Thy Will is Finished!! -- November 13, 2017

Hello Family and Friends!

Well this is officially my last email as a missionary...time flies, right!?!?

Monday we had a great PDay and spent the day as a district! We went bowling and went to a shopping mall to do some window shopping (the elders ditched us for that part...) then we came back to Durham and did some street contacting before going to meet with a new investigator whose name is also Jay! So we taught the Restoration and answered his questions and then went home!

Tuesday we did some street contacting and ran into a guy named Richard we had met last week and this time we were able to teach him the first lesson! So that was great! Then we did some knocking before going to see Ellen and reading the Book of Mormon with her and then had tea with some members before going in for companionship study!

Wednesday we had district meeting in the morning and the district was so sweet! They threw me a surprise party since it's my last week! Complete with balloons...but no cake ;) then we had lunch with a member and went on blitz with the STLs. I went to do service with Sister Montgomery and we sold poppies with a member for Remembrance Day...which is like Veterans Day and everyone wears a red poppy to remember the fallen soldiers! So we were selling those and raising money for the veteran’s society! Then we headed off to do the baptismal program but when we called Kevin...he said he was too stressed with school this week so he wants to postpone the baptism so he can work more in the lab...so we went to tea with a member and then went to Ward Coordination.

Thursday we went to the chapel to have a Skype lesson with our favorite Emma! We talked about the light the world campaign and how she can be a light to us and her family :) then we came back and saw Richard again before going to see Jay1 and then went to Starbucks to have a lesson with a guy named Danny. We answered his questions as well and he wants to continue meeting with missionaries too! Then we had tea with a member and came home for companionship study!

Friday we had a lesson with Richard and then went to have lunch with a member before doing our service project at the charity Shop. We were in charge of sorting and pairing about a million knitting needles. It was such a headache!!! Then we went knocking for a bit and got let in!! We talked to this amazing couple about the gospel and they invited us to keep teaching them as well!

Saturday morning we went and saw Richard and then we came in for lunch and companionship study before going to see Jay1 again! Then we bought my train tickets for Monday and headed out to do some finding. We weren't feeling well, so we decided to do some bus contacting and we ran into this amazing woman and were able to teach her the first lesson and give her a Book of Mormon but she wasn't in our area...and she didn't want to give out her number...so she'll be met again! When she's ready! Then we had tea with Rei and then came home for language Study!

Sunday we had church! My last Sunday... it was Remembrance Sunday so sacrament Meeting was especially about remembering sacrifices made by others and also especially remembering the sacrifice of the Savior!! Then we came home for lunch and went to see the Smiths to say goodbye and then we came home for tea and companionship study and finishing packing...

Today we got up and had our studies and then I got on a train to Newcastle and then another train to Leeds! I have my final interview today and then a departing testimony meeting...so crazy!!!!!!

My Spiritual Thought for the week is from a poem one of my friends sent me that's called "I Traded My Heart for a Nametag":

"I traded my heart for a Nametag

And answered the clarion call

To preach His gospel two-by-two

In the name of the Savior of all.

Where once I held the battle scars, bruises and wounds

That stained my heart with shame

I wore proudly a plaque etched with letters in white

That boldly proclaimed our two names.

Then, as I worked with my might mind and strength

And my Nametag got battered and worn,

I felt my heart in the Savior's hands

Being revived, renewed, and reborn

With every bump, nick, and scratch my Nametag received

He was turning my heart in His hands

That, by virtue of the scars in His hands and His wrists

I could meet this hastened work's demands.

Through 547 sunsets, he toiled,

Mending fragments pierced by arrows and blades

Which pain He felt as a Roman spear pierced His side,

So my heart He could be save.

Now, I offer up my Nametag in thanks to the Lord

At the close of this Harvest divine

And He gives me a heart, beating strong and anew,

That I hardly recognize as mine.

His physician's hands filled its holes with comfort,

His Atonement has healed every one,

And my heart, free of scars, bears only one mark:

The countenance, forever engraven, of the Son.

Onward and Upward, for all the blessing of Christ."

I am and forever will be grateful for the opportunity I had to serve here in the England Leeds Mission for the last 18 months! I think those of you who have served or who have seen their friends and family serve can understand when I say that I've changed a lot...but the changes I've made have brought me closer to Jesus Christ because when we offer Him our all, He gives and brings us back as something better. So even if you can't change your heart for a nametag right now, think of what you can change it for: more actively fulfilling your calling, loving your spouse and Family deeper, more fervent prayer, more dedicated scripture study...the list goes on and on. But whatever you can offer, offer it. Because you'll never be the same!

Hope you have a great week! Love you all! See you very, very soon!

