Well we got a Little SNOW!!! -- January 16, 2017

Hello Everyone!

I hope you're continuing to have a marvellous 2017! Because we are here in the blessed land of Louth, England!

Monday we spent our PDay in Grimsby again watching movies. It was so great to be able to relax and spend some time with the other missionaries. Also, it's so nice to have a car since we could come and go as we pleased and didn't have to wait in the cold for a bus. So we left a little early and went to have tea with the Fox family. We had tea and played a game for FHE. we were there a little long since the game went over, but it was still good! We got to do a little street contacting and then came in for the night.

I had a doctors appointment on Tuesday morning, so we went to that, came in for lunch, and then went to try by a potential who wasn't in. So we sat on a bench to make some calls. Along came a teenager in our branch with a girl. So we wave and say hi and he looked a little embarrassed to see us. So we finished our calls and then went to go to an area we wanted to knock. Well up ahead, we saw them again. So we decided to go down a trail that cuts to another neighborhood, and down the steps from halfway down the trail, came these two teenagers. So we decided to try and follow them (because we knew this wasn't the way to his house...and we thought it'd be funny) we'll we lost them, so we decided to continue on with our plans. All of a sudden, they were up ahead of us again. So they literally zig zagged the entire town of Louth. They took about an hour to get what should've only taken 15 minutes or so...so we had a good laugh and then we went out knocking a cute little neighbourhood near our flat that we wanted to knock before. Then we went to have a lesson with Jackie and rushed off to tea at Neil's house. We stopped by Chris afterwards and he said he was expecting us because he'd seen us walking on the side of the road twice and since he knew we saw him, he knew we'd come by (his car looks like an old fashioned ambulance, I'll get a picture soon I hope!) anyways, he had a present ready for us. He had made some homemade jam and gave it to us! So that was nice of him! 

This is us taking a selfie to give the teenagers a chance to get a head so they wouldn't think we were stalking them...

Wednesday we had district meeting and then came back for lunch. It was an interesting district meeting though because both the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders came. But it was good! I had gotten a call Tuesday night to make and bring my cookies, so I made some cocoa cookies before personal Study and was so thankful they'd set up before we had to leave! The Zone Leaders are lucky; I almost didn't listen to them. But we enjoyed the cookies anyways! Then after lunch we went to visit a less active. She said she didn't want to talk to us...and then talked to us for about 45 minutes..and invited us back. So I'd say that was a success! Also, because we finally have a way to get out there we decided to go today. And everything seemed to come crashing down that we weren't going to have time. We were going to knock in the area and then stop by, but ran out of time and we're debating if it was worth it to go out there to visit her. We decided we should and this was the only day she had off work this week. So glad we listened to the Spirit! Anyways, then we drove back and I got a blessing and we had tea at the Fox's again. Then we came home for 12 weeks.

Thursday we went to see Michael in the morning with Josephine. We went over a bit of the bible again with him and then came in for lunch and 12 weeks. Then we drove out to see Stuart and went over the Restoration with him again. So that was a really good lesson. Then we drove out to have tea at the Scott's and Skyped in Brother Izzard for our Missionary Correlation meeting. It went really well and we're really excited to see what this new year brings the Louth area! Then we drove back home and did some street contacting. So not too shabby of a day!

Friday it snowed. But it was all melted by the time weekly planning ended. But anyways, we had weekly planning and lunch. Then we synced at the library and came in to have a driving lesson. So after two hours of driving, we ran a few more errands and then popped by Kate to give her a Get Well Soon card and invited her to church and then we had a lesson with Jane and Andy about the Plan of Salvation and eternal marriage. It was another interesting lesson, but it was really good!

Saturday we went to have Mormon.org time in the morning and then had lunch. After lunch, we went to help Chris on his allotment (which is just a garden) for an hour. We pruned blackberry bushes and dug up some ground. Then we cleaned up and stopped by Sheila to see how she's doing. She's doing well and set a return appointment with h us! Then we had tea at the Harvey's and came in for 12 weeks.

