July 4, 2016
Hiya!!!
Colchester---super different from lea valley. At night I can even hear the clock ticking. It is so quiet. And by ticking I mean for one or two clicks and then I'm out cold. Sleep is greatly appreciated here.
I haven't told too much about my area. It is a car area and we are with another pair of sisters and elders. Lots of English humour here
with all the families. We live at the uni. Although it is summer break
and the campus is empty. The town is pretty small but now I see
nature! Seeing green is always a bonus.
Colchester is filled with English families. Really kind. Of course the
occasional African, and I try to grab hold of them because they are
the best. Late to appointments and struggle with understanding the
priesthood--but hey you gotta love them. So far we have been meeting a
lot of agnostic people.
Finding is very different from Lea Valley. In Lea Valley there were
hundreds of people you could talk to every day. Here there are a lot
fewer. Although Sister Guimaraes said this area was huge because she
came from even a smaller area. I don't know what I'll do if I go to a
smaller area than this. But we need to try different techniques. We
have tried finding through members and will continue to do so. It is
hit and miss though. Finding, by the way, is the very best. Especially
because when they are the only ones on the street they feel super
obligated to talk to you. Perfect ☺️. Sister Guimaraes and I made it a
goal to find two potential investigators every day. Which means find
two new people and a way to contact them (either number or address) so
far we have found 57 people. Ya Sister Guimaraes likes finding. So
cool!! It is super interesting what people believe. Those poor souls--
some of them are super confused. You get into really deep
philosophical discussions and it is so clear that the person has no
idea what they are talking about. Bless them, they just have no idea.
Simple doctrine can get very skewed at times. One of the girls who is
investigating now is named Isioma. She is from Nigeria and is studying
atthe university. She has been taught that the only purpose we have
on earth is to worship God and that all God does is punish us if we do
something wrong. Can you imagine if that was true? Oh that would be so
hard. But it's the exact opposite because God loves us indescribably
much(I don't know if that wording works 😳). We get to teach her that
God does love her and has a plan for her!!!! YES. ❤️❤️❤️
I might've mentioned before, but we kind of only had one friend that
we were meeting with after Alvin's baptism and the rest of our
teaching pool was a little bit empty. But we have continued dropping
those who are not progressing and trusting that the Lord will place
those that are ready in our path. This past week we had a lot of
appointments with potentials and a couple fell through and a couple
worked-although everyone seems to have concerns. (Man, who doesn't
smoke in England). And this week we have 14 appointments set up!!!!
And around half are with actual investigators!!! Yay!!!! So pray that
we can extend baptism dates like mad!!
Main investigator--
Nish (from India and is 26 yrs old. I'll send a pic later) she is
progressing!!! Wow I might've doubted her a little but she is doing
super good. She came to church and loved it. Yay! Her date is
scheduled for July 30th. She just needs to stop drinking coffee. We
are teaching her the word of wisdom tomorrow so please pray for us.
Also she can't understand how God can be her Heavenly Father. If you
have any insights on how to teach this please let me know.
Something really neat I have noticed lately...
I can feel my motives start to change. Without realising it I am
becoming more focused on people and less focused on numbers. This is
happening for a number of reasons. Low numbers for a couple of weeks,
a righteous, hard working companion, and just the time spent out in the
mission field. It is really really neat. I want someone to church not
because we need another investigator at church because I know that
going to church brings peace and answers. It's amazing!!! They will be
so much happier if they come and their week will undoubtedly be better
because of it.
Reading Be Do Become has been great and we had a FANTASTIC training by Elder Kearon--our area seventy. Oh my goodness I can't even explain it
was amazing. So many spiritual experiences and so much revelation--it
is ridiculous. (Ps I had a personal interview with Elder Kearon after
the meeting. He was great. We took a picture after. I'm sure the
Pingree's told you about it. Don't worry I told him that the Pingrees
were almost as good as our family...just kidding! But he and his
family love the Pingree's) Oh my days it was amazing. Each day there
is someone that is ready to be baptised. There is someone whom the Lord
has prepared that will be in our path. Our path that very day!! HOW
AMAZING!!! So of course we will want to talk to people in the bus and
on the way--because they might just be that person! And they really
will be so much happier not only today but FOREVER!! Oh my days it's
amazing. Really has got a lot of spiritual power behind it doesn't it?
