November 29, 2015

I'm just going to start off this update with the statement that this week was AWESOME! We have seen miracles and more and more progression with our work here.  Hard work really does pay off! It is so incredible!

MONDAY was P-Day! No surprise there, but, we did teach 'N'! We have been teaching her every day and she loves it.  Today she was taught the Word of Wisdom and she committed to live it right on the spot.  It was awesome.  She is progressing so well!  We are still debating on whether or not to move her date up, but both Elder Allred and I want to make sure she is 110% ready to be baptized.  We are still in shock.  People this prepared don't happen.  So we need to verify that we aren't really dreaming.  Indeed in the vernacular of today's youth, "It was awesome!"  But later that day we went over and read 3 Nephi 11 to Sister Walsh.  She really enjoyed it.  The part we focus on in when the Savior invited all the Nephites, one by one, to come and feel the prints in His hands and feet and to thrust their hands into his side.  The same thing happens today.  He does not invite only one or a few to partake of his goodness and to find out that He lives, but He invites us all, one by one, to come and feel of His goodness and love and mercy.  And that is a wonderful, wonderful thing!  

We then headed home and hit the hay.

 At the Johnsons after their son's mission farewell.  He's serving in the London England Mission

 Hard at work studying!

Elder Allred taking a little cat nap after all the chapping!

TUESDAY-was pretty great.  We had District Meeting, which is always good.  This was the first District Meeting we had this transfer.  Elder White is our new district leader and he had some great ways of teaching.  The meeting was truly Spirit led, and it enlightened us all! We learned so much and answered questions.  District Meetings are always great.  Then afterward, we went to Subway, as per tradition, and got some lunch.  Elder Allred and Elder White traveled to Portadown, and Elder Plewe and I were left to convert Lisburn.  It was a day filled with finding and chapping, and not many people were too chuffed to see us, but we smile and say our bit and them invite them to action.  We got one potential as well!  She is a Polish lady named 'M'.  She was really nice, but also busy and we only had a few seconds to get her information.  But we will be trying by her soon!  We then went chapping and GQ-ing for the remainder of the day.  Fruitless, but fun.

WEDNESDAY- was pretty great.  Really the only thing I want to focus on is the fact that we taught 'N' again, and this time it was the Law of Chastity and the Law of Tithing and the Law of the Fast. And she accepted all 3! It was incredible! All three without question or complaint!  She said that God wanted her to do it, so she would.  After Elder Allred and myself had closed our jaws, we went out chapping on a spiritual high! And let me tell you, it was awesome!  But, people don't really wanna talk when it's dark outside, even if it is only 5 o'clock.  But oh well.  The work will go on!

 THANKSGIVING 2015 at the JOHNSONS

THURSDAY- We all know about Thursday or should I say, Turkey Day!!  It was pretty great.  'N' has finished all her lessons, so we decided to watch Prophet of the Restoration with more detail and doctrine. And that was a spiritual home run.  If any of you have not seen the Prophet of the Restoration, I would encourage you to go watch it.  It is so good!  The lessons was so spiritual and 'N' loved it!  After the lesson, we headed up to the Johnsons to have ourselves a Thanksgiving dinner!  It was pretty fantastic!  The turkey was good, and they also made cornbread and stuffing and potatoes (which I didn't partake of) and all other kinds of food.  It was awesome!  I was happy to have Thanksgiving, but unfortunately, it is not a holiday here, so we don't get it off.  We still had to go finding for 2 more hours after dinner.  That was awesome on full stomachs! Yee haw!!

FRIDAY- was a straight up full day of finding.  Really nothing to report.  Just talked to a ton of people and carried the work forward.

SATURDAY- was pretty good.  We had coordination, and then we had our usual meeting with 'T'.  We showed him the "Bearing our Burdens with Hope" Mormon Message.  It was really good.  Then after 'T', we went home for lunch and planned our next move.  We decided to go finding until we were to meet Sister Kirkpatrick at the Galley for dinner!  OOOOOOHHHHHH THE GALLEY!!!! It's pretty great!  She also took us out to an ice cream parlor for dessert.  WOOHOO!!!  

After that, we headed across town to go visit a part member family and we got there right when they were setting up their Christmas tree so it was pretty fun to see that.  We left the 3 Nephi 11 message with them and made our way back home.

Chatting with the Youth in the Lisburn Ward

SUNDAY- was great! We had 'N' and her friend 'S' at church and we taught them the detailed Plan of Salvation lesson afterward.  It was a dang good lesson.  Then we headed over to the Jacksons for lunch and they had roast beef and yorkshire pudding with sweet potatoes that were fantastic!!  So awesome!!  The Jacksons are the best!  

Then we traveled down to another less active's home in a freezing rain storm and he wasn't home so that was awful.  Then we went home, I put on my onesie and went to bed!

My Ponderizing Scripture:

Jacob 4:11

Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto him through the Atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son, and ye may obtain a resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ, and be presented as the first fruits of Christ unto God, having faith and obtained a good hope of glory in him before he manifesteth himself in the flesh.

Talk to you all soon!

-Elder Mickelsen