Sunday we had church, of course. Chris came to sacrament meeting! So that's progress! We had a great Sabbath Day worship and then had lunch. After lunch, we went to visit a member in our branch who left church early to make sure he and his family were ok. They said they were actually really down and then had a lesson with Jackie and Josephine. Then 12 weeks. So another quick day, but it was still really good! 

My Spiritual Thought for the week comes from Elder Quentin L. Cook's talk 'The Lord is My Light'

"For those who feel they are alone, you can stand resolutely in righteousness knowing that the Atonement will protect and bless you beyond your ability to fully understand"

Ive been studying a lot about the atonement lately for some lessons we were going to have but cancelled on us. I've come to have a greater appreciation for the Atonement and look forward to continue studying it! It is amazing what Heavenly Father has to offer us because of His son. Christ wants to help us in any way we can. Whether it is spiritual, physical, emotional, or mental. He loves us perfectly and will help us because only He knows exactly how we are feeling individually.

I love this gospel and I love this work. God Bless!

Sister Hope

From Weddings to Baptisms. We had it all!! -- January 9, 2017

Hey ya! This week has been so great!

We had quite an interesting PDay. We started the day with shopping and then went to a wedding reception! The couple met on their mission in China about five years ago and decided to get married! The reception was beautiful and we loved it!

After the reception we went to Jane and Andy's. We did a lesson on scripture study that didn't go quite as planned, but was still good! Jane said she'd made it a New Years Resolution to read the entire Book of Mormon by the end of the year! So we're super excited about that. Now if only Andy would follow in her footsteps...

Tuesday we went to the library and made the program for Stuart's baptism! Then we ran a few errands in town and then had lunch and went to go pick up a book really quick from the Fox's. Well really quick turned into an hour because...well yeah, it just kinda kept going! But we rushed off to go have a lesson with Kate. She read six chapters in the Book of Mormon! We went over chapter seven and answered her questions. It's so great to see how much she really wants to just know everything! Then we went to catch the bus to go have tea at the Harvey's. Then we popped by Chris to see why he didn't come to church and to set a return appointment.

Wednesday was long. So we were supposed to go see Michael, but got a call that a members son was in the hospital. So we had to cancel with Michael and call to see who could go give him a blessing. Well the blessing was finally given and all was ok. But we were pretty stressed down in Louth since the hospital is in Grimsby. But all was good! Then we went to teach Stuart about the priesthood. He said he's excited about it! And he's had a blessing as well and he said he could definitely feel something different from that. So that's good! Then we had tea with the O'Grams and went to the Elliot's to get the program printed. That really quick turned into an hour as well. Must run in the family (the Elliot's are Sister Foxs parents)...;)

Thursday felt like a late Christmas! We had interviews with President Turvey in Grimsby  and instruction from the Assistants while we weren't in interviews. The Assistants really focused on us and helped us answer so many questions for our investigators! Such a blessing! But the best part...we got a CAR!!! Watch out right hand side of the road! ;) but it was great! We got to go to the hospital and see the members and let them know how much we loved them and still make it back in time for our lessons! We had a lesson with Jackie and answered her questions about fasting. Then we went to the Wilsons for tea and had a lesson with Jane and Andy again about the Tree of Life and promises of God!

Friday we had weekly planning all morning and then had lunch. Then we went to sync at the library and then had a lesson with Stuart. The car is such a blessing! We wouldn't have been able to have the full lesson with him if we had to catch the bus! But we talked about temples and baptisms for the dead. He was a little confused at first, but Brother Lover answered his questions perfectly and answered his concerns. Such a powerful lesson! Then we drove back to Louth and had tea at the Dodds and rushed of to have a lesson with Chris about the importance of reading the scriptures and praying. It went really well! 

Saturday was the big day! We went to do Mormon.org time and street contacting before going to Grimsby. We helped clean up the chapel and set up. The baptism was at 4, so it was a little early, but a lot of people showed up! Stuart was so happy and said he felt like he finally had his eyes opened to the truth. Then we cleaned up and had to wait at the chapel for the elders to get back to lock up since they had the key. Then we got pizza. From dominoes. Because I have good memories of Dominoes Pizza while in Rotherham...

