August 1, 2016

Got "Hump Day" Package from home!!

Sweet Sister Dunn hand delivered the package to the Elders and found them GQing in the Town Centre!

Well, this week was pretty good! Lots of travel! And some surprise interviews with the mission president! So that was really fun! All in all, Elder Richards and I have spent just about 10 hours on a train! So, that was intense! Speaking of intense, I have a joke for everybody! But I will tell it at the end! Anyway, I am gonna make this a bit of a short one, and eliminate all of the useless details! So here we go!

MONDAY - we had P-Day. Usual P-day stuff, nothing to crazy. Except for cleaning like crazy people. After that we taught a lesson to this couple named Vanessa and Billy. They are pretty great. The lesson got off to rocky start, and there were a ton of random distractions. They even had like, 12 hunting dogs in their backyard. And they don't have a backyard. They live in a "town house" in Northern Ireland. That essentially means that they DO NOT have space for that many dogs, but they have ‘em. So that was awesome. We had started to teach the Plan of Salvation, and once we got to earth life, we swapped to the Restoration. I had no idea why, so I kept trying to tie it in to the Plan of Salvation, but it was so rocky. But we did get invited back, and they did enjoy meeting with us. So that was good. The Spirit did its job. The messengers were a bit out of sync, but we pulled it together thankfully. So after we got home that night, the Zone Leaders called us and told us that we would have an interview with President Donaldson on Wednesday. That was unexpected. But everyone in our same District got the same call as well, so we were a bit confused.

TUESDAY- We had our DM, which was really good. We had a council session, and then we had a group discussion on the talk, "Following Christ to Victory" by Hartman Rector Jr. It was pretty good. It just talks about some of the basic principles of success and also how we can be the best we can be through Christ. After DM, we traveled back to Coleraine and did some finding. Pretty normal day.

WEDNESDAY - So, we go to Belfast in the morning for our interviews. And when we get there, President Donaldson and President Thompson were in the room speaking with the Zone Leaders, so we just did some extra studying while we waited. Once they were done, President Donaldson took Elder Richards, and President Thompson took me. And my interview went great. Turns out that they just wanted to meet with the missionaries in the Zone to see how we were doing since they don't get out to Ireland as much as they like and for as long as they like. After that, we went out to lunch with the Antrim Sisters and President Donaldson and President Thompson. We went and got fish and chips. So that was pretty fun. It was really great actually. Good way to spend the day. After that, we traveled home, and then we went to a restaurant with Sister Dunn. And that was awesome.

THURSDAY- We went and visited Trevor first thing in the morning, and that was pretty great. He is super solid. We read the Book of Mormon with him, and we showed him the Restoration video this time. So that was fun. Then we went back and went finding until we had to catch a train to go to Antrim so that Elder Richards could do some baptismal interviews. So we were in Antrim for a few hours. And then we went to Subway, and raced the train from Antrim to Ballymena. The member that gave us a lift was haulin’ butt. That drive is 20 minutes. He did it in 11. That was a tad bit scary.

FRIDAY - We went finding all day, but we did teach Jack. Jack is 8 and he really liked the Plan of Salvation.  His biggest concern is that he doesn't like water on his face. SO we are trying to help him cope. He also roasted me on his knowledge of Pokemon. That was ridiculous. After that, we went finding some more and we found a guy named Dean. We taught him the Restoration and he liked it, so we are gonna continue meeting up with him. Then we went to Ballymoney, and taught Alwayn. That was really good. We talked about Patriarchal blessings and a bit more about family history and the temple. So that was pretty great.

SATURDAY - We had our weekly planning in the morning, and then we taught Isobel. That was okay. She is doing allright. After we did that, we went finding for the rest of that day.

SUNDAY - We started off by going to the train station to pick up Trevor so we could walk to church together. And Kevin was there as well. I met Kevin almost 3 months ago. And we haven't really heard from him since. But all of a sudden, he just decided to come to church. SO that was flippin’ sweet! So we headed up to church, and got a lift at about the halfway point, and church was really good! I really enjoyed it. All the lessons were good. Trevor was participating and Kevin said he would like to meet up with us, but he just needs to check his schedule. So that was awesome! After church, we just went finding, and then up to visit Trevor again. He is getting into the Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon, so we are like his source of understanding. It was a good visit. Then we headed back for the night.

Well, that was the week! It was really good! It also flew by!!! We have seen the hand of the Lord this week! 

