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

I'm a Fruit Ninja -- December 12, 2016

Hello one and all!
So I had an amazing pday on Monday! We went in the morning to see the
seals! It was so great! They were so cute and we truly had a great time seeing them! Then we did our shopping and went to crash at the Fox Family's house to email and we watched The Secret Life of Pets. Then we had tea with them. New favorite parenting technique: "Son, we don't lick people, we lick ice cream!" Then we had a family home evening with them on the Restoration and that was really great! Then we went to Jane and Andy's to teach them. We went over the Gospel of Jesus Christ again with our fancy footprints, then it was time to come in. Thank goodness because it is getting so cold.

Tuesday we went to go have a lesson with Sheila, but she cancelled since she wasn't feeling well. So we did some knocking and a lot of street contacting. We're still having trouble finding people who will accept a return appointment, but we're having good conversations with people! So that's a plus! Then we came in for lunch and then caught the bus to Mablethorpe so we could go have a lesson with Stuart. We taught him about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and he said he thinks this is the right path for him! So that's great news! Then we came in for 12 weeks and caught the bus to Grimsby to spend the night there.

Wednesday we woke up early and went to Hull for Zone Training. The theme was fruit ninjas because we've been told to focus on the "fruits" of the gospel with our investigators and we're going to slay that! It's a little cheesy,  it all's good. We really enjoyed it and had some great personal revelation there. Then we got lunch and travelled back. We got back in time to have a quick dinner and then go to the Branch Relief Society Christmas Party. We didn't realise that was a full meal either. So we operate a little that night, but oh well! English sweets are amazing and we need to enjoy them while we can!

Thursday we did a lot of finding and knocking. Some people have told us we could stop by again and follow up on what they thought of the Christmas Video. So we're going to do that! Then we had lunch and went to Mablethorpe again. It was interesting because we had planned to stay in Louth and then catch the bus in an hour. But we both felt we needed to go. So we did. And we ran into this guy named David. Now David wasn't interested, he made that quite clear. But he said he had been having a hard day and he thanked us for brightening it up for him. We thought that was so cool that Heavenly Father knew him well enough to send us to him just to brighten his day. Obviously Heavenly Father knew his heart and knew he wouldn't necessarily meet with us again but that was what he needed that day. I'm so glad we were able to follow that prompting! Then we walked over to Brother Izzards house and met Stuart there. It was kinda funny because Brother Izzard had double booked his house, so the home teachers were also there. It was good though so Stuart got to see what Home teaching was all about and he even asked for a blessing! So that was really great! Then we had a lesson with him about the Plan of Salvation through our life here on Earth. Then we had tea with the Izzards and came back to Louth! So yeah! It was a great day!

Friday we had weekly planning of course and then lunch. It was really good! We spent a little extra time planning than normal, but we had some great ideas and inspiration, so it was worth it! Then we did some
more knocking and street contacting before going to the library for Mormon.org time. I listened to the Christmas Devotional and it was amazing! So I did that while putting pictures on my flash drive and
changing the footprints again. I just keep changing my mind! But it's done now...I hope. So we then went to help Jackie with what we thought would be an easy service project. She got a new bed and it's memory
foam, so we thought she just wanted help setting it up. What we didn't realise was she wanted help setting up the bed frame as well. So we got it done most of the way and then had to run off to tea with the Wilsons. So we had plans to go back and finish, but she texted us that she got a burst of adrenaline and finished it (meaning her son showed up and she made him do it)

Saturday was a wedding day. So we went to David and Taylor's wedding in Grimsby. It was kinda funny because it literally took 10 minutes. But that's ok! Then we came in for lunch and did some finding. Then we were in the middle of 12 Weeks and got a call from our district leader that transfer calls were being moved to tonight! So we still went to the reception, but could only stay 30 minutes and then came in for transfer calls. We are both staying in Louth for 7 more weeks! So that was good news!

Sunday we went to church and had a great day there! It was such a good lesson! Then we went to the Johnsons for lunch. Which was absolutely delicious! But they live really far away. So by the time we left church, travelled there, had lunch, had a spiritual thought, and drove back...it was 5. So we went to have a short lesson with Jackie and sync our iPads. Then we came in for tea and 12 weeks. So it was a short day but good nonetheless!