So we ate and then had 12 Weeks.

Sunday, Stuart was confirmed. It was such a great blessing! Then we taught Gospel Principles and had a joint lesson about self reliance in 3rd hour. Then we came in for our lunch break and went out to see Jackie and then Josephine. Then we came in for tea, area booking, and 12 Weeks. So it was a pretty fast day, but a good one nonetheless! 

Fun story! So we have a neighbor who was using our parking spot, but we didn't know which one. So we wrote a note and left chocolates on her windshield telling her we got the car. Well she showed up Sunday night with flowers to thank us for letting her use the spot and for being so nice about letting her know. We felt a little bad...but we got roses!

Anyways, my spiritual thought for the week is from Elder D. Todd. Christofferson's talk 'Why the Church?'

"We do not strive for conversion to the church, but to Christ and His gospel"

I've been thinking a lot about this, especially because we had a baptism this week. We need to be converted to Christ and He will guide us to the truth. His gospel is restored and as we come to know Him, we will know His truth.

Love you all!

Sister Hope

2017?!?!? Where has the time gone?!?!?! -- January 2, 2017

Happy New Year’s Everybody! Can't believe we already made it to 2017! Time sure goes by so fast!

So Monday was what we call Boxing Day over here in England. It was originally a day when the mail men would collect little boxes of money or gifts as a thanks for good service throughout the year...but it's turned into a day off to do nothing. So in spirit of the new meaning, we got to sleep in. All the way to 8:30! So Sister Tautkus and I rolled out of bed and did our studies in our pajamas! Then the cleaning bug hit both of us. We swept and were moving furniture to make sure we got everything nice and clean. Once we were satisfied, we got ready for the day and went to a members to use their wifi and email. Then we rushed off into town to try and hit up some of the after Christmas sales. Well the store we wanted to go to said it would close at 4, but we got there at 3:30 and it had already shut. So we just did grocery shopping and then went to Sister Stephenson's for tea and a quick lesson with Stuart. She ordered us Indian Takeaway so that was delicious! Then we taught Stuart about callings and the organization of the church. Then we went to Jackie's and had a chat with her. We didn't have really a proper lesson because our mission President told us to just brighten people's day since it's Boxing Day. She seems to be doing really well though. So that's good!

Tuesday we had another lesson with Stuart at the Wilson's house. We taught the Law of Chastity which was interesting, but it went really well! Then we had a mock interview. We told him we still have one more lesson but his interview should be on Friday. It was so good to have the Wilsons there. We found a few concerns and Sister Wilson did such a eat job answering them for us! So that was a huge blessing! Then we went in for lunch. After lunch, we went to a natural park formed by glaciers. We figured since it's a school holiday, we'd find a few families and could do some good street contacting. And we wanted to see it...so yeah! We went and it wasn't entirely what we expected. We found a guy who threw anti Mormon stuff at us and then got mad we wouldn't argue and he wouldn't let us go! We tried excusing ourselves like 10 times and then finally got away. Then we ran into this really nice couple and we talked to them for quite awhile. But they weren't interested just nice. 

Then we tried by a few people. We stopped by this one girl named Kate and talked with her about the Book of Mormon and talked about where it came from. She asked us to come back the next day and read with her!

Wednesday we had district meeting and it was so good! It was the first one we've had in about a month! So that was nice! We talked a little about everything which was such a great reminder how the little things are so important when it comes to missionary work! Obedience brings blessings. Exact obedience brings miracles! Then we had lunch in Louth and went to Mablethorpe to have a lesson with Stuart. There was a mix up in communication though. He had texted this morning he was heading back home so we told him we'd see him later...we'll we were about half way there and found out he was still in Louth. Well we had one more lesson to teach before he could have his interview...so we did a Skype lesson. Only instead of us being in Louth and him in Mablethorpe, we were in Mablethorpe and he was in Louth! But it went well. We discussed tithing and Brother Izzard did such a great job testifying! I just love members! Then we went back to Louth and read from the Book of Mormon with Kate. We read the introduction and 1 Nephi 1. She's an English major and has already read the whole Book of Mormon, but wants to read it again and understand it better. So we went over it in pretty good detail and then came in for tea and 12 weeks!

