October 5, 2015

Saying "Good-bye" to Elder Blosil at the train station 9/30/2015

Well hello once again! This week has gone by unbelievably fast.  Last Sunday night we received a call letting us know that Elder Blosil would no longer be my trainer and that I would be receiving a new companion.  His name would be Elder Allred and he would be finishing my training.  So starting from that moment, the first three days of the week were intense!

Monday was P-Day so that was pretty chill.  We only had half a P-Day since moves day would be on Wednesday, and I would have to be in a trio with the Portadown Elders until my new companion would arrive.  So on Monday, we emailed, shopped, and cleaned up a little bit, and Elder Blosil began to pack.  We spent the rest of the day GQ-ing and trying to find some last new potentials before he left.  So Monday was good.

Tuesday was a tad bit hectic.  We woke up and had studies and breakfast just like normal, and then Elder Blosil realized he had a lot of members to visit before he had to leave.  So we spent almost all of Tuesday meeting with the members and sharing thoughts and taking pictures.  We then retired to the flat at 6 ish to finish packing.  All in all, a very good day.  It helped me get to know the members and to make sure I knew where they all lived so I could take Elder Allred around to see them when he arrived.  The Portadown Elders also slept over Tuesday night so they could hang out with us in Belfast the next day.  It was a pretty great night.

Wednesday was crazy! We woke up and got ready, and then we caught a 9:30 train to Great Victoria Street so we could drop Elder Blosil off.  We all were at the train station to send him off and once he was on the bus, I realized that I was the Belfast's Zone only orphan, (Meaning that I was the only one who was getting a new trainer) and it was weird! I would have to spend the day in a trio, which wasn't bad since the Portadown Elders are awesome.  So we went to Subway to eat, the mall and then just looked around this great city.  Belfast is a beautiful place that is absolutely loaded with history. We headed back to the train station at 1430 so I could pick up my companion and head back to Lisburn.  Turns out, his ferry got in early so he caught an earlier train than what the zone leaders had on their schedules.  So he had traveled alone to Lisburn and was waiting there.  We, of course, had no idea he had done that since we had just missed him.  He had no phone since I had the phone, and we waited at Great Victoria for 2 hours.  So eventually, he was able to ask someone to let him use their phone and he called the zone leaders to tell him where he was.  We found out and then had to get back to Lisburn as quickly as possible!  We made it back and picked him up, and all was well with the world.

Thursday we had weekly planning.  It was different, since it was not Elder Blosil, but it was still effective.  We have been working to come up with ways that we can involve the members more in our efforts.  And so, we decided that the following day, we were going to make rice crispy treats and give them to the members to introduce ourselves and to build trust.  We would plan a route that would take up to 4 or 5 different members' houses and GQ on the way.  We would them knock 10 doors in the area of the member.  So I was excited to give this a go.  That night, we also got invited to a Bishopric meeting to establish where we were in our finding and the Bishop wanted to see what he could do to help us.  So now we know that the ward is on board.

Friday was awesome! We made some delicious rice crisps and nearly ate ourselves sick, but we continued on and stopped by the members' houses.  The members loved it and we actually got one new investigator from it! Her name is 'M' and she is super solid! We walked past and asked if she needed help weeding her garden. She said, "No," and we said that if she ever saw us, she could ask for help and we would help.  She then asked if we were from a church.  BINGO! That is what every missionary wants to hear.  In short, we visited with her for about 30 minutes and we covered points from the Plan of Salvation, the Restoration and the Book of Mormon.  We also gave her a Book of Mormon to which she accepted readily and agreed to read it! We also set up a return appointment for tomorrow night! So it was a very successful day!  We also shared a Mormon message with her! It was awesome!  We then proceeded along our route and ended up at the Johnsons to have dinner.  It was a good day.

Saturday was good.  Really, the main thing about Saturday was Conference.  For some reason, I got so much more out of it this time than I ever have before! It was really good! We watched the Saturday Morning Session that night and I loved it!

Sunday was awesome! We had a Conference Marathon.  Priesthood Session started at 10am and it was great! I have so many notes! Unfortunately with my memory, I have to look over them to remember what was said.  But hey, I was enlightened!  After Priesthood, we watched the Saturday Afternoon Session, and then the Sunday Morning Session.  The time difference makes it a little bit confusing over here, but it was still good.  We didn't get to see the Sunday Afternoon Session but I have to say that Sunday was my favorite day of the week!

Lastly, I will give you guys my "ponderizing" scripture.  I did not hear the talk but I will go along with it until I hear it.  You've sent me your ponderizing scriptures so I'll send you mine.  My scripture is Mosiah 4:27.  It reads: And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength.  And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.

This scripture has been a great help to me on my mission.  I hope it continues to help all of you as well.  May God bless you all, and I pray that you will all feel our Savior's Love.  Until next week!!

-Elder Mickelsen

More photos of Belfast…