My spiritual thought this week comes from Elder Neil L. Andersen's talk "The Book of Mormon: Strengthening Our Faith in Jesus Christ" "Faith in Jesus Christ, when solidly anchored in our souls, brings true conversion...and enduring righteousness." I know that faith can bring miracles. Sometimes that greatest miracle is ourselves. We become better because of our faith. We become the people that others want to be like. We become who Heavenly Father wants us to become and who Jesus Christ died that we may become. Stay true to your faith. Faith is our greatest blessing!

Love you all and hope you have a great week and are finding ways to light the World and put Christ back in Christmas this season!

Merry Christmas!
Sister Hope

Sometimes the Lord Makes you Miss a Bus on Purpose -- December 5, 2016

Hey everyone! It has been another great week. I just love Christmas time! Everyone seems a little more open to God and I've been able to see how He's used us as His hands this week, which has been amazing!

So Monday. We had P-Day in Grimsby with the elders and sisters there. We played basketball and watched movies. So that was a nice break! Then we caught the bus back and our lesson cancelled :/ so we were a little bummed about having to do street contacting all night. But that was ok. We went in and dropped our stuff off and headed out. We just crossed the street and I saw this lady who I knew at the laundromat! So I waved at her and we went in to talk to her. Well she invited us over! So we wound up having hot chocolate with her and sharing the Christmas Initiative video with her. She said she'd been having a really hard day and it was just such a great "coincidence" that we ran into each other because we really lifted her spirits! Unfortunately she's still not interested in changing her life, but seeds are being planted!

Tuesday was a day of finding. We started by knocking on a potential investigator's (someone who said we could come back but we hadn't taught anything yet) door. She welcomed us right in and had apparently been taught before! So that was cool. She too said she'd been having a hard day and so it was a good we stopped by! We shared with her Moroni's promise and set a return appointment. Then we ran out of time to continue knocking that street, so we went in for lunch and then knocked in a different area. We felt we should stop by a member, so we did and it was his mum's birthday. So he was having a hard time that day and it was good we followed that prompting as well! Then we tried by a former investigator who wasn't in. So we stopped by Brother Stock's house to share the Christmas Initiative Video with him. He found out we didn't have a tea appointment that night, so he fed us! That was so sweet of him! So then we went to pop by Chris and see if he was in. He was, so we talked with him on his doorstep, shared the Christmas Initiative Video with him and invited him to the Branch Christmas Activity! We really hope he comes! Then we went in to make cupcakes for the remaining part of our tea hour since it was our district leader’s birthday and then we did Area Book Finding and 12 Weeks.

Wednesday. So we were forgotten about again. Because of bus times, we have to get to District Meeting really early. But they weren't there to open the chapel. So that was a bummer. And we had to wait in the cold until they showed up. We had a great district meeting though Elder Clanton had made cookies, and we had the cupcakes for his birthday. So we had a party (we also brought apples and oranges mom. Don't worry). Then we went to the bus stop, but after ten minutes, we figured we had missed it. So we got a bus going into town and then drove past the bus we needed like five minutes later. So it was 20 minutes late. But oh well. We got lunch in town and caught the next bus back to Louth. We had just enough time to drop our stuff off at our flat and then go help Sister Fox with some more preparations for the Christmas Party! Then we caught the bus to Mablethorpe and visited a couple in the branch named the Lover's. They're the loveliest people! We had a great visit with them and then ran to the bus stop. We felt really lucky because we saw a path that cut off a bunch of time, so we were about 5 minutes earlier than the bus was supposed to be there! Unfortunately, about thirty minutes later, we were still standing there. So we called the zone leaders and then our branch mission leader and he was able to give us a ride back to Louth. We were a little nervous because that was supposed to be the last bus back to Louth and our mission leader’s wife isn't active.  But she decided to come, so we got to meet her and had a good chat with them! Then we came in for tea. So yeah, it was a crazy night. And Day. All because busses cause problems.

Thursday was a great day! We went to help Josephine with a project she has going on at her house. Then we came in for lunch and went to visit Jackie. We read the Tree of Life with her and related it to the need to Endure to the End. It was such a great lesson! Then we came in for a few minutes because our apartment complex was doing cleaning checks. So we passed that and then tried by that former again. She wasn't in...but her friend was. And her friend was another former we had met before. So that was super awkward. But we invited both of them to the branch Activity and really hope they come! Then we continued street contacting and went in for tea and 12 weeks. Then we went to have a lesson with Jane and Andy on prophets. It went really well. Except Andy still won't pray! We had another stare down. The only reason he keeps winning is because it's too close to nine. Oh well. He will pray one day!