Thursday was really good! We started out the day by going to Josephine's house and then taking the bus together to Michael's house. He said he wants to understand the Bible better, so we're doing a mini scripture study group with them. We read through Matthew 1 together and went in depth on that. We're basically doing the same thing with him that we were with Kate. We're reading a chapter together, assigning the next few and then we'll answer questions and read another one and so forth. So it went really well! Then we came in for lunch and then went out to do Mormon.org time. But the library closes early on Thursdays. So we missed out. But that's ok! We had a lesson with Jackie afterwards about setting New Years Resolutions and bettering ourselves in this coming year. Then we came in for tea and went with Josephine again to teach Chris. We went over the sacrament and the purpose of church to invite him to come again! Then we did 12 Weeks at home and went to bed!

Friday we had weekly planning all morning again. Then we street contacted to the bus station and talked to this lovely couple on the way to STUART'S BAPTISMAL INTERVIEW!! We waited in the hall and then about an eternity later (45 minutes) they finally came out and he PASSED! So we walked him around the chapel and gave him a chapel tour and explained the process of baptism and confirmation and made sure we had the right size clothes and stuff and then caught the bus back to Louth. We got in and caught another bus to go have tea with the Harvey's. 

Saturday we went to teach Keeley and Martin. It went really well! We taught the Plan of Salvation. We gave them a Family Proclamation too. So I really hope they'll read that and decide they want to be an eternal family...then we came in for lunch and 12 weeks. We then went out finding for a few hours. Knocking doors. So much fun. But then we went to meet up with Sam for a lesson. He didn't show up. Again. So we went and did more street contacting. We had to go in early since it was New Years Eve. So we did planning early and then cleaned and organised the flat. 

Sunday was New Hears day! We had an excellent talk in church about how our mind works with New Years Resolutions. We over indulge in something and decide we want to change that. Then we make a plan and go for it. After a few days or weeks without immediate success, we start to lose motivation and eventually give up. Then she talked about how despite knowing we won't keep our Resolutions, we still set them because we want to better ourselves. And that's exactly what we should use the sacrament as. The sacrament is our time to make weekly Resolutions. And we should make daily resolutions so when we take the sacrament, we are truly aware of what we need to work on that week and we can ask for Heavenly Fathers help. When we have His help, we won't fail because Christ has already overcome the weaknesses we are trying to overcome. So yeah, it was a great talk! Then after church,we went knocking and then had a lesson with Jackie. Then we went to a friends house to sync our iPads. She gave us a chocolate Santa. So sweet! Literally!

My Spiritual Thought for this week is from President Boyd K. Packer's talk "The Key to Spiritual Protection" 

"Just as chalk can be removed from a blackboard, with sincere repentance the effects of our transgressions can be erased through the Atonement of Jesus Christ."

This is a New Year. Let us resolve to be better, to repent, to change. This gospel is truly a gospel of change. I'm so grateful for this upcoming year. This year I will be a missionary for almost the whole year. I have the privilege of telling people they can repent. They can change their lives. This can be the best year of their lives because they can choose to follow Jesus Christ-some people for the first time in their life. I hope and pray each of us will take advantage of the wonderful gift repentance is this New Year. 

Sister Hope

Happy Boxing -- December 26, 2016

Hello!

Monday was pretty good. We had kinda a long PDay trying to get shopping done and figure out how to send pictures home for Sister Tautkus. Anyways, it took awhile but we finally made it to the Grimsby chapel and made banana bread and pizza for lunch/tea. So we ate that and watched MegaMind. That movie is hilarious. I do t know why I'd never seen it before! It was so funny! Anyways, our lesson had to be rescheduled because they caught the stomach flu. So we did Area Book Finding instead. It's just getting too cold to walk around for two hours in dark and empty streets. So we figured it was more effective calling formers. 