Here is the joke:

Did you ever hear the story about Abraham's life?? 

No? 

It was in-tents!!!!!! 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

I came up with that all by myself! 

Anyway, love you all!!!! Talk to you next week!

--

Till the Work is Done

- Elder Mickelsen

July 25, 2016

This week was pretty good! It was a bit slow, but we still enjoyed it! We had a lot of time to go finding, so that was pretty fun. This update might be a bit short, so we'll see how it goes!

Monday - was P-Day, so we did the usual thing. After we emailed, we went over to ASDA, and then we went with Gary to play Risk at the church. We also played a bit of footbal in the church parking lot. Nothing too strenuous, just some good fun. It was awesome! But after that, we headed over to family home evening, where we dominated the quiz again, so that was really baller! It was great! We have such a good time at Family Home Evening. It is a really good opportunity we have to build relationships with the members. So that was really fun.

Tuesday - we had DM, and it was sweltering outside! It was so hot! Like, not back home hot, or surface of the sun hot, but it was Irish hot. Which is pretty bad since we had about 95% humidity. So it was boderline awful. Luckily we were inside the church and on the train for the hottest part, but the rest of the day was really beautiful! So I enjoyed it thoroughly! We had a few try by's after DM, so we did those, and then a meeting that we were supposed to go to got cancelled, so we went finding. Then we went over to the church to teach James. We answered a lot of his questions, and he said he would follow through on his commitments. So it was a really solid lesson. We also set a record for riding our bikes from the church to the flat!! We did it in 6 mins!!! It was really great! My bike wouldn't shift though, so we are gonna try and get it faster this week! After that, we had some dinner and then headed to bed!

Wednesday - We taught Trevor in the morning, and that was really good! He also feed us a ton of food too!! Trevor is like the most solid, humble guy I have ever met! He is really good!!! The lesson went well. We read the Book of Mormon with him. After that, we pretty much went finding all day. We met some nice people! It has been really good!

Thursday - We did our Weekly Planning, and we set some goals! I am excited for these goals!!!! They are gonna be so great!!!!! We are gonna crush it this week!!! After that We did some finding for a few hours, and then went and visited John! So, that was awesome! We had a good chat, and then we gave him a blessing since he is leaving for Scotland in a few days, and that would be the last time we saw him. We also got some pictures with him, so that was awesome! After that, we went over to the church to teach the Book of Mormon class, but no one came since most everybody is on holiday. So, we filled out our progress report and then called it a day.

Friday - we went finding all day. We had intended to try by a less active, but he wasn't in, so we had more time for finding. That was awesome! We had a Bible bash with a drunk man. And we got out of it when I offered him a sandwhich and then he got mad and walked off saying that we weren't listening to him. There was this tractor show where all of these old guys on old tractors blazed into town playing oldies music and then they had a display for a bit, so that was really cool to see. They are not as cool looking as American tractors, but still good! As well as, a random Indian guy told Elder Richards that he shouldn't drink fizzy drinks because they are bad for you. Then he walked off. So that was really hilarious.

Saturday - We started off by going finding. And we got into a really long discussion with a member of the Vineyard church, who are really Born Again, and he was kind of bashing with us. So we talked to him for a bit, and then we did some finding. We then snagged some lunch, and went back out finding. Not much success there. But we did get a referral, but he wasn't in. So that was a bummer. But then we traveled out to Alwyn's house to teach him. It was a really good lesson. We have been really focusing on family history and temples with him, so it was really good. Alwyn is just a really good guy in general. So that was awesome! After that, we headed home for the night.

Sunday - We had church, which went well. Elder Richards and I blessed the Sacrament, and we also had a few visitors at church! No investigators, but it was nice to see more than 30 people at church. Sacrament meeting was good. It was all about making sure we are able and ready to share the gospel with others. Then we had Sunday School, and then priesthood. Andrew had me play The Spirit of God for the opening hymn so he wouldn't have to stretch his lesson too long, so that went alright. That was the first time I played that for people to sing to! After church, we did some area book finding and reorganizing, and then we went up to visit Trevor again. Super solid visit. I really enjoyed it. Then we returned home.

Well, sorry this week was kind of boring! Next week it will be better! Haha! I know that the Lord is in this work! I read this scripture this morning in studies, and I realized how true it is! It is when one of the leaders of the Sanhedrin tells the High Priests to leave the Apostles alone.

