June 20, 2016

Well, this week has flown by! It has been a tremendous week! Truly a week of spiritual growth and miracles! This week really taught me what we can accomplish if we believe we can, and if we put forth the effort to do it in faith!

Monday - It was P-Day. We started off by doing all the normal P-Day stuff, and then we met with Isobel for lunch. She is progressing well. She has so many questions! But she is really smart and she is really searching it out! After the meeting with Isobel, we had FHE. It was really good! We shared a wee spiritual thought, and then we almost won the quiz! It was pretty great.

Tuesday - Tuesday we had Zone Interview Training. This was probably one of the highlights of my week. It was such a dang good meeting! Really, really spiritual. We talked on the importance of members and really focusing on the Ward Missionary Process. Which is what Elder Richards and I have really been pushing in our District lately. So it was awesome to be on step ahead of the game, and to share testimony of our experiences so far with the process. The Spirit was very strong in that meeting and we all came away with revelation on how we can improve the work in our individual areas, and as a Zone. 

Wednesday - We did some GQ-ing in the morning, and then we picked up some lunch. We also stopped by President Culbertson's shop to have a coordination type meeting thing. So that was pretty good. Then we taught James with Scott. Scott is President Culbertson's friend from Provo. He served as a missionary here like 40 years ago. He wanted to come to a teaching appointment with us, so that was really good! The lesson was solid as well! James was able to teach us all three of the first lessons, (in sum up form, of course) and we also taught him about the Ten Commandments. So that was dang solid. James is all set for baptism on the 9th of July. All he has got to do is make it out to church. After the lesson with James, we went over to Sister Dunn's house and she made us come dang good curry. It was awesome! There was curry and naan bread, and then there was a big giant fruity sponge cake thing for dessert! It was a really good dinner! Afterwards, we shared the Mormon Message about the Idaho Falls temple. It talked about being reclaimed from sin and stuff like that. It was really awesome! I didn't even know that there was a Mormon Message about the Temple! But it was awesome! We also taught about Temple work and family history, and the importance of attending the temple. It can be a bit difficult for members here to attend since the temple is in England, but we still promise them blessings if they do! It was a really good lesson!

Thursday - We had some Weekly Planning, and then we did some GQ-ing in the town centre. Afterwards, we met with Isobel and invited her to come to church. She said she would! So that was really great!!!! The lesson was good as well. We talked about prophets and she had some questions about the temple and baptisms and stuff, so we helped a bit on that. After that lesson, we headed up to meet John. John is doing really good. We shared a Mormon Message with him. But I cant remember which one it was. I do remember that it was a good lesson! Then we went over to Brother Cunning's house for coordination. It was a good day.

Friday - We started off the day by doing a service project at Hidie's house, and we pulled weeds for a few hours. Then afterwards, we went and visited a guy named John. John was really cool. He was one of Scott's former investigators, so we went on Scott's request. John is a really nice guy though. He doesn't think he can change, but we might try and fix that! After John, we went and stopped by Norman, and had a quick lesson there. We shared John 3:16 with him. It was a quickie, but a good one nonetheless. After that, we headed up to the church to meet with a new investigator, but he didn't show so we spent the time trying to hunt down a referral, but we could not, for the life of us, find the street that they lived on! We searched a whole neighborhood! We will be trying again this week though! After that, we had a Branch BBQ. That was awesome! We had lots of good food, and then we played jump rope for an hour. I was the one spinning the rope, and Elder Richards did the jumping. It was pretty great! After that, we headed home.

Saturday - We went up to stop by Trevor D. in the morning, but he wasn't in, so we headed back to Coleraine, and did some finding until our lesson with Isobel. That went really well! we talked about church and what we do there and all that jazz. Then we went out to Ballymoney and visited Alwyn. He is doing really good. He like to talk, and we did share the Plan of Salvation with him. He also fed us dinner! Lamb chops! It was delicious! After Alwyn, we headed back home for the night.

Sunday - Sunday was really great! Church was pretty solid. Isobel came to church! It was really great! Elder Richards also gave a talk, so it was like, an ideal Sunday to come to church. Then after sacrament meeting, we went to youth Sunday school with Isobel, and then she went to Relief Society with another member. Afterwards, she said she really enjoyed it and that it was a very enlightening experience! So that was a plus! Then after church, we went over to the Patterson's for dinner! It was great! We had a roast dinner. And it was good. We also taught a lesson on Jesus Christ. We shared Moroni 10:32, and also the Because of Him video. It was a really good lesson. After that, we came back into Coleraine, and did a few tryby's. We went up to Trevor, but he wasn't in again, and then we went by another Sister, and we have an appointment set up! So that was pretty great! Then we headed home and called it a day.