Tuesday was interesting. I learned how to drive stick shift. That was an adventure. Then we did service at Josephine's and helped her get her Christmas decorations up. The we caught the bus to Hull. On the way to Grimsby, I talked with this really great guy who wants to invite Christ back into his life to be a better example to his kids. But he lives out of our area. So it was a really short day. We had 12 weeks and tea in the Sisters' flat in Hull. Felt like we didn't do anything, but it was still good! 

Wednesday was AMAZING! We caught a taxi and coach again to Huddersfield and had our Christmas Social Party! 🎉 we wound up getting there about two hours early which was really frustrating because we had to wake up at 4:45 to get ready. But oh well. Come what may and love it. And we did love it! First of all, we got to wear jeans! Such a relief! We played games and made crafts and then had a talent show. So that was really fun! Almost nobody from our zone did anything though because it wasn't communicated well. But whatever! So we then had lunch which was absolutely fabulous! Then Santa and Mrs. Claus came to visit us! Sorry I was looking at another camera...

Then we went into the chapel for the Nativity presentation and Carol Singing. Then we came home. Elder Clinton and I talked to this lady on the bus ride home and she wanted to go to church on Sunday! Unfortunately she lives in Grimsby. So for the second day in a row, I talked to someone who was interested but would have to be a referral. Anyways, we spent the night at the Grimsby Sisters' flat.

Thursday we woke up and did Personal and companionship Study with the Grimsby sisters so that was fun! We practiced setting expectations with members which was interesting. Then we caught the bus home and had lunch and then the bus to Mablethorpe to teach Stuart. So funny story? We had previously mentioned the Word of Wisdom, but hadn't gone in depth. Anyways, so he gets to the lesson and Sister Dickens asked him what he wanted to drink and he said coffee. Well of course we corrected him that he wanted hot chocolate. But he insisted and so she got him a coffee. Then we begin the lesson and say we're going to teach the Word of Wisdom and her granddaughter said "well this will be interesting" and it was. He tried arguing with us, but we have God on our side and he's stopped drinking coffee now. So then we came home and had tea and then went to Jane and Andy's. We answered questions and were so excited because we've been trying to cut down lesson times so we're at people's houses less than an hour and we had been there for 55 minutes. So all that was left was the prayer! We were so excited! So we asked Andy to say it and knelt down. We kneeled on their floor for 45 minutes trying to get him to pray. He kept almost starting and then laughing and saying no he wouldn't. So we'd encourage a little more and he'd think about it and then say no. Well finally after 45 minutes, our feet had gone to sleep so we just prayed and left. We were a little worried we'd get in trouble for being there nearly two hours, but our district leader just laughed and said to keep trying. So because we were there way longer than anticipated, we only had about half an hour of 12 weeks. We did an activity that Sister Sovala had done with me since this week is the power of revelation through the Book of Mormon. It's really hard to explain, but I felt bad because Sister Tautkus was crying by the end of it. But she said she'd pass it on to her next companions too. So I guess it wasn't too scarring for her!

Friday we felt disobedient, but we weren't! We left right after personal Study and did our last two hours of driving. Then we came in for companionship Study and lunch and then did weekly planning. So finally around 3:30, we left the flat again, effectively using all our daylight hours inside. So we went to the library and did Mormon.org time before the library shut for the holiday weekend. Then waited at the bus stop until the bus came to take us to Sister Harvey's house for tea. We had tea and then she came with us to have a lesson with Chris. He's decided he still wants to learn, but feels too pressured to have a date. So that kinda broke Sister Tautkus' heart but I still have faith in him! It's been such a rollercoaster even getting him to meet with us that the fact we've seen him two weeks in a row is amazing! 

Saturday was Christmas Eve. We went to people's homes to Carol and deliver Christmas cards. But very few people were in. And when we got on the bus to Michael's, we were the only people on the bus other than the driver and his words to us were "So there is life in Louth!" Which was pretty funny! So we delivered the card to him and then got ice cream while waiting for the bus...