Friday seemed short again. So we had weekly planning and then went to visit Keeley and her partner Martin! We had lunch with them and then we taught them about the Restoration. Martin wasn't sure what he thought of it, but he said he'd keep meeting with us and asking questions! Keeley really enjoyed it and started crying again when we taught it. Then we did some stuff on the computers. We're making little footprints with scriptures on them to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Then we caught the bus to Withern and knocked on some doors before going to tea with the Harvey's. Afterwards, we went to do some street contacting for about half an hour, but didn't see anyone.

Saturday was exchange day. Except Sister Blair and Eschgfäller came to Louth. So Sister Blair and I went out street contacting to Jackie's house. We shared some scriptures with her and then did a little service for her. Then we did a bunch more Finding. We knocked a little and did street contacting until we got to have lunch with the other sisters! Then we went out to practice for the Nativity, but the librarians changed their minds, so we wound up having to leave right away which stressed Sister Fox out a bit. But that was ok. Then we went to do more knocking and contacting before follow ups. Afterwards we went to the Nativity Activity which was absolutely amazing. We had about 50 people from the community show up. So half the people there weren't members! Which was so spectacular! It was a lovely program and lots of work was done! Then we came in and did planning and went to bed.

Sunday we had church in the morning and then went to Horncastle with Jane. Andy was playing Santa there, so we were going to go visit him and the Hall family. Well we were late, so we went straight to the Hall's and had lunch with them. Unfortunately, we missed Santa. But that's ok. Jane took pictures, so we'll get them from her! Then we came back to see Jackie and then did 12 Weeks, tea, and planning.

Today has been amazing so far! So I'm a little late because we went out to see the baby seals! Sister Scott took us and Josephine to see the seals. It was so great! There were hundreds and thousands! And they were just so cute :)

So my spiritual thought for this week comes from Elder Uchtdorf's "The Way of The Disciple" " the gospel is the way of discipleship. As we walk in that way, we can experience confidence and joy-even during uncertainty." I know that He can provide us with the peace and joy we need in life and as we try to become more like Him we will find what we need in life to be successful.

I love you all and hope you are enjoying your December!

Sister Hope

It's Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas!! -- November 28, 2016

Hello one and all!

This week has been really fast, but really good!

So we started out on Monday with a Zone Thanksgiving Party! It was really good and we enjoyed the food there! Then afterwards we had a Sisters Meeting where we practiced scheduling people for baptism and then we went out Finding around the University. We had more challenges from Sister Blair. So we had to hand out two Book of Mormons, share a Bible Story, and ask how many scarves it would take to keep a giraffe warm. So we asked this one lady about her scarf and then about the giraffes and tied that into Noah's ark and then gave her a Book of Mormon. Then it was time to go in. So we almost made it! Almost!

Tuesday we woke up early and got a taxi to the chapel to catch the coach to Leeds. Then we had an amazing zone conference. Afterwards we rode back to Grimsby and spent the night with the Sisters there. Sorry there's not too much to report on Tuesday as I don't have my notes with me...

Wednesday. Well district meeting got cancelled last minute. So we had to travel back to Louth early and then we did our personal and companionship study at home. Afterwards we went to help Sister Fox put some stuff together for the Christmas Nativity program. Then we tried by a bunch of formers. And they were ALL in! It was crazy! None of them were interested, but at least we got to share a little message with them and make sure they were all ok!

Thursday was busy. Like really busy we almost forgot it was Thanksgiving. Almost. We got a ride to Mablethorpe in the morning and met with some members to go over the area plan and the Christmas Initiative. Then we had a lesson with a man named Stuart. He has been to church twice now. So we finally got to meet with him and teach the first lesson and schedule him for Baptism! Then we went in for lunch and had another first lesson with a girl named Samie. We had hot chocolate together and then we went for Thanksgiving with the Harvey's! It was so good! I just love them so much :)

Friday was short. We had weekly planning and then went to do service for Josephine. She needed some help moving and cleaning some furniture. Then we went in to change our clothes and go have a lesson with Jackie. Then we had tea with the O'Grams and went to have a lesson with Jane and Andy about Family History. It was so good! Andy is actually really excited about family history so things might be turning around for him! Fingers crossed!