Well, that was the week! Things are really awesome here in Northern Ireland! I love it here! Always keep in mind what the Lord has done for you, and you will always see what He is continuing to do for you! And last but not least, EXPECT A MIRACLE! Love you all!

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Till the Work is Done

- Elder Mickelsen

        

June 13, 2016

Hello everyone! Again! This past week has been pretty awesome! We have had lots of things happen! Unfortunately, I didn't have a planner this week because we are waiting on a supply order, so this update is all from memory! Wish me luck! 

MONDAY - Monday was P-day! It was pretty intense! We did our normal emailing thing, but we also received a referral from a member who was at the church when we arrived. She was cleaning the windows when this random polish lady came in and said she loved everything about the church. The member tried to find a Book of Mormon in Polish since the lady did not speak hardly any English, but to no avail. She gave the lady her number, and then we rolled up right after she left. So the member told us the story. She only got her name and the street she lives on. But no phone number, or house number. So we will have to do some hunting. Later in the week we would end up getting lost trying to find this lady. And we are still at this present moment trying to find the house. So that is going well. Then we went and taught Owen, the recent convert who just moved in. We rode all the way out to his house from Ballymoney, which is about 2 miles. But the sun was blaring and the humidity was real. I thought I was going to die during the last hill. But then we arrive and had some ice cream, so it was all good. After Owen, we rode out to family home evening, and that was really fun! We actually won the quiz this time! They split the missionaries up since we were sitting on opposite sides of the room, but I was on the winning team! Woo! But that was Monday.

TUESDAY - Tuesday we had District Meeting. It was pretty great. One of the most solid DM's I have ever had. We went over our goals for this coming transfer, and Elder Richards and I gave an instruction on the ward missionary process and about the many miracles we are seeing from implementing it in our area. After DM, we headed back to Coleraine, stopping for a Boojum's of course, and then picked up the work right where we left off in our area. EXCEPT FOR THE GIANT FLIPPING THUNDERSTORM THAT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE AND DRENCHED US FROM HEAD TO TOE IN ABOUT .00000002 SECONDS. It was pretty awesome! I missed thunderstorms so much!!! It was amazing!!! We also had a Branch Council meeting that went okay. Elder Richards and I were able to introduce the Ward Mission Process more fully, and get everybody backing it! It was really awesome!!! 

WEDNESDAY - Wednesday we taught Isobel. That was pretty good. We taught her more about the Book of Mormon and the necessity for a restoration of the Gospel. After Isobel, we taught James. James is so solid. He will have a baptismal date this week! We know it! He had to attend his church this week, so we had to move his date from the 18th, but James will get baptised! He loved the gospel of Jesus Christ lesson, and he is almost done with Mosiah in the Book of Mormon! It is amazing!!! That was Wednesday.

THURDSAY- We had weekly planning, and then we taught Paul. Paul is doing okay. He will progress eventually, but we are not sure if it is his time for missionaries. Afterwards, we taught Book of Mormon class. That was pretty solid. That is really all I remember from Thursday.

FRIDAY- Friday was pretty cool. We did finding, and then the Newtonabbey Elders came up for an exchange. I was with Elder Benton. It was a great exchange. We taught Trevor, and also did some finding. We also went to a gourmet burger place and it was dang good. Elder Furko and Elder Richards were so jealous! But it was an awesome day!

SATURDAY - Saturday we were still on echange, and Elder Benton and I basically went finding all day. We found a few potentials, and then we sent the Elders back to Newtonabbey. It was a pretty great day. Then Elder Richards and I did some more finding.

SUNDAY - Sunday we went to church and we met Sharon! Sharon was street contacted in Belfast by some missionaries, and told them that she lives in Coleraine. SO they gave her our church address and she came to church. It was awesome! She felt the spirit and said that she really loved the service. She was even teary eyed a few times, so that was great! We gave her a BoM, and then we got her information, and we should be able to start meeting with her more this week! Woo! The rest of church went well. Elder Richards and I taught the Elders Quorum lesson. And it was pretty good. We had a good discussion, and there was lots of particiaption. It was pretty great. After church, we went finding, and then we got caught in this huge giant rainstorm that drenched us. Again. SO that was pretty fun. After finishing off the night, we headed home.

Well, that was our week! It was really amazing! We have seen so many blessings and miracles as we have made real effort to cleanse the inner vessel of this branch, of this area, and of ourselves. We are at last ready for the Lord to pour out His infinite blessings in the area! And we know He will only do so, and continue to do so, if we keep working our hardest and doing all that we can. Don't forget 2 Nephi 25! For it is by Grace that we are saved, after ALL that we can do. We are saved by the grace of Jesus Christ after we make out best efforts! And after all, the grace of God continues to save us, during all that we can do as well. Love you all!