Sister Hope

Fast is Good -- November 6, 2017

Hello Family and Friends!

What an exciting time it is to be here in Durham! It's cold but...yeah it's cold!

Monday we had a great PDay and went to Sunderland to hang out with the Sisters there. We just emailed at the chapel and then went out to dinner at Burger King. So fancy, right ;) then we went back to Durham and had a quick lesson with a Chinese man we had met. We gave him a Chinese Book of Mormon and taught a simple version of the Restoration before heading to Rei's house and we had a Skype lesson with Kevin and taught him about tithing! He said he'd made the decision to get baptised and so we set the time for his interview!

Tuesday morning we went to the library to do some things online and hopefully find a few formers on Facebook. Then we went to see two less actives who are only available on Tuesdays...and then we went in because it was Halloween!! We had companionship Study and tea and signed each other's tea books and just got caught up on lots of things...other than sleep ;)

Wednesday we had an early district meeting and then went to Saltwell Park again for service. We were in charge of litter picking again and found some more interesting things in the bushes...anyways, then we came for lunch and headed out to see Jay before going to a tea appointment and missionary Coordination. So it was a quick day and we got a lot done!

Thursday we were all over the place. We went to see Denise and then had companionship Study at the chapel with the STLs and then went to see Jay and then had to go to tea in consent and then had Ward Council. We spent most of the day in busses...

Friday we had our flat inspection which took literally all morning. Then we went to the charity Shop again to do service before doing some street contacting and coming in for tea and weekly planning...another quick day!

Saturday we did a couple hours of street contacting before going to the Cattery for more service! Then we came in for lunch and headed out to see Jay again! Then we met up with the elders and went to Kevin's for his BAPTISMAL INTERVIEW which he PASSED!!!!!!!! So that was super exciting for us! Then we headed to have Spanish Class and came in for the night!

Sunday we had church! My last fast Sunday...we had church and then spent awhile there talking to members and trying to sort a lot out for the baptism. Making sure everyone was invited and making assignments. Then we finally got to come in for lunch as it was getting dark. (Which is about 4 o'clock here...) and then did some knocking by our house before our lesson with Jay and then had companionship Study and tea.

My Spiritual Thought for the week is from General Conference:

"Members of the Godhead are no strangers to hard things. God the Father sacrificed His Only Begotten Son to the terrible suffering of the Atonement, including death by crucifixion. The scriptures say Jesus Christ learned “obedience by the things which he suffered”. He voluntarily suffered the agony of the Atonement. The Holy Ghost must be long-suffering to prompt, warn, and guide us, only to sometimes be ignored, misinterpreted, or forgotten."

-"Do We Trust Him? Hard Is Good" by Elder Stanley G. Ellis

I found this paragraph really interesting when I read it this week because I'd never really thought about how hard it is for the Godhead as well, if that makes sense. We always talk about what Jesus Christ went through and how He understands us perfectly because of His Atonement, but all members of the Godhead understand us perfectly because they face the same negative emotions and experiences we do. I love this talk because it's so true! Hard IS good :)

Hope you have a great week! Love you all!

Sister Hope

Pray for Kevin!! -- October 30, 2017

Hello Family and Friends!

Another great, and very quick week has passed here in the England Leeds Mission!

Monday we had a relaxing PDay and just spent the day in Durham doing window shopping and catching up on errands! Then we did some street contacting by the university before meeting up with Kevin and going to a member's house to have a lesson with him about the Word of Wisdom! It went really well and he accepted it!

Tuesday I wasn't feeling very well, but we went out anyways! We did Sister Luna's Facebook video and then did some finding before going to see Ellen and then had tea with some members and went to the Ward family home evening for the night.

Wednesday morning I woke up with a fever and was pretty sick, so we stayed in the whole day and just went to missionary Correlation at the end of the evening.

Thursday I was feeling better, so we went out! We just did finding the whole day. We did some knocking and tried by a few people and then went to see Jay! He didn't know we were coming, so we just surprised him and found out how he was doing! He's doing well! Then we had a quick tea and went to the Ward Relief Society Activity :)

Friday we did our weekly planning in the morning and then went to do a service project in a town called Crook. We volunteered at a charity shop and it was so great because the guy just introduced us to everyone and told them to talk to us! Then we Street contacted home for companionship study and tea and then had Spanish Class before going to Newcastle...

Saturday we woke up at 4 am and went to York! We had a mission tour with Elder Foster and had a lot of great missionary insights! Then we came back to Newcastle and got the metro to Sunderland for the Stake Trunk or Treat!! I didn't even know that's a thing in England! Then we went home and finally got some sleep!

