny. Sunny has been a member for almost 2 years and hasn't been to the temple yet, so we wanted to teach her all about it and help get her there. The first counselor in our mission presidency was there because he lives in her ward and offered to take her! It's so exciting to be able to see people progress and make covenants with God. It also brings me so much joy.
Sunny in the green shirt in the middle
Thurday and Friday were exchanges with the Yeovil Elders. What a fun bunch! I was with Elder McFarland and we went to help a lady out with her dogs. Unfortunately, things are not going well for her at present. She is really stressed and has a lot on her plate. Because of this, we want to do anything we can to help lift the burden. A member who is this lady's friend has been keeping in touch and fellowshiping her for years has helped the missionaries find opportunities to help her out. After walking the dogs, we shared a spiritual message on Alma 7:11-12, from the Book of Mormon.
"11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people."
"12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."
After this scripture, we shared the rest of our message. She told us that we would never understand how much it meant to her that we do this for her and the message that we shared with her. The next day, during our daily contact, we sent her the Video 'Mountians to Climb' voiced by Henry B. Eyring. Definitely give it a watch, it is very motivational.
Mountain to Climb
That is pretty much it. I feel like I just wrote a ton, because it's from my phone!
I know that this is Jesus Christ's church on the earth today, and I am grateful to be here doing this work to assist my Father in Heaven. There is nothing I would rather be doing at this time. I know that the Book of Mormon can and will bring us strength as we read, study, and apply what we learn from it. I am grateful for all of the many blessings that I have been given by my Heavenly Father and I invite you to think about all of the blessings that you have in your life. I promise you that you will begin to see things from a different perspective, that you will have more joy in your life, and that you will focus more on helping those around you. 'Because I have been given much, I too, must give'.
Love you all and thank you for your continual support and prayers!
Cheers,
Elder Jakob
Pictures of the coast of Portland where they had sailing events when the summer Olympics were held in London
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