Mid-May Memories & Missisonaries

ENGLAND BIRMINGHAM MISSION MISSIONARIES

Full of Faith, Diligently Working, Obedient

Elder Bearnson, AP

Elders Wark and Walker in Swindon

I loved it when we inspected this missionary flat in Bridgend.

They have prayer mats beside their beds

so they can pray as long as they want to.

Elders Patterson & Bodily in Bridgend

Sisters Stillman, McGarvey and Mitte GQing at the bus stop

in front of the Church in Rwibina

Elders Wark, Larsen, Weeks and Moffet in Swindon

Elder Wright in Yate

Elders Wright and Israelsen in Yate

Elders Gerber and Wood in Cardiff

President Moffat - Last Companionship Standing

(Or how well do you know PMG?)

Elder Bearnson, Jack Kirby, Elders White and Brower

Elders Heller and Hickman in Blackwood Gwent

Elder Mackay in Newport

(and finally a spotless flat there)

It is hard to believe that we have already served one-third of our mission. We have had such incredible experiences and met so many amazing people who have enriched our lives. We only have one more Institute class to teach, then we start our summer program which will be much more relaxed (hopefully some will be at the beach) and they will be taught by the students themselves from April's Conference talks. I am so looking forward to it. Starting in September we will be studying the Book of Mormon and we are so excited. 

Keerqin Ji has returned to China, but she sent me an email in response to my promise, "Stay close to your Heavenly Father and you will be happy." She said, "I will always remember the promise I have made with Heavenly Father."  No finer words could have been said. We will miss her. 

Keerqin Ji and Sean (Chen Chen)

Zone Conference was an especially spiritual, motivating experience. The missionaries are so good and the feeling in the room was extra special. President Moffat, when speaking to them, said something I had not thought about before, "Right now, as you serve a mission, you are probably living the law of consecration as closely as you ever will in this life. You are out here for two years doing what the Lord would do if He were here." "Make it a celestial mission. There is no greater privilege than bearing testimony of Jesus Christ." He then went on to say, with great emotion, "There used to be things I wanted in life, but all I want now is for you missionaries to find people."   

Missionary Missionaries

Keergin Ji and Elder Cable

I've mentioned that we have been told not to look to the "missionaries" to do things when we meet people. In fact, we have been told, "You are the missionaries." Well Saturday we felt a little more like we actually were missionaries. I went with Sisters Morris and Martinec to teach the second lesson to Raymond, a Jehovah Witness, in his early 60s, I would guess. He was so nice and though he wanted to talk about so many other things off the subject, he did agree with what we taught him about The Restoration. He said, "I'm not going to tell people in our congregation yet because I don't want to upset or offend anyone, but when I am a Mormon then I can let them know gradually. When Sister Morris told him about the First Vision he said, "Isn't that lovely. Joseph Smith. I will have to remember his name. Maybe I will put it on a piece of paper and tape it to the wall. He is important." I truly enjoy going teaching with the missionaries and it was great to be able to add my testimony to the things they were teaching Raymond. He said the prayer at the end of the lesson. Very sweet. 

Sister Martinec, Keergin Ji, Sister Morris

In the evening we went to the baptism of Keergin Ji, a YSA age Chinese student. Jack Kirby came and Raymond came, as well as many, many of our Institute students and several from the Ward. It was a beautiful evening, filled with the Spirit. One of our students, Jess Witt, spoke on baptism and I spoke on the Holy Ghost. And Wayne was honored to do the baptizing. It was a lovely evening. Keergin was so happy to be baptized and has such a pure radiance about her. 

Jack Kirby is still being "persecuted" by members of his former congregation for joining the Church. Someone comes almost every day and tells him what a horrible thing he has done. They are mean about it. He said, "I don't understand. They didn't pay any attention to me before I joined the Church so why are they spending so much time coming to tell me what a terrible thing I have done now that I have joined the Church." Kind of like Joseph Smith when he told the ministers of his First Vision. He wondered why so many people would be so upset with what he, a boy, said. Satan is still alive and well. 

Raymond came to Church today and I sat by him. After every hymn, every talk, everything that happened he would say, "That's lovely." He asked me while the sacrament was being passed if it was okay for people to pray during this time. I said yes, so he bowed his head put his hands together and I could hear him say, "Dear Heavenly Father," and he continued to whisper a prayer. It was very sweet.