Saturday went well. We started with Mormon.org time and then went out knocking and then in for lunch. After lunch we went to visit Michael and answer some of his concerns and then we came in for tea and twelve weeks. So it was another short day.

Sunday was Stake Conference and was so good! Then we went to have a lesson. But he didn't show up. So we taught Sister Stephenson about Patriarchal Blessings and then went to have a lesson with Jackie. Then we walked around for about half an hour and came in for tea and twelve weeks.

So yeah that about sums up my week.  Sorry this letter is so all over the place. But I hope everyone had a great week and has another one coming up! I love you all!

Oh and if you haven't yet, go check out the "Light the World" video on Mormon.org. It is the best thing ever. And then share it. Let's light the world this Christmas season :)

Sister Hope

Stressful Being Thankful -- November 21, 2016

Dear family and friends,

Things seem to be going well here in Louth. We had another crazy week of travelling, and another one ahead of us. So we are getting comfy and cozy on the busses. On Monday, we finished our shopping and then went to Grimsby to spend P-Day with our district. We only got to spend like two hours there before heading off to town to get Sister Tautkus a new winter coat and getting on the bus to Hull. We travelled to Hull, and met up with the Sisters there. We began our exchange and Sister Echgfäller (pronounces eshg-fella. She is from Paraguay, but her dad is German) and I taught a lady named Kate. That was an
interesting lesson to say the least.

Tuesday was the full exchange day. I left Sister Tautkus in the very capable hands of Sister Blair and went with Sister Echgfäller to try by some potentials and do a little knocking. Then we had lunch in the park and continued contacting until going back to the missionary house to teach a recent convert named Josh about the Law of tithing. Then we went to teach some other recent Converts. We retaught the
Restoration...IN SPANISH!!!! It was so cool! My Spanish isn't very good with all the religious terms, but I made it through and it was a good lesson. They were great fun to have two Spanish speakers there.
Because we could just talk and there wasn't a lot, or at least as much, translating that had to be done. Then we went in for tea and language study and went back for their missionary correlation meeting.
Sister Tautkus and I were again reunited and went out for the last few hours to do some street contacting and bus contacting.

Wednesday, we woke up early and went to the Hull chapel for Zone Training. The theme this month was Toy Story...I still don't really understand this one. But it was all about listening to the Holy Ghost and asking inspired questions. We also got to watch the new Christmas video. It is being released to the rest of the church November 25. And oh. My. Goodness. It is SPECTACULAR!!! I am so excited to share it
with EVERYONE!!! Then we travelled, and travelled, and travelled some more home and then had like an hour to street contact before going in for 12 weeks and tea.

Thursday was an adventure. We did Mormon.org time in the morning. I printed off some new pictures to use on my Restoration Cups and put them on during lunch and then we went to teach Jackie. She had read the entire Book of First Nephi after our lesson with her on Sunday. It was so amazing! She was talking about how she'd had a lot of questions and then felt she needed to reread it and she figured it out! She is learning so much and doing so well in her Spiritual Progression! I just love her so much! Then we went to Sister Elliot's house and she took us to see Michael. We hadn't seen him in ages since he's been sick, but we finally got back in touch with him and it was so good! Then we went to visit a former named Alex who had invited us back. He basically just told us this time he wasn't interested and was too busy. Oh well. Then we went to tea at the Fox's and helped her put some things together for the Branch Nativity Program.

Friday was short. After weekly planning and lunch, we went to Josephine's to do some service. We learned how to make cheese cake. It was amazing. Just trying to figure out what the American equivalent of double cream is...but it's all good! Then we went out to do some quick shopping. We are doing a zone P-day on Monday and we all got assignments to cook something. So we had to go get ingredients and hope we have time to make what we're supposed to. Don't laugh mom, but we are in charge of Sweet Potatoes...yeah, I know you're laughing. We're also in charge of cookies because apparently my cocoa cookies are Mission famous now and everyone wants to try some. But the elders are in charge of gravy. Because that seems like a fair trade. Ok so anyways, we went to tea at the Harvey's and then had a lesson with Jane and Andy and their granddaughters. We taught about the armor of God and did an object lesson with oranges and water. It was really funny because afterwards, she said she was afraid when she saw the bowl of water because she thought we were gonna try and baptize her since she'd been to church on Sunday. We had a good laugh about that and it was a great opportunity to explain how and why we actually get baptized.