38: And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to naught:

39: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

This work is of God. Not of men. It will go forth, and nothing will get in its way. The designs and purposes of God will not be frustrated!

LOVE YOU ALL!

--Till the Work is Done

- Elder Mickelsen

July 18. 2016

Hello again everybody! This week has been pretty crazy! From staying in on Tuesday for safety, to receiving a testimony of Joseph Smith, to giving a little boy a mega blocks dragon! It has been great! Let's get right down to it.

Monday - was only half P-day, and we still had the Newtonabbey Elders with us. So we went to the Church and emailed there, and then we headed out on the town to do some finding. I spent the majority of the day with Elder Benton, and we had a lesson fall through. People were hurrying all over the place to get things ready for the 12th, so we had our work cut out for us. After finding for a bit, we snagged a really cheap football net, and then headed home since we had to be in at 6. It's bonfire night.

Tuesday - We got up at 630 and then we went outside and played some football. We had a 4 man free for all. It was pretty awesome! We played first one to 10, and obviously, I lost. It was between Elder Richards and Elder Sheils. It was pretty awesome! At the 9-9 tie breaker, Elder Richards nailed a longshot and exploded the goal. It literally fell to pieces. But, here's the catch, Elder Sheils ticked it before it went in, so technically it was Elder Sheils' point. But they settled it 9.5-9.5 and we headed in for studies. After our studies, we put on moustaches and dressed up like weirdos to play Monopoly. That was pretty fun. Then we went over to a member's house and played some Risk and had some lunch. Then after that, we went up to Sister Dunn's house and had dinner. It was fantastic. So much food. It was majestic, it was magnificent, it was GLORIOUS! And we had a nice lesson with Trevor since he was there as well. But the 12th was a pretty good day for us.

Wednesday - we were back at it. The Newtonabbey Elders headed back home first thing in the morning, and then we did a bit of housekeeping since the flat was in shambles. Then we headed out for the day. We taught Isobel. Which was awesome. She is only back from holiday for a few days, so we met up with her. Turns out she read the whole entire Book of Mormon while on holiday, and she said she really, really liked it. She said she is more convinced that Joseph Smith had divine help in bringing it about! So that was really great! We had to give her a bit of a quiz to make sure she read the whole thing, but she passed! So we were stoked out of our minds! It was really great! After that lesson, we met with a guy named David. He was found by the Sisters a few weeks back during the Coleraine blitz. He was really interested in learning about religion, and he doesn't come from a religious background himself, so he a really solid truth seeker. Our lesson was cut a bit short with him since he had to go suddenly, but we taught the Restoration to him. He liked it and we are set to meet him again this week. So that was really awesome.

Thursday - We headed out to Alwyn's house first thing to meet with him. We discussed temples. He is really excited about the temple and family history work, so that is what we have been focusing on with him. After Alwyn, we taught James. James is doing really good. We recommitted him to baptism at the end of July, and we taught him lesson 5. It was really solid. After that, we had another lesson with a guy named James. We met him at Costa, and he bought us some hot chocolate, and we talk about the church and stuff. He is the treasurer for the Presbyterian church, so we don’t really meet with him that often, but when we do, it is good. Then we headed home.

Friday - We taught Trevor in the morning, and that was really good. He fed us some lunch, and then we talked about the Book of Mormon with him. Trevor really likes the Book of Mormon. After that, we headed down to town to teach Isobel again before she leaves to Romania. That lesson went well. She is progressing nicely. Then we went over and saw John. John leaves soon for Scotland. So we give him the spiritual boost. He leaves this Sunday. After John we headed home for the night.

Saturday - We went finding all day and then we stopped by Tommy. He is doing well. Saturday was a relatively nice day, so that was a plus too. But nothing much really went on Saturday. We also had weekly planning that day, so that was good.

Sunday - Sunday was awesome. We had church, which was great, and then right after is when I gave a little boy a mega blocks dragon I had acquired earlier in my stay here for only a pound at Poundland. So I finally remembered to bring it to church and give it to him, and he loved it! So that was awesome! And then right after church, we taught James and showed him the Prophet of the Restoration video and then had a really good lesson with him. He now knows that Joseph Smith is more than just a man! So that was a really good lesson! Then after that, we had a try by, and she was pretty solid. Then we headed back for dinner, and called it a day.

Well, that was this week! It has been crazy! And we made up for some lost ground on Tuesday! It was really great! Everybody, stay strong in the faith! Every little thing, is gonna be alright! Love you all!