Speaking of spiritual power--being exactly obedient does work absolute
wonders. Mom that was some stellar advice. Sister Guimaraes is
incredibly obedient. Rules I didn't even know I was breaking are now
being kept. And I have never felt so close to the spirit in my life.
Sometimes we can't even get through hymns because the words are SO
powerful. Wow it is breathtaking. And I know it is because we are
exactly obedient and I know there is power in it. I know we bring a
better spirit and I know we are able to recognise the spirit better.
How incredible it is that we can listen to someone and know what to
say or know what they need most?! Certainly nowhere near perfect in
this category, but Heavenly Father is certainly teaching me the power
that is behind obedience.
I know that prayers bring answers. Not always the answer you want--but
certainly the ones you need. And careful praying for patience or
humility. Just a forewarning. And sometimes the hard times seem to
last forever. Or at least a really long time. And then an incredible
miracle comes. And you think okay, of course I will endure hard times
because the Lord is building us in an amazing way. And although the
time may seem long and hard, it is so short once you see why or
recognise the miracle. Once in perspective it doesn't seem like any
time of hardship passed--but the result is glorious and changing.
Wow I love missions. I can't wait for you kids to go on one. You are
going to LOVE it.
Okay, just the gospel of Jesus Christ in general. It's amazing. It's so
beyond true it is ridiculous. It is life changing. It is powerful. The
Lord really knows who we are and most importantly, who he wants us to
become. What can I say....THE CHURCH IS TRUE. So keep going and keep
enjoying life and family and friends. And enjoy this gospel! You do so
I'm not too worried. LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!
Thanks!!!!!
Sister Soulier :)
Hiya!!!
Colchester---super different from lea valley. At night I can even hear the clock ticking. It is so quiet. And by ticking I mean for one or two clicks and then I'm out cold. Sleep is greatly appreciated here.
I haven't told too much about my area. It is a car area and we are with another pair of sisters and elders. Lots of English humour here
with all the families. We live at the uni. Although it is summer break
and the campus is empty. The town is pretty small but now I see
nature! Seeing green is always a bonus.
Colchester is filled with English families. Really kind. Of course the
occasional African, and I try to grab hold of them because they are
the best. Late to appointments and struggle with understanding the
priesthood--but hey you gotta love them. So far we have been meeting a
lot of agnostic people.
Finding is very different from Lea Valley. In Lea Valley there were
hundreds of people you could talk to every day. Here there are a lot
fewer. Although Sister Guimaraes said this area was huge because she
came from even a smaller area. I don't know what I'll do if I go to a
smaller area than this. But we need to try different techniques. We
have tried finding through members and will continue to do so. It is
hit and miss though. Finding, by the way, is the very best. Especially
because when they are the only ones on the street they feel super
obligated to talk to you. Perfect ☺️. Sister Guimaraes and I made it a
goal to find two potential investigators every day. Which means find
two new people and a way to contact them (either number or address) so
far we have found 57 people. Ya Sister Guimaraes likes finding. So
cool!! It is super interesting what people believe. Those poor souls--
some of them are super confused. You get into really deep
philosophical discussions and it is so clear that the person has no
idea what they are talking about. Bless them, they just have no idea.