Saturday we left after personal study and caught the bus to Horncastle to try by some less actives and formers. It was crazy because we were the only ones on the bus and the driver looked so shocked to see us getting on the bus. Horncastle is kinda a retirement community, so I'm sure there's rarely ever any teenagers who get on. Anyways, we tried by everybody, but nobody was in. So we went to a little café and had lunch and then went to catch the bus. Then we sat on the bus again and were supposed to meet up with Sam at the bus stop. But he didn't show up. Again. So we celebrated Sister Tautkus' official one month mark in the field with a donut from Greggs. So we went in after that for an hour and did Area Book Finding. Which again was just putting people into the app. Then we had tea with the Dodds and came in for companionship Study and 12 weeks!

Sunday. I love Sundays. We had church, next week is our Stake Conference and so church will be later and they announced "so that means everyone gets a lay-in, unless you're a full-time missionary, that is" so that was nice of them to remind us we don't get to sleep in... it anyways, church was really great! We came home and had lunch and then I made like 60 cocoa cookies, including shaping some like a 16 since it's Ben's birthday on Tuesday! Then we went over to Ben and Josephine's to watch the Joseph Smith movie. I loved the last line "we don't have to see him to know he's a prophet." Like wow. That was such a great closing! So we had a good discussion on that and he enjoyed his cookies. Then we went to Jackie's and talked to her about doing service. So that was fun! Then we came in, made tea and sweet potatoes, then did 12 Weeks. It was a stressful evening, but we got it all done!

Today we cleaned and did shopping right away and then did our studies on the bus to Hull so we could make it to the zone Thanksgiving Party. I'll fill you in on how it goes next week :) but the elders messed up the gravy.

My Spiritual thought this week comes from President Eyring's talk: Happiness for Those we Love. "We also know that maintaining happiness is not easy unless, as with the Nephites after the Savior's visit, 'The Love of God' dwells in our hearts." When we feel the Love of God, we are never the same again. The love of God is what binds us to Him. And most importantly, as we emulate His love in our lives, we become more like Him and have a greater capacity to do His work and see others as He sees them.

I love you all!

Sister Hope

From New Companions to Lessons with President -- November 14, 2016

Hello one and all! I am so excited to be able to email! It seems like ages ago that we had a break! So as I announced last week, I am training! I found out last Sunday and so Sister Manning and I spent Monday saying goodbye to people and then spent the night in Grimsby.

Tuesday was a whirlwind. So we woke up around 5 and pushed Sister Manning's suitcases to the train station so she could catch her 6:28 train...so then I was with the two Grimsby sisters, who were also both leaving. So we pushed their luggage to the bus stop and we caught the bus to Hull. We got to Hull and had a mini breakfast with the sisters there and Sister Jäger and I caught the train to Leeds. She left to go to her area and I joined some other Sisters there and we waited for the rest of the party to arrive! So there were 8 new missionaries coming in, so once all 8 of us trainers were there, we caught a bus to the chapel where we had instruction on training in the primary room and then we went into the chapel and waited for the new stars to come in. They filed in and we had a mini get to know you meeting where they came and introduced themselves and said where they're from and then Elder Jackson announced who their trainers were. I am training Sister Tautkus, who just so happens to be like my third cousin twice removed or something crazy like that. Our family history consultant couldn't figure it out. But my Aunt is her mom's cousin...anyways so we got to know each other and we went to a beautiful mountain to dedicate our missions. This is something new that President Turvey has started for us to go up and say a prayer as a companionship to dedicate ourselves to the mission and to Christ's work. Then he bought us ice cream! I mean, we could see our breath, but why not?!? So we went back and got her luggage and then caught the train. We wound up having to spend the night in Hull with the sisters there because the train got there just in time to miss the bus to Grimsby. But that was actually a blessing because it turned out, I had accidentally left my overnight bag in Hull since I had been helping another sister with her luggage and my bag was sitting on top of her case for easier carrying...so I got my bag back! No worries!