-Till the Work is Done!

-Elder Mickelsen

July 11, 2016

Well, this week has been pretty awesome! It has flown by and has had a lot happen! So I will just get right to it!

MONDAY - was P-Day, as well as INDEPENDENCE DAY! It was pretty great. Elder Richards and I went to this cafe in town to start off the morning and got a nice giant breakfast. There were these giant pancakes and hashbrowns and bacon and eggs. It was awesome! Not quite like home, but close enough! It was really great! After breakfast, we headed to the library, did our emailing things and then we walked around town trying to find a flag shop so we could snag and American flag, but our search yielded no fruit. And then from there we just went around town looking at the things that we really haven't noticed since we usually leave Coleraine on Mondays to go see stuff.

But the rest of the day was good. We had family home evening, but we got stuffed on the quiz. It was 3 vs. 5, so we were heavily outnumbered. But it was still a good time! Afterwards, we headed back to the flat and celebrated the 4th by throwing poppers on the ground! It was awesome! But there was something that happened later in the week that made up for it. the 4th was also freezing! I had to wear my winter jacket! It was so cold! And then by the evening, it was so warm that I had to roll my sleeves way up just to survive! The weather here is quite bipolar.

TUESDAY - We didn't have DM since this week is moves week, so Elder Richards and I made cookies in the morning to take to our dinner appointment that evening with Gary. Then we went finding pretty much all day. It was weird going finding all day, but it was really super nice! Haven't had a good finding marathon in a while! Haha! But later that evening, we helped Alwyn set up his family history, so that went well. Then we had a DA with Gary. And he made some bomb curry. We talked about some good books that the church has put out as well, so it was pretty awesome!

WEDNESDAY - was pretty much finding until a DA we had with Andrew and his family. It was really awesome! They made some dang good chicken. I have found that a lot of people make 

dang good chicken here. After Andrew, we headed over to the church and had a young men's activity. It was pretty great!

THURSDAY - was interesting. We had the Newtonabbey Elders move in with us since there have been lots of killings and shootings and stuff in their area, so they have been living with us. They will check to see if the area is safe on the 13th, so they should be returning then. But it was pretty intense. So we spent the day finding. Now that we have 4 Elders in this area, we cover so much more ground! It is awesome! We had a dinner appointment with Trevor that night as well, so that was awesome! He made some really good spaghetti, and had enough to feed four missionaries to full capacity! It was awesome! We then shared a little spiritual thought with him and read Helaman 5. We talked about faith and how it has to be centered in the right place in order to be effective. So that was a pretty good lesson. After Trevor, we headed back to Coleraine, and GQ'ed for a bit, and then called it a day.

FRIDAY - was pretty good. I spent the day with Elder Schiels he is from Syrup Land. We had a lesson fall through, and then went finding for a good chunk of the day. We had an appointment with John, and he showed us some ninja swords, and told us the most effective way to make a Molotov Cocktail. We then shared a message about the atonement with him, and that went really well! So Friday was good. There was also a huge fireworks display across the river from our flat, so that made up for the 4th of July.

SATURDAY - Elder Schiels and I spent the day finding in the town center. I had a really good bible bash with a really mean minister whole stole the guy we had talked to. He was really cheeky and was being really mean. SO We testified and he couldn't really do much about that. But then we found a guy named Lewis, and Lewis was availiable right then and there to have a lesson. So we taught him and gave him a Book of Mormon and set up a return appointment. It was really good. He said he would love to be baptized when he came to know that the message is true. So that was pretty solid. After that, we had some more GQing and then we had some dinner. SO it was pretty awesome. Saturday was also god because we got about 5 or 6 potentials.

SUNDAY - was good. I spoke in sacrament meeting on staying strong in the faith. I thought it went well. It was a really good meeting as well since the whole meeting was on faith. James wasn't able to make it to church this week because work called him in, so that was a bummer, but we made it work. We will be meeting with him this week though. So that is a plus. After church, we headed out and went a visited the McCrellis family. And shared the Dare to Be a Mormon video with them. It was a good lesson. Then Elder Richards and I had our weekly planning and then we all regrouped at the flat, had some dang good curry, and headed to bed.

Well, that was the week! It was pretty great! We have seen the hand of the Lord in our work, so it has been an amazing week! Love you all!

-Till the Work is Done

-Elder Mickelsen