We continued delivering cards and then met Stuart at the bus station. This really amazing member found out he was going to be spending Christmas alone, so she invited him to spend it at her house with her family! So we are taking advantage of the fact he is now down the road and will hopefully be finishing the lessons this week so he can have his interview! We talked about the 10 Commandments and went in depth on Sabbath Day and Obey and Honour the law. Then we went to tea at the Dodds' house. They did a special Family Home Evening and read this book called "The Tale of The Three Trees" which I would highly recommend looking up! It is so good! Then we went and read the Christmas Story with Jackie. Then we came in and set up the tree for pictures and since each of us had the tradition back home to open one present Christmas Eve, we did that.

Sunday we got to sleep in! We could've slept in 2 hours, but decided to only do an hour and a half since Sister Tautkus wanted to do her hair and makeup before opening everything. What a girl! So we got mostly ready for the day and then opened presents and then finished getting ready for the day. We met up with Jane and went to church. The church was packed! We had 4 investigators and a couple less actives! It was such a great day to be a missionary and see the Spirit of Christmas work on people! Hopefully it'll become a New Years Resolution for some of them to keep coming! Then we came home and grabbed a few things and then went to the O'Grams for lunch. Which over here since they're deprived of Thanksgiving, they basically do a Thanksgiving meal Christmas Day. So we were stuffed. And we got to talk to our families! Such a great time! I'm glad I have my family! They're pretty amazing! Anyways, then we went to have another lesson with Stuart about Thomas S. Monson which went pretty well! Then we went to the Wilson's for the evening. We played games that the girls had gotten for Christmas and then had leftovers from their Christmas meal. 

So today is Boxing Day, or the day after Christmas. We got to sleep in again! I'll tell you the rest next week! But happy Boxing Day everybody!

My spiritual thought comes from President Uchtdorfs talk "The Merciful Obtain Mercy"

"My dear brothers and sisters, consider the following questions as a self-test:

Do you harbor a grudge against someone else? Do you gossip, even when what you say may be true? Do you exclude, push away, or punish others because of something they have done? Do you secretly envy another? Do you wish to cause harm to someone? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may want to apply the two-word sermon from earlier: stop it! In a world of accusations and unfriendliness, it is easy to gather and cast stones. But before we do so, let us remember the words of the One who is our Master and model: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone.” Brothers and sisters, let us put down our stones. Let us be kind. Let us forgive. Let us talk peacefully with each other. Let the love of God fill our hearts. Let us do good unto all men.” 

Sister Tautkus and I have been thinking of what New Years Resolutions we could extend to investigators and members and this is what we decided on. I'd like to encourage each of you to do a real self evaluation of what you could do better. We are working on this as well and I know this talk can help us if we let it. Thank you all for your support. This has been a great 7 and a half months and I'm so excited for the next 10! I love you all, hope you had a wonderful Christmas and that your New Years is just as good of not better. 

Sister Hope

Happy Christmas -- December 19, 2016

Hello!

Monday was a good day. We spent P-Day in Grimsby and watched "The Best Two Years" which was amazing! It helped to have a good laugh again! I'm so glad our missionaries aren't that disobedient, but it was still a good show! Then we caught the bus back to Louth and taught Jackie about the Stripling Warriors. So that was a good lesson!

Tuesday was interesting. So we started off the day with some knocking and street contacting because two appointments fell through. Then we came in for lunch and went out for about half an hour. We stopped by Brother Stocks to see how he's doing and then invited him to come teaching with us later in the week. It sounds like he really needed that because of some personal things going on. Then we came in for 12
weeks and headed out to the bus. Fun story: so the bus was about 20 minutes late so we were freaking out. Anyways, there were these high schoolers on another bus that was at the same stop. And they were on the second level and obviously trying to get our attention-banging on the windows and other things teenage boys think girls find attractive...and we just ignored them. Then the bus pulled away and they threw gum at us! Like what the heck?!? It was so gross! And it felt like a rock hit me. Oh well. Teenagers. Whatcha gonna do? Anyways, so yeah. The bus was 20 minutes late and we were freaking out because we needed to get to Hull and usually we have 20 minutes to wait in Grimsby. So we were worried we'd be stranded again. But luckily we found out our bus travels part of the same road the next one does, so we got off and waited at another stop for a few minutes and went to Hull. We got in to the apartment at 7:45, so we went out for 15 minutes and then came in for tea. And then one of the Sisters is a cosmetologist, so she dyed my eyebrows. That was a first!