Sunday we had church and Kevin came again! He enjoyed it again! Then we had lunch and went out to do a lot of finding and then had a super lesson with Kevin! We taught the 10 Commandments, Follow the Prophet, and Law of Chastity! Then on the way back, we had to walk with him, so he asked us to go over the interview questions with him! So we did and set his interview for this coming Saturday!!! Please pray he makes it!!

My Spiritual Thought for the week is from Mission Tour

"You don't have to be perfect to make a difference in someone's life" Don't get caught up in your imperfections! Just go forth and serve!

Hope you have a great week! Love you all!

Sister Hope

It's Rainin' Blessings!!! And Rain... -- October 23, 2017

Hiya! Its Sister Hope here reporting on yet another great week!!

So Monday we went to Newcastle for PDay and played sport and games for a couple hours and then we started our exchanges with the STLs. I was with Sister Ashcroft this time and she's also from Gilbert Arizona! So that's a lot of fun! We went to a soup kitchen and did service for a couple hours. It was so great because after everyone left, we had already cleaned everything except mopping the floor and the owner came in really tired and almost burst into tears because everything had already been done and she could pretty much just go home! So that felt good! Then we did some street contacting home.

Tuesday we finished the exchanges. We mainly just did finding the whole day and had a lot of great conversations with people on the street! We saw so many miracles and it was just an amazing day! Then we came back to Durham and went to Emma's house. She was moving back to Belgium on Wednesday, so we went and said goodbye to her. She is so amazing! I've really loved getting to know her and helping her feel the Spirit! She's just great! We left her house way too late though, so we had to catch a taxi home in order to make it in time...whoops...but we made it so that's the important part!

Wednesday we went to see Jay in the morning and talked to him about the sacrament and the symbolism behind it! Then we came back for lunch and did a lot of knocking before going to tea. After tea, we caught the bus to Stanley and had our ward correlation to finish off the evening!

Thursday we did some knocking in the morning and then tried by a potential who didn't answer...so we went to do some finding and I ran into a guy I met in Ashington who'd just moved here and he still has the Book of Mormon we gave him and wants to meet up to go over it! So that was a tender mercy! Then we went to have lunch with a member and then on our way back, we ran into a former who recognized our badges and asked to meet when he gets back from holiday! Then we went to use the restroom somewhere and ran into another former who also wanted to meet again and then were able to talk to Margaret again when we went to the library! So it was a great day of "coincidences"!! Then we went to see Jay in his store and had a lesson with him before coming in for companionship study and tea!

Friday was such a short but great day! We did some finding in the morning! We basically just street contacted into town and then turned around and came back for lunch! Then we got on the bus and went to our interviews and AP instruction. That lasted the rest of the day, so we just got on the bus and came home.

Saturday we had our studies before going to the Cattery again to help out there! Then we had lunch and met up with Rei to have a lesson with Kevin! We reset expectations and read a Conference talk with him and rescheduled him for baptism!!  So that was good! Then we went to see Jay and had a lesson with him and then helped him restock in his store and he ordered us a pizza to thank us! So it was a really good evening and we got a lot done! Then we headed home for a quick weekly planning!!

Sunday was amazing! Jay came and picked us up in the morning and took us to church and then Kevin showed up as well! So it was a really good Sunday and we were so excited to have had both of them there! Then we stayed after and did some stuff online and had lunch before going to see Jay again. We read from the scriptures with him about the 10 Commandments. Then we caught the bus back for companionship Study, tea, and language Study!

My Spiritual Thought for the week is from Conference :)

"a spiritual eclipse can occur when we allow minor and troublesome obstructions--those we face in our daily lives--to get so close that they block out the magnitude, brightness, and warmth of the light of Jesus Christ and His gospel."

-Gary E. Stephenson

We all have things to do in life but we constantly need to reevaluate our priorities and make sure the daily tasks ahead of us aren't becoming more important than and blocking out the light of Christ in our lives! If we can't feel His light...maybe we need to change something.

Hope you all have a great week and can always feel the Light of Christ and His gospel in your life :)

Sister Hope

We Be Smart--Phoned!! -- October 16, 2017

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been pretty much the best week ever! Don't know why, but it feels like it :)

So Monday, we had a Zone PDay and then went on a blitz in Newcastle for the rest of the evening! And this time I was with Sister Tautkus!!! So that was such a great reunion and such a great evening! We walked around and did street contacting in town. Then we came back to the Newcastle flat to spend the night there.

Tuesday we woke up early and got ready for Zone Conference! It was so strange because this time when they called for the departing missionaries to bear their testimonies, I was called up! So that was weird, but it was ok! But yeah, it was a good Conference and we just got the bus home for the night afterwards. We got a lot of gifts from Zone Conference: smart phones and crock pots! We're gettin fancy over here!

