Two Months!
Well, today is my two month mark! It's so crazy! I feel like I've been out in the field for just a week, but it also feels like I've been on a mission my whole life. It's hard to believe that I used to be a normal person.
It's getting a wee bit colder and rainier here in beautiful Scotland. A window in our flat won't close all the way, so cold air is constantly blowing through. We have to bundle up in sweaters (jumpers here-all the little different words are so cool) and nice warm socks to stay warm. We do have heaters, but we haven't turned them on yet. I'm getting fatter and fatter. I was able to weigh myself at a member's for the first time since coming on my mission the other day, and believe me, I've put on some pounds. I've made the commitment to not buy any treats, and to not eat any seconds! I've never really eaten more than I needed before coming here (besides all the junk that I would snack on), and now I eat WAY TOO MUCH. So I'm cutting down haha.
Moves call was on Saturday! And we're both staying in Montrose! I'm so relieved. We're losing a Zone Leader, and our District Leader Elder Hoaldridge is upping it to ZL in Glasgow. Also, one of our STLs is becoming STLT, and an STLT is becoming our STL. It'll be great!
This week has been a wonderful one. I've seen so many miracles. This last District Council was incredible. We had the Zone Leaders, STLs, and our Mission President in attendance! President surprised most of us by just walking in while we were all studying. The only ones that knew he was coming were the ZLs. He is so amazing. Everyone refers to him as a Spiritual Powerhouse. And it's so true. The Spirit filled the room whenever he spoke, and stayed for the whole meeting. Of course I became emotional. One quote from him that I like: "The Spirit is the tap to a keg...[long pause--everybody's laughing].. OF HOLINESS!" It was funnier when he said it. Anyway, he was saying that it's through the Spirit that we can feel all of the things God wants us to feel, and the tap is ALWAYS pouring out this never-ending supply of "holiness." WE are the ones who are responsible if we don't feel it. Some people have a tiny sacrament sized cup, a cup that's turned over completely, or a giant barrel. I'm praying and working to have that giant barrel.
On our way to a DA, we got off of the bus a stop too late, and realized we would have to walk two miles on a highway with no sidewalk to get to their little village. While we were walking, we tried to call our member, but she wouldn't pick up. A while later, we saw her driving down the highway, and she quickly picked us up, saying that her husband drove by and saw us, so she came. It was a little scary. But we're safe. That was our crazy experience of the week, plus a few drunk guys. One was rude and made Sis Mac cry. I was just laughing the whole time. After him we found a teeter totter to cheer her up, and we were laughing so hard in no time. Another drunk guy was super nice, and told me my eyes were the best he's seen. He swore a lot, but said he would love to come to church. We had been challenged by our STL to sing in a GQ, so we sang Be Still My Soul to him, and we got his number! There was also a drunk kid who wanted our number. I gave him a blank pass-along card, and he said he would throw it away if we didn't write our number on it. I told him that we only gave out our number to people who wanted to learn about God, and he insisted that he wanted to. We didn't give him our number. He threw the card on the cement. Oh well.
Sarah's back from Ireland with a broken toe, still as stubborn as ever. We're all flabbergasted with what to do with her, including Bishop. She came to Sacrament Meeting yesterday, even though it was her mum's birthday, she knows the church is true, but she is insisting on not being baptized. Please pray for her!
Our lessons with Alison kept on falling through, so Friday morning we just decided to stop by. We had a lesson with her! Her husband is being a pain about religion and letting her take the kids to church or get them into what we're teaching. He doesn't want religion near him, because of PTSD from the military I guess. So I hope we'll be able to get her to church at some point. She needs it!
We met Ryan from Northern England while GQing one day and set up an appointment with him the next in Brechin. He didn't respond to our texts and calls, so we didn't think he would show, but he did! He's super sweet and more on the introverted side, but he's also incredibly open. He wasn't raised in a religious background, but seems to be really interested in what we're teaching. We have high hopes for him! He also gave us hugs. oops. I've been getting a lot of those from mostly drunk guys lately. At least nobody's kissed me yet.
One more thing! And then I'll end. After the lesson with Ryan, we realized we had missed our bus by two minutes. We saw it drive away and everything. The next one wasn't for another hour and a half. We were both frustrated, but Sis Mac said that we must still be there for a reason. And literally right then our reason rushed up to us asking if she had missed the bus. After discovering that she had, and that the other one wouldn't be there for a while, Daisy asked if we would like to come with her to her mum's flat just a bit away so we wouldn't have to wait out in the cold. We said YES. She asked so many questions about us, how missions worked, and about our religion. We ended up teaching her the whole first lesson. And, not being religious herself, asked why in the world would believe in the Bible and not the Book of Mormon as well. I KNOW RIGHT? She said she wasn't really interested in religion at the moment, but asked for a Book of Mormon. We also exchanged contact info, and now she's pretty much our friend. MIRACLES.
We've made a new tradition called Singing Sundays, where we carry around a hymn book while Gqing and chapping, ask people if we could sing them a song, and SING IT. So much fun! And it really brings the Spirit.
And that was pretty much my week! I love you all! I know that this work is real and great, and I'm so grateful to be here. I love my Saviour so much, and I know that He is always near me, and all of us! No matter how far away He may seem. "He is always near me, though I do not see Him there, and because He LOVES ME DEARLY I am in His watchful care." He loves us and wants to take care of us! 2 Nephi 1:15
Love,
Sister Syphus
One of these pictures is of a list Sister McNamara made for me. She is THE BEST.