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Till the Work is Done

-Elder Mickelsen

June 6, 2016

                                         

This past week has been full of awesomeness! Not to mention, the weather here is fantastic!!! We are hitting almost 30 degrees every day! So, in the mid 70s all week! But SUPER humid!! But it is flipin sweet!!! We have had the chance to do so much this past week! And the Lord is showering his blessings down upon us! Truly it is a case of asking in faith and having a knowledge that you will receive! This week I am going to try something a little bit different and just go over some highlights of the week! Any empty spaces in the schedule are just filled with GQ-ing, so I am getting tired of writing that all the time! So here we go!!!

MONDAY - Monday was just email day since it was moves week this week! So we emailed and then we went up to Portrush to do some GQ-ing! It was so beautiful! So amazing! You would not think that you were in Ireland if you were at Portrush when we were! It was so amazing! We talked to a lot of really nice people, and handed out some cards and things, but we didn't get any return appointments. So we just headed back and then we headed to family home evening! It was a blast! This week, we actually won the quiz! It is usually men vs. women, and the women always win, but we won this week! Woo!!! We also shared a spiritual thought about how we can become true disciples of Christ. We used the example of Alma the Younger and Captain Moroni. How they were both amazing men of God, and how the very powers of hell shake before them! It was a really good lesson!

TUESDAY - Tuesday we had our P-Day. Since Elder Richards and I are staying. We went up to the Mountsandel Fort. Which is very misleading. It is not a fort at all. It is in fact a giant hill, with a hole in the top. Like a grassy volcano. It was really beautiful up there, but I was expecting a real fort. 'Twas awesome nonetheless. Then we just chilled the rest of the day outside! Gotta make the most of this weather! And then we went and visited Tommy, who is doing well. He is pretty cheeky, but he is a great guy.

WEDNESDAY - We were finding a good chunk of the day, but we did have a dinner appointment at Sister Dunn's house again. That was super good. She is a dang good chef. She makes the best food.  After that, we went over to Isobel's house and met with her parents and her. It was a pretty good meeting. Isobel has a nice family. Wold told them how our sole purpose is to bring people closer to Christ. Whether that be to the point of baptism now, or later. We shared our testimonies on how we love seeing people grow closer to the Master. It was such a great meeting! Testimonies on both sides were shared, and the Spirit was present during such.

THURSDAY - Thursday we were in Belfast on an exchange with the AP's. It was awesome!! The weather was spectacular! I was with Elder Penman. Our exchange was awesome!!! We taught a recent convert and that lesson was good. But the best was finding. We talked to some super great people, and we were able to set up some good appointments for the Belfast Elders. After the exchange, we went and taught James at Boojum's. (Which was a win win experience) then we headed back to our area and had Book of Mormon class. Which went pretty well.

FRIDAY - We had Weekly Planning and then we went to go visit Trevor. Trevor was super good! He was stoked to come out to church with us and told us he was excited to start listening to the Book of Mormon. It was a good meeting! After that we went and tried by John and Paul. But they werent in.

SATURDAY- Saturday we helped a member do some sheep herding! It was awesome! We helped them gather them all up and then treat them with some medicine and things like that, so it was pretty great! The member's farm is in one of the 9 glens of Antrim, and it was really beautiful! Like,  really beautiful! I will attach a picture! I was able to understand more fully why the Savior refers to us as 'sheep' in the New Testament. We are so much like them in a spiritual sense! After that, we went and taught Isobel, and that was a good lesson! We answered some more of her questions and helped her see how she can keep progressing! She is excited to come to church with us soon! So that was awesome! Then we went and taught James the Plan of Salvation at the church! It was a really good lesson! He couldn't get over how there was no Hell in the plan! He kept saying, "This is too merciful. There HAS to be a hell!" But we assured him that there was no hell in the sense that he was thinking. In the sense of fire and chains and whips and lava and stuff. We taught that hell is a state of mind. So that was a dang good lesson! 

SUNDAY - We had church. Which was awesome! Super spiritual! It was great! So many testimonies were shared. It was probably one of the most spiritual testimony meetings that I have been in on my mission! It was super solid! The rest of the day went pretty good as well. President Culbertson gave us a referral to go try by a less active family. When we go to the door, she answered and we told her who we were and she said that she was actually going to call us soon because her son just turned 8 and she wants him to learn and be baptised! It was such a miracle! 

Well, that was our week! It was amazing! We are seeing the fulfillment of the Lord's promise that if we ask in faith, and do our part, He will answer our prayers, and we will accomplish great things.

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Till the Work is Done

- Elder Mickelsen