Wednesday we woke up around 5 again to catch the bus. We barely missed it, so we had to sit in the bus station for about an hour. So we did personal study there. I really hope you guys are picking up on the fact the busses aren't very well timed in our favour. Anyways, it was smooth sailing from there. We got to Louth in the afternoon, had lunch, companion study, and 12 weeks. Then we did minimal shopping and met a few members before tea with Keeley. Keeley is the less active we met last week who invited us over for tea. And guess what?!? Her boyfriend wants to take the discussions! He said he's just curious...but we all know that's where it starts! So hopefully things will work out there. Then we had missionary correlation and branch council meetings. Which I kinda felt bad about because Sister Tautkus had no idea who any of the people we were talking about were. But she will by next time!

Thursday we woke up early again and went to District Meeting. District meeting got changed due to the Zone Leaders wanting to come, but again, that turned out to be a blessing because we missed the bus on Wednesday...so cool thing! Our new District Leader was my District Leader in my first transfer! So that is pretty cool! We've decided we're basically the Arizona District because he's from Mesa, his companion in from Phoenix, and I'm from Queen Creek! The other three people aren't from Arizona, but half is pretty good! So then we talked to people on the bus, and Sister Tautkus and I handed out our first Book of Mormon! Then we had lunch and began teaching! We went to visit Jackie and then Josephine and then practiced street contacting before going over to Sister Stephenson's house for tea. Then we went in for twelve weeks and planning!

Friday was pretty short. We had a flat inspection in the middle of companionship Study and so we had to finish companion study afterwards, then we weekly planning and lunch. So literally our entire morning was taken up.  So we went into town and did some service for Sister Stephenson. She needed some gallon jugs moved upstairs, so we did that for her and then caught the bus to go to tea at the Harvey's. Then we came back to Louth and we had a lesson with Jane and Andy. Oh and it was also my six month mark! Crazy days! I've been out for a third of my mission! It doesn't even seem possible!

Saturday was really the first normal day we had. We went to town after studies and did Mormon.org time and then came back for lunch. Then we tried by a few people who weren't in (story of our life) and began
knocking. We met some not so nice people and then went to get a pastry to celebrate my six month mark since we didn't get to the day before. We continued street contacting and trying by people and then went in to do Area Book Finding (which basically just means we put Formers into the app for an hour) and then went out. We tried by one more person, and he was in! So we set a return appointment and then went for tea at the Wilsons and then did 12 Weeks.

Sunday was Remembrance Day, which is the equivalent to our Veterans' Day. So we went to church and President and Sister Turvey were there to speak to the branch. They spoke on gratitude and, of course, missionary work. Then we taught Gospel Principles and had relief society. There was a "Linger Longer" afterwards where we had food and spoke to everybody. A great miracle that happened was a Sister brought one of her friends and he said he wants to learn more! So we're just praying we can get over to his house soon. He lives kinda far away, but I know the Lord will provide. Then President and Sister Turvey joined us for a lesson with Ben. We re-taught The Restoration and it was so good! He definitely felt the Spirit and said he wanted to recommit to meeting with us more often! So that's some good news! Then we had another lesson with Jackie and read the story of the Brother of Jared with her and talked about prayer. Then we walked down to the library and synced our iPads to the church server so they had our key indicators. It looked so sketchy. Obviously the library was closed at that point, so we were just standing outside, using the wifi, no big deal. Then we came in and made Sweet and Sour Chicken for dinner. It was amazing. Then we had 12 Weeks, planned, and began cleaning up dinner!

Today has been pretty fast paced. We woke up, exercised, cleaned, got ready for the day, studied, shopped, and went to Grimsby. We have exchange tomorrow and then Zone Training Wednesday. So yeah, it has been crazy.

My spiritual thought comes from the talk "Lest Thou Forget": "I encourage you now, to recall, especially in times of crisis, when you felt the Spirit and your testimony was strong; remember the spiritual foundations you have built. I promise that if you will do this, avoiding things that do not build and strengthen your testimony or that mock your beliefs, those precious times when your testimony prospered will return again to your memory through humble prayer and fasting. I assure you that you will once again feel the safety and warmth of the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Love you all!

Sister Hope