Wednesday we woke up early. We got to the chapel and realized nobody had the chapel key (apparently the elders keep losing it...) so we were standing outside, in the cold, while someone came with a key (somehow someone else trusted the same elders with their key, so the elders went to pick it up...) then we dropped our stuff off inside and ran to the coach. We had a fantastic meeting. President Patrick Kearon of the Europe Area Presidency came to speak to us. He is such a great guy! He spoke a lot about ways to energize and improve our missions. So it was a way good meeting! He is such an inspired man! Anyways, we went back to the coach, got our stuff, and then caught the bus to Grimsby to spend the night.

Thursday was tiresome. So we were exhausted especially from sleeping two nights on a couch. But we woke up and did our studies with the Grimsby sisters and then went to Louth for lunch. Afterwards we caught the bus to Mablethorpe and had a lesson with Stuart. We finished the Plan of Salvation with him and he said "Sisters, something's been bothering me about all this" and we looked at each other a little scared and he continued "a few weeks ago, a lady asked me what the purpose of life is...and I had never really thought about it before, but this is almost exactly what came out of my mouth. How does the church read my mind?!!" So we had a good testifying moment that the Spirit can use us to teach truth and since we knew all this before in the preexistence, he was just remembering it. So that was good! Then we came home and had tea and then met up with Josephine to teach Chris. We watched the Restoration video with him and it went so well! He really felt the Spirit and even said the closing prayer!

Friday was short as always. So we had weekly planning and then went to lunch with Keeley. It was so good! She opened up to us quite a bit and it was nice to know how much she trusted us! Then we went to the library to do Mormon.org time. We tried by a few people and then went in for Area Book Finding and then tea at the O'Gram's. Then we went to pick up Brother Stocks and had a lesson with him and Jane and Andy. We're really hoping they actually prayed this weekend. But it was a great lesson and they seemed to really be feeling the Spirit as well! So that was good!

Saturday was started with service. Sister Stephenson said she needed some help moving some things, so we went over and then she changed her mind and we cleaned her kitchen instead. She said that was a huge help, but then we went upstairs and tried to help her move a few things but we just had a lesson instead because she wanted to wait. So we went in for lunch and the York STLs came over to meet us. Then we caught the bus to Mablethorpe again and taught Stuart the importance of obedience to the commandments and especially prayer and scripture study. So it was a short lesson, but it went well! Then we caught the bus back and stopped at Sister Harvey's for tea. Then she took us to Michaels and we taught him about Patriarchal Blessings and then we came home for 12 weeks!

Sunday we spoke in church. My topic was on the signs and prelude to our Savior’s Birth. It was a really good talk apparently! Then we came back home for lunch. We had a walk down the canal hoping to see someone, but we didn't. We did however see Chris and chastised him nicely for not coming to church. Then we went over to Jackie's and talked about the 10 Commandments. Then we went to the O'Grams to sync our iPads.

My Spiritual Thought this week comes from the Christmas Devotional "There would be no Christmas if there had not been Easter. The babe Jesus of Bethlehem would be but another baby without the redeeming Christ of Gethsemane and Calvary, and the triumphant fact of the Resurrection." While this week is one of preparation and anticipation, let us also remember the reason we celebrate His birth. It is because
He came to save us. As we strive to continue to Light the World and emulate Christ, we will be able to feel the joy of Christmas all year round.

Happy Christmas Everyone! (And yes, they really do say it like that in England. They know we're American when we say Merry Christmas)

Sister Hope