Mother's Day

Mother's Day: I spoke at church, and though it is not Mother's Day in England I said that Moms should deserve 2 days. Anyway so I wished everyone another Happy Mother's Day:) Bishop Vousden's son, Joe, got home from his mission from Leeds and spoke as well. I love how he said toward the end of his mission that he started to only write people that he met that day in his journal because those are the memories he wants to remember forever. I want to start doing that as well. I loved skyping to some of the fam and meeting Elliot! He is my nephew I have never met him and I seriously wish technology was that progressed where I could reach my arms into the computer to hold him. One day! It just made my day that he knows my voice now and smiled :) I'm grateful for the ability to adapt to situations on my mission. My ward mission leader and the elders and ward missionaries were in the other room when I finished skyping and they were all ready correlate about the missionary work. I just had to take a moment and be like wow, thank you Heavenly Father for letting me talk to my family, but now help me just focus on the people and work here. And boom went into the other room and was fine. This is a tremendous blessing because I know how hard it can be for a lot of missionaries.

Temple and Family History Miracle: The Martins in our ward hold a family history event twice a year for anyone who is interested in the community and gave us flyers to pass out. We were determined to find someone to bring to it and on Monday we met Joy. Sure enough, she was super into family history and recognised the church's name from past experiences. We ended up being able to teach her twice that week and she came to the event. It was amazing to see the connection family history has with the gospel.

Jasmine and Christina: I love genuine, thoughtful, and inquisitive young people. Jasmine is Kieron's granddaughter and is so sweet and sincere. She has seen the gospel bring so much happiness to Kieron and had been inside the chapel before for his baptism, a musical fireside, and his talk. She said that she felt such a peace and as we met with her twice this week she continued to feel it and said how much she wants to feel apart of the church. When we extended a baptismal date, she was just smiling and we asked her how she felt and she said excited. She has no religious background, but it is amazing to see that it is our feelings that really helps us know the truth even if our mind can't understand yet. She has such a willing and open heart. The same applies to Christina, who is a student. After meeting with us last week, she was saying how there were so many things that suddenly made her realize how much God was a part of her life. A poem about repentance she had to annotate, a sign on the street about God. She said she felt like she was on the right path and also accepted a baptismal date. I love the sincerity of an honest seeker of God. Both these girls are so humble and striving to be the best people they can be in life. I feel uplifted every time I talk to them and so grateful for this opportunity to share the gospel.

I love you all, it was such a blessing to see your smiling faces yesterday. I hope you have a lovely week!

Love,

Sister McLeod

Pictures: Dartmoor p-day, we stopped at Pixie land, this cute little place where there are a million little pixies and gnomes

On the way back from MLC, Sister Godard recieved a package from Hawaii and got li hing moi flavored thing---best thing ever!!!!!!!!!! We were excited!

Highlights

Highlights of the week:

1. The sun is shining!

2. Our former investigator Alan called us out of the blue and said he needs to come back to church and meet with us! Man, that was the happiest day ever. I love when people go away (false I don't love that part), but the return is so sweet.

3. I recieved my first Mother's day card (since it is earlier here) from Sister Chamberlain! Haha as a trainer I was her mom or mum and it just brought me so much joy. I love her so much, and mother's day is going to be so fun when I am an actual mom.

4. I went on exchanges with Sister Godard! I knew her from BYU Hawaii, and it was so fun to be with her for a day in Redruth. That is truly the boonies of the mission. It is in the county Cornwall and the people there literally think that Cornwall is a separte country from England. It was a two hour drive from Teignmouth. She is such an amazing missionary, and I learned so much from her. All of our plans fell through, but we were able to teach so many people and see miracles. She has been out 1 transfer ahead of me. It was fun at night laughing and reminiscing about Hawaii. Don't worry we aren't trunky or homesick! just having a good jolly laugh. I love going on exchanges with so many sisters because you get to know why and how they came on a mission and it is so inspiring.

 Me and Sister Godard

5. Realizing how much I love being a missionary. This is who I am, it is apart of me, and I love it.

The Plymouth zone with President and Sister Millar

6. Zone training. We met with all the missionaries in our Plymouth zone and it was one of the most spiritual trainings I have been to. I love those moments where you feel the Spirit so strongly reminding you how much this gospel is true and how much our Savior love us.

7. Stake conference weekend: All the missionaries sang together throughout the stake. We had one time to practice 4 songs and we are not the most musical group of missionaries, but the Lord helped us because it sounded alright when we sang.

 

8. It is a bit of an emotional roller coaster with some of the people we are teaching, and it is so beautiful and reassuring to see that the down is always followed by an up. I am learning to cast my emotional and spirital burdens on the Lord, but it is difficult when you love these people so much. You hurt when they hurt, but I am so glad you experience that joy when it comes to them. And it comes eventually. Happiness always wins. I love how the moment we choose to be unhappy or angry, we are giving up a moment of happiness. And it is just not worth it.

The gospel makes me so happy and I love you all so much! 

Me and Sister Schmidt on P-day in Torquay