Miracle of epic proportions!

When teaching investigators, remember to avoid deep doctrine, feed them milk before you give them meat, even when as a baby, they want their bacon first! My favorite quote so far from General Conference is, of course, from Elder Holland. "When the bitter cup does not pass...DRINK IT!" So powerful!!!! I don't really have any good teaching experiences from this week, but I will tell you a miracle of epic proportions!

 

      We just got new Elders serving in our ward in Hedge End, which is a part of our area, so we are currently trying to figure out how to split the area the best. One of the missionaries is just 3 or so months in, and the other is brand new, straight out of the MTC, so we decided to pull a little prank. MUHAHAHAHAHAHA! We asked James and Julie Edwards if they would like to have a little fun with the new missionaries. They, of course, said yes. We called the Hedge End Elders on their first day in the area to give them some referrals. One of them was a true referral, for a potential investigator that we met. And the other was the Edwards, who are ward missionaries! We told them that we met this strange, but very promising couple. We told them their address, and gave them the names James and Julie Edwards. We told them that we had knocked on their door, and that they were excited to meet again. We emphasized how important it was, and that we had a specific appointment set for Friday at 7 pm! They went, and the Edwards did what anyone who had the opportunity to be fake investigators. They TORE THEM APART! They offered them coffee, tea, and beer. They asked crazy questions, they bashed a little, and then all of a sudden they started to be really interested, and were asking all of the right questions, and being what we would call "Golden Investigators." Then they revealed that they were actually members of the ward, and in fact ward missionaries. It was a good laugh for them all! Then they had about 15 min before the bus came, so James went to go knocking with them. They didn't even get to the road they wanted to knock, when they met this lady in the street. The lady said, you're Mormons right? they responded "yes!" She broke down in tears and said that they were exactly who she needed to see, and started talking about how poorly her life is going, and that she knows meeting them in the street tonight was exactly what was supposed to happen, and that they were truly sent by god to be in this place at this time! Elder Clark, the trainer, bore testimony that God loves her, and knows her situation. They talked further about God's love, and then Brother James Edwards gave a powerful bold prayer, which basically said that he was happy for her, and the choices that she is going to soon make, and that she will soon be happier than ever before, for she has found the truth. She cried more and said thank you. She gave them her address with a return appointment for Tuesday (tomorrow)! THE LORD WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS!

Josh is doing pretty well. He went to every session of General Conference, and he enjoyed it! He is really happy. He told us that now that he has the gift of the Holy Ghost, his happiness level is way higher than it was previously! M____ is doing well also. She has her baptismal date for the 19th, and she is getting so excited. She doesn't show it when we are around, but her mom says it is all she talks about, and she has been talking with her friends and teachers about the church a lot! 

  

I haven't seen any Reisens anywhere but European chocolate is cheap here, and it is soooooo good! I am lucky. I do miss US candies, but only the fruity ones. Fruity gummy candies are kind of rubbish here. What I have been craving though, is unhealthy 'Murican Captain Crunch. There is only one place to get it here. It is only found in a candy shop called "Americandy," and it is super expensive! Bacon, unfortunately is quite expensive, and we are already eating enough fattening food, so Butter Bacon Pasta is a no go. I have thought about it a lot though! English pumpkin pie doesn't exist, because no one here likes it. 

 

I wish to know what happened to our football team. They are not supposed to be winning! You are seeing more miracles than I am! 

  

I always have fun with the brits, especially when they give me their best "smile" when I say hello. Never stop having fun!

 

Here are a few photos. One of them is of a picture frame that Tina gave me (Elder Mannucci got one too)! I just have to get some photos for it.

 

 

 The other two are of this dope footpath shortcut that we took to get to the bishop's house faster! The footpath was on the map, but it was hard to find. We were not expecting it to be so narrow!

 

 

 

General conference was EPIC, I love how President Monson said it was one of the most spiritual ones he has attended. We saw the sat morning one live at 5 pm on sat, and the priesthood one recorded at 10 am on Sunday. Then we saw a recording of the sat afternoon one on sun at 1 pm, and the live Sunday morning one at 5 pm. We didn't get to see the Sunday afternoon session, so if there is anything cool, let me know! I remember how back at home conference was easy to sleep during, and it always seemed so long. This time, I was like what, that was the last talk?! What, its over?! 

 

Alan Peak is the new ward mission leader here!  The new missionaries got here on Wed. and they are great! Our district lost two missionaries from the same area in Southampton. The area was whitewashed. Also we no longer have Winchester, which was sisters, because our district got split because they opened two new areas! Our district is now comprised of 8 elders plus the zone leaders! That makes ten elders serving in the two wards in Southampton. Imagine having ten missionaries for just Columbia falls and whitefish!