Wednesday we didn't have district meeting because of Zone Conference, but we went and did some knocking and tried by a few formers and then had a lesson with Jay at a member’s house and taught him the Restoration! It was such a powerful lesson! We tried by a few more formers and then went to have tea with a family. Then afterwards we had our missionary coordination meeting before coming home

Thursday we saw Jay in the morning again and then travelled to the chapel because Emma was getting her Patriarchal Blessing and wanted us there to support her! Then we did some knocking by the chapel and then had companionship study at the chapel before heading to tea. We missed our bus back, so we talked to a bunch of people near the bus station and then came home!

Friday was a crazy day! We had a lesson with Jay in the morning again and then came home for lunch and comp study before heading out to do some knocking! We talked to a lot of college students and then had tea with Emma before going in to do our weekly planning! Since the nights are getting dark early, we got permission to do weekly planning in the evening for safety :) so that was fun!

Saturday was strange. We went to the Cattery and then we basically just walked around talking to people and knocking a bit because all our plans fell through last minute. But we met a lot of people! So that was good!

Sunday was such a spiritual day! We had Stake Conference in the morning and Jay came to the first part! Then afterwards, we had a quick lesson with him before knocking and lunch and then went back to Sunderland for a broadcast with Elder Ballard. Such a great broadcast! Then we had companionship Study and tea!

My Spiritual Thought for the week is from General Conference :) "every one of us aspires to a more Christlike life than we often succeed in living. If we admit that honestly and are trying to improve, we are not hypocrites; we are human."

-Elder Holland

There's so much in life to tell us we're not good enough, but our Heavenly Father wants us to know we just have to be perfect at trying :)

Hope you have a great week!

Sister Hope

Skype is a Blessing! -- October 9, 2017

Hello everybody! I don't even know where to begin! This week has been such a blur! I feel like time is speeding up! Which I guess is good because it means we're not slowing down :)

So Monday, we had our PDay in Newcastle. Nothing too exciting happened. We just spent the day emailing, talking, and playing sport...then we came back to Durham and had an FHE, but only Rei showed up, so we just had a short lesson and then Skype our investigator from her house! We had about 10 minutes to talk though because of our bus time, so we reviewed the importance of prayer and the Book of Mormon and then ran to catch our bus...but we missed it because it was three minutes early. So we had to walk and we're late coming home. But oh well. Worse things have happened :)

Tuesday we had our studies and lunch in the morning before doing some finding in the morning. We tried by a guy who told us he was just on his way out to the doctor, so we should go back Thursday. And then we went to meet a new less active the Ward told us about! We had a really good conversation with her and are so excited to teach her more! Then we got the bus to see Ellen and watched President Uchtdorfs talk from the women's session with her! Such a good talk! Love it so much! Then we had a quick tea and went to see Kevin. We taught him the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it was such a powerful lesson! He really seemed to understand why it's so important! Finally!

Wednesday we had a very early district meeting and then had service at Saltwell Park again! This time we were in charge of litter picking. I don't think I've seen so many empty beer cans in my life...combined! Wow! We found some very interesting hints and are very glad we could put them in bins and get rid of them! Then we came home for a quick lunch and did some finding. We tried by a referral and she was in but busy with the kids so she asked us to come back on Saturday! Then we went to tea with the Knox's...then we went back to Kevin's house to have a reading lesson with him! We read the first chapter of the Book of Mormon and talked to him about and he asked to be baptised! So that's super exciting!

Thursday we went to see Denise and we taught her about the Ten Commandments and why we should obey the laws of God. Then we tried by that guy again, but he wasn't there, so we went to see Jay in his store. We taught him the gospel of Jesus Christ as well and had a good lesson! He's still a little confused on a few points, but he really wants to know! Just takes time :) then we got some street contacting in and went to a tea appointment before coming in for language study and companionship study.

Friday we had weekly planning all morning and then after lunch, we went to try by a few less actives and formers. We found out one was in the hospital, so we decided to surprise her and cheer her up! We read from the Book of Mormon with her and yeah, it was just so good to see how we could be His hands to brighten her day. She said what the best part was is we actually made the effort to find her! So glad for the Spirit :) then we went back to town and did some online Proselyting before going to tea with the Jenkinsons! We had a delicious tea with them and then we Skype Kevin and taught him the Plan of Salvation. He said he was grateful because he'd always had questions about why the bible said things like "third heaven" and stuff like that. So it was good we could answer those questions!