It's getting a wee bit colder and rainier here in beautiful Scotland. A window in our flat won't close all the way, so cold air is constantly blowing through. We have to bundle up in sweaters (jumpers here-all the little different words are so cool) and nice warm socks to stay warm. We do have heaters, but we haven't turned them on yet. I'm getting fatter and fatter. I was able to weigh myself at a member's for the first time since coming on my mission the other day, and believe me, I've put on some pounds. I've made the commitment to not buy any treats, and to not eat any seconds! I've never really eaten more than I needed before coming here (besides all the junk that I would snack on), and now I eat WAY TOO MUCH. So I'm cutting down haha.
Moves call was on Saturday! And we're both staying in Montrose! I'm so relieved. We're losing a Zone Leader, and our District Leader Elder Hoaldridge is upping it to ZL in Glasgow. Also, one of our STLs is becoming STLT, and an STLT is becoming our STL. It'll be great!
This week has been a wonderful one. I've seen so many miracles. This last District Council was incredible. We had the Zone Leaders, STLs, and our Mission President in attendance! President surprised most of us by just walking in while we were all studying. The only ones that knew he was coming were the ZLs. He is so amazing. Everyone refers to him as a Spiritual Powerhouse. And it's so true. The Spirit filled the room whenever he spoke, and stayed for the whole meeting. Of course I became emotional. One quote from him that I like: "The Spirit is the tap to a keg...[long pause--everybody's laughing].. OF HOLINESS!" It was funnier when he said it. Anyway, he was saying that it's through the Spirit that we can feel all of the things God wants us to feel, and the tap is ALWAYS pouring out this never-ending supply of "holiness." WE are the ones who are responsible if we don't feel it. Some people have a tiny sacrament sized cup, a cup that's turned over completely, or a giant barrel. I'm praying and working to have that giant barrel.
On our way to a DA, we got off of the bus a stop too late, and realized we would have to walk two miles on a highway with no sidewalk to get to their little village. While we were walking, we tried to call our member, but she wouldn't pick up. A while later, we saw her driving down the highway, and she quickly picked us up, saying that her husband drove by and saw us, so she came. It was a little scary. But we're safe. That was our crazy experience of the week, plus a few drunk guys. One was rude and made Sis Mac cry. I was just laughing the whole time. After him we found a teeter totter to cheer her up, and we were laughing so hard in no time. Another drunk guy was super nice, and told me my eyes were the best he's seen. He swore a lot, but said he would love to come to church. We had been challenged by our STL to sing in a GQ, so we sang Be Still My Soul to him, and we got his number! There was also a drunk kid who wanted our number. I gave him a blank pass-along card, and he said he would throw it away if we didn't write our number on it. I told him that we only gave out our number to people who wanted to learn about God, and he insisted that he wanted to. We didn't give him our number. He threw the card on the cement. Oh well.
Sarah's back from Ireland with a broken toe, still as stubborn as ever. We're all flabbergasted with what to do with her, including Bishop. She came to Sacrament Meeting yesterday, even though it was her mum's birthday, she knows the church is true, but she is insisting on not being baptized. Please pray for her!
Our lessons with Alison kept on falling through, so Friday morning we just decided to stop by. We had a lesson with her! Her husband is being a pain about religion and letting her take the kids to church or get them into what we're teaching. He doesn't want religion near him, because of PTSD from the military I guess. So I hope we'll be able to get her to church at some point. She needs it!
We met Ryan from Northern England while GQing one day and set up an appointment with him the next in Brechin. He didn't respond to our texts and calls, so we didn't think he would show, but he did! He's super sweet and more on the introverted side, but he's also incredibly open. He wasn't raised in a religious background, but seems to be really interested in what we're teaching. We have high hopes for him! He also gave us hugs. oops. I've been getting a lot of those from mostly drunk guys lately. At least nobody's kissed me yet.
One more thing! And then I'll end. After the lesson with Ryan, we realized we had missed our bus by two minutes. We saw it drive away and everything. The next one wasn't for another hour and a half. We were both frustrated, but Sis Mac said that we must still be there for a reason. And literally right then our reason rushed up to us asking if she had missed the bus. After discovering that she had, and that the other one wouldn't be there for a while, Daisy asked if we would like to come with her to her mum's flat just a bit away so we wouldn't have to wait out in the cold. We said YES. She asked so many questions about us, how missions worked, and about our religion. We ended up teaching her the whole first lesson. And, not being religious herself, asked why in the world would believe in the Bible and not the Book of Mormon as well. I KNOW RIGHT? She said she wasn't really interested in religion at the moment, but asked for a Book of Mormon. We also exchanged contact info, and now she's pretty much our friend. MIRACLES.
We've made a new tradition called Singing Sundays, where we carry around a hymn book while Gqing and chapping, ask people if we could sing them a song, and SING IT. So much fun! And it really brings the Spirit.
And that was pretty much my week! I love you all! I know that this work is real and great, and I'm so grateful to be here. I love my Saviour so much, and I know that He is always near me, and all of us! No matter how far away He may seem. "He is always near me, though I do not see Him there, and because He LOVES ME DEARLY I am in His watchful care." He loves us and wants to take care of us! 2 Nephi 1:15
Love,
Sister Syphus
One of these pictures is of a list Sister McNamara made for me. She is THE BEST.
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