Simple doctrine can get very skewed at times. One of the girls who is
investigating now is named Isioma. She is from Nigeria and is studying
atthe university. She has been taught that the only purpose we have
on earth is to worship God and that all God does is punish us if we do
something wrong. Can you imagine if that was true? Oh that would be so
hard. But it's the exact opposite because God loves us indescribably
much(I don't know if that wording works 😳). We get to teach her that
God does love her and has a plan for her!!!! YES. ❤️❤️❤️
I might've mentioned before, but we kind of only had one friend that
we were meeting with after Alvin's baptism and the rest of our
teaching pool was a little bit empty. But we have continued dropping
those who are not progressing and trusting that the Lord will place
those that are ready in our path. This past week we had a lot of
appointments with potentials and a couple fell through and a couple
worked-although everyone seems to have concerns. (Man, who doesn't
smoke in England). And this week we have 14 appointments set up!!!!
And around half are with actual investigators!!! Yay!!!! So pray that
we can extend baptism dates like mad!!
Main investigator--
Nish (from India and is 26 yrs old. I'll send a pic later) she is
progressing!!! Wow I might've doubted her a little but she is doing
super good. She came to church and loved it. Yay! Her date is
scheduled for July 30th. She just needs to stop drinking coffee. We
are teaching her the word of wisdom tomorrow so please pray for us.
Also she can't understand how God can be her Heavenly Father. If you
have any insights on how to teach this please let me know.
Something really neat I have noticed lately...
I can feel my motives start to change. Without realising it I am
becoming more focused on people and less focused on numbers. This is
happening for a number of reasons. Low numbers for a couple of weeks,
a righteous, hard working companion, and just the time spent out in the
mission field. It is really really neat. I want someone to church not
because we need another investigator at church because I know that
going to church brings peace and answers. It's amazing!!! They will be
so much happier if they come and their week will undoubtedly be better
because of it.
Reading Be Do Become has been great and we had a FANTASTIC training by Elder Kearon--our area seventy. Oh my goodness I can't even explain it
was amazing. So many spiritual experiences and so much revelation--it
is ridiculous. (Ps I had a personal interview with Elder Kearon after
the meeting. He was great. We took a picture after. I'm sure the
Pingree's told you about it. Don't worry I told him that the Pingrees
were almost as good as our family...just kidding! But he and his
family love the Pingree's) Oh my days it was amazing. Each day there
is someone that is ready to be baptised. There is someone whom the Lord
has prepared that will be in our path. Our path that very day!! HOW
AMAZING!!! So of course we will want to talk to people in the bus and
on the way--because they might just be that person! And they really
will be so much happier not only today but FOREVER!! Oh my days it's
amazing. Really has got a lot of spiritual power behind it doesn't it?
Speaking of spiritual power--being exactly obedient does work absolute
wonders. Mom that was some stellar advice. Sister Guimaraes is
incredibly obedient. Rules I didn't even know I was breaking are now
being kept. And I have never felt so close to the spirit in my life.
Sometimes we can't even get through hymns because the words are SO
powerful. Wow it is breathtaking. And I know it is because we are
exactly obedient and I know there is power in it. I know we bring a
better spirit and I know we are able to recognise the spirit better.
How incredible it is that we can listen to someone and know what to
say or know what they need most?! Certainly nowhere near perfect in
this category, but Heavenly Father is certainly teaching me the power
that is behind obedience.
I know that prayers bring answers. Not always the answer you want--but
certainly the ones you need. And careful praying for patience or
humility. Just a forewarning. And sometimes the hard times seem to
last forever. Or at least a really long time. And then an incredible
miracle comes. And you think okay, of course I will endure hard times
because the Lord is building us in an amazing way. And although the
time may seem long and hard, it is so short once you see why or
recognise the miracle. Once in perspective it doesn't seem like any
time of hardship passed--but the result is glorious and changing.
Wow I love missions. I can't wait for you kids to go on one. You are
going to LOVE it.
Okay, just the gospel of Jesus Christ in general. It's amazing. It's so
beyond true it is ridiculous. It is life changing. It is powerful. The
Lord really knows who we are and most importantly, who he wants us to
become. What can I say....THE CHURCH IS TRUE. So keep going and keep
enjoying life and family and friends. And enjoy this gospel! You do so
I'm not too worried. LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!
Thanks!!!!!
Sister Soulier :)
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