Saturday morning we went to do more service at the Cattery. They had a new cat come in named Megan...so that was fun for me :) then we grabbed lunch and headed out to see Emma. She'd moved though and it took us longer than we thought to find her new house, so we only had a few minutes with her before we had to head out again. We went to try by the referral who told us to come back, but she wasn't in. So we tried by a ton of formers and then caught the bus back to the chapel for companionship Study and then Spanish Class before coming home for tea :)

Sunday was good! We had church and that's lovely as always :) then we had a Skype lesson with the elders and our investigator. We taught the first part of the Restoration but he still has a lot of questions, so we're excited to answer those this coming week :) then we went home and had lunch before doing some street contacting. We met this guy named George who used to meet with the missionaries until his pastor told him we were false...anyways, he said I looked just like the sister who used to teach him (and I know that sister...I don't think we look alike...) and so he wants to meet with us! Then we had tea and a lesson with Emma before Street Contacting home for companionship study.

My Spiritual Thought for the weeks is on being an authentic disciple.

"Following the Savior will not remove all of your trials. However, it will remove the barriers between you and the help your Heavenly Father wants to give you. God will be with you. He will direct your steps. He will walk beside you and even carry you when your need is greatest."

It's easy for people to think that if we are a disciple of Christ, He will make everything easier for us. And in a way that's true, but not because trials don't come, but because when we follow Him, we are prepared to face the trials!

Hope you have a great week!

Sister Hope

It's the Final Countdown!! -- October 2, 2017

Hello Family and Friends!

What an exciting week to have had General a Conference close it off! It truly was a great day!

So Monday we had our PDay and wound up going to Beamish Museum again. It was pretty cool! We got to go to the mine and had some old fashioned fish and chips that apparently they just fry differently...they tasted the same in my opinion.  Anyways, then we came back to Durham and did a few things here before going to a lesson who cancelled...so we called Kevin and asked if we could meet up with him. He said yes, so we grabbed Rei and went to have the lesson with him. We read with him from the Book of Mormon and tried to explain our purpose as missionaries! Then we rushed home and barely made it back!

Tuesday we had our morning schedule and then went to try by a bunch of our potentials. None of them were in, but we met this girl who invited us right into her house! So we went in and talked to her a little. She doesn't have a belief in God, but she wants to learn more! So we set a return appointment and went to our next appointment which we had the wrong address for, so we missed :/ then we came back to Durham to have tea with a new family! Then we went to the Ward FHE and watched "How Rare A possession" and then played dominoes before heading back home.

Wednesday we had District Meeting in Newcastle with the Zone Leaders. So that was pretty good! But it went for like two hours...so we were a little behind what we thought we would be. Oh well! So we came back for companionship Study at the library and then went to do some knocking, but only had ten minutes, so we headed to our tea appointment and then went to meet our friend from the day before. We taught the Restoration and she seemed really excited, so that's good!

Thursday we had a few doctor appointments and then went to see Denise and had lunch with her! Then we went and contacted a former investigator who is now a new investigator :) he is pretty cool! The only problem is he owns a store, so he has a hard time getting work off, but we can teach him at his store and it's all good :) Sundays will be tricky though...then we went to try by a less active who wasn't in, so we came back to have tea with John and Fiona and they took us to missionary coordination!

Friday we had weekly planning all morning and the Morgan's came to help us with our flat...so again, we were a little late heading out, but it was ok! We went to get our flu shots and then tried by a few more people and did finding in their areas before going to see our friend again. We taught her the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it was a pretty good lesson! Then we came home.

Saturday we went to do service at the animal shelter again. We got to help spray some kittens for fleas and so that was fun! Then we had lunch and did a ton of street contacting before heading to Rei's to watch the Saturday Morning Session live! Then we came home for our tea break!

Sunday was a day of Conference!! We did some street contacting in the morning to go to Rei's house and had lunch with her before watching the Saturday Afternoon Session and then we got a bus to our tea appointment and watched the Sunday Morning session and then came home to watch the Women's session! So lots of spiritual inspiration this day! Really, really good!

My Spiritual Thought for the day is from Women's Conference: "The promises of praise and acceptance by the world are unreliable, untrue, and unsatisfying. God’s promises are sure, true, and joyful--now and forever."

-President Uchtdorf

If we can all focus more on what He has to offer Han what the world has to offer, we will be so much happier! I'm so thankful for the time to focus completely on Him and to hear His voice so clearly telling me what to improve on! It's such a blessing to know I am His child and that He will communicate with me.

Oh and by the way. We had transfer calls this week. I am staying in Durham with Sister Luna. So no changes for us :) and this is my last transfer! Time has flown...

Hope you have a great week! Love you all!

Sister Hope