Mission Adventures in England Birmingham: Week 46: A day of missionary work.

Hello world!

Well this week was definitely jam packed full of fun. Sister Thomson and I have been having the time of our lives, and it is going by so fast! There is too much to write, so I'll just give you the highlights.

Highlight 1: We got to travel to a part of Birmingham this week as a whole mission for a conference. It was amazing and uplifting, and we definitely learned a lot. Brother Allen (who is over missionary work of the entire church) came to speak and it was awesome. Turns out he is pretty hilarious, but also knows how to get the point across. It was basically all about using technology wisely and becoming better missionaries. Our mission should be getting ipads soon, so that will definitely be a big change. One of my favourite things he said: "Just changing doesn't involve the Saviour, repentance involves the Saviour while changing. That's the difference."

Highlight 2: We have been teaching one of our investigators named Joyce for 2 weeks now, and we taught her about the word of wisdom (no coffee, tea, alcohol, tobacco, drugs.. unhealthy stuff). In the next lesson we followed up and she said "Oh, yes of course I've stopped drinking coffee." She also had some doubts come up about baptism. She was worried that her date was too early, and that she wouldn't feel ready. We encouraged her that she would be, and asked her to pray about it. The next time we saw her she said she had prayed about baptism and that all of her doubts and fears just left her mind! She is definitely elect.

Highlight 3: We got to have dinner with some of my favourite families. They will remain nameless, because I love everyone.. but honestly food is the way to a missionaries heart! Especially if it is gluten free :) and if it is hot chocolate.

Highlight 4: I got to go on exchange with Sister Beck! She is an adorable girl from Riverton, Utah. We had an awesome time together, and had a cool miracle happen. We had just finished a lesson in the morning and our other appointment was just about to show up. We were standing at the stairs to the library, when suddenly this lady came up to us and asked if we were busy. We explained that we were waiting for a friend. This lady then told us how she was a less active member of the church, and she had a strong desire to come back into the gospel. Her name is Kelly. We then invited her to stake conference that night, and exchanged information and then went to go teach our other investigator. Later that night at the adult session of stake conference, Kelly was there! It was amazing. We spoke to her after and she said that she really felt the spirit. Amazing how the Lord puts people in our path.

Highlight 5: We had Stake Conference and Elder Herbertson (of the quorum of the 70) came and spoke. It was awesome. On the Sunday morning session of it, he spoke about being on the straight and narrow path. The straight and narrow path being the way back to God. He made 4 points about it. 1- It doesn't matter how fast or how far along the path we are, as long as we are on the path and moving. 2- It doesn't matter how we are on the path compared to other people. Each of our lives are different, and comparing ourselves to other people never does us any good. 3- If we fall off the path, it's ok, we just need to get back on the path. Sometimes I think we think if we mess up, we're done for, but that's the whole reason Jesus Christ came to the earth for, to help us get back on and stay on the path. 4- If we see our loved ones who have fallen off, the best way to help them is not to jump off the path and stay with them. The best way to help them is to keep moving forward ourselves, it's kinda like the whole 'you can't save someone who is drowning if you don't know how to swim' thing. Overall, it was an awesome conference.

OH. And we also taught someone who I am convinced is a pirate.. he had only one eye and dreadlocks and wore a bandanna and used to be at the head of 2 gangs and would have them fight each other. Good thing this guy figured his life out in prison and came to Jesus otherwise it would've been pretty dodgy to teach him :)

That's about all I've got for the week, but I love being a missionary! It gets better and better. Things are great. Keep it real.

Much love,

Sister Slack