Bournemouth

To begin, sorry if my responses might be shorter because we only have 1 and half hours in this library as opposed to 2 hours we got in my last area. 

 

Missionaries: On Wednesday I made the last trek from the Plymouth zone to Staines. There were so many missionaries there and it was so good to see a lot of people I haven't seen for a while. All of my district from the MTC was there and we took a pic together. So fun to see how much we have grown in one year. One just got called to be an AP, 2 are zone leaders, and the other 2 are district leaders and training. Sister Cowley just came off the Channel Island Jersey and is sister training leadering it up in the reading zone. love it!

 

Sister Sargsyan: My new companion is from ARMENIA!!! Ya I had to look on a map too... She began learning English 2 weeks ago in the MTC and it is her 6th language! She speaks Russian, Farsi, Spanish, Armenian, and Georgian. She is super beautiful and very glamous. It has been a really fun last couple of days getting to know each other and this new area.

 

Bournemouth: Bournemouth is so beauitful and so different than quiet, white-filled people of Teignmouth. There is a university here and it is a proper city and SO diverse. It is also very touristy. I seriously have talked to people from like 50 different countries already. There is a nice white sandy beach and we live right near the high street, so it is a good location. The Bournemouth ward feels like a proper American ward and hasn't had sister for years so they are really liking us. There are a million activities going on and they are a very involved ward. It is pretty large, and there are another set of elders in the ward. They had 2 Chinese elders here and one of the elders in Staines handed me the key to the flat and phone and said good luck. The flat was not in the worst condition, but we are definietly going to spend some time cleaning. It is amazing how the Lord is helping me understand all the different buses and areas very quickly. There is so much potential here and right now we are focusing on just getting to know and serve the members, and to build our investigator pool because we started from scratch but are already meeting with 3 people these next couple of days. There are so many people here so we are always talking to everyone. SO blessed to be here and exicted for the progress ahead.

 

Miracles: I feel like there are too many to count, but it just seems like there have been members we have met and people on the street that need us at this time and it is amazing how the Lord directs you even though you may think it is all random or you are going in the wrong direction. I honestly haven't gotten stressed because I know I just have to trust in the Lord where I need to be. One lady took a route she has never been before and has been lately thinking about where her Dad is who passed away recently. Gabby from Venzuela feels like there is somethign missing from her life and wants to learn more. Steven asked for the Book of Mormon and is seeking to find the right church. Amazing things happening and excited to keep on trusting in the Lord to be in the right place and say the right things.

 

I love you all so much!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,

Sister McLeod

Kieron and Jasmine in Teignmouth

My MTC disctrict united

Sister Sargsyan

Bath

Leaving the MTC: We left on Wednesday morning at 6am from the Preston MTC and arrived around 10:30 near London in a chapel to meet our Mission President and see where we were going and and who our companion would be. Not going to lie, I was feeling pretty good and confident on the bus, but when 33 of us rolled up to the chapel and were greeted by so many elders and sisters, it was a bit intimidating and surreal. I had a brief chat with President Millar and he is one of those men that you feel like are staring into your soul when you're talking to them. You feel like he already knows the answer to your question. But oddly enough, I felt so comfortable and at peace talking to him and I truly feel his love for each one of us missionaries. We ate pizza, were all a bit shell shocked, and then the moment of truth came as we were gathered in a chapel, and our names were read. I finally got a glimpse of how Harry Potter felt being sorted. I was the first name to be called, and he said Sister McLeod you are going to the area of Bath and Sister Barker will be training you. 

Companion: Sister Barker is a rock star! So solid and a great trainer. She is always smiling and I really am thankful for that positive example. She has been out 15 months, so these first 12 weeks of mine are her last. She is from North Carolina, but has acquired a bit of a hodge podge of an accent from all her foreign companions and living in England. She is very tall, 5'10". Ha, I think she felt way taller than me initially because I felt like such a baby the first day, but as I have taught, talked, and been with her these past days, she doesn't' seem too much taller. Funny how your perception changes. She was here in Bath 6 weeks prior to me, so she knows her way around which I am so thankful for.

Bath: Green. Gorgeous. Hilly. Posh. Historic. Jane Austin. Bath stone/Roman Baths. Cathedrals. Shops. Those are all key words that describe this truly beautiful city.I keep learning new things each day as I talk to people. Currently this is what I know: The first stamp was created here {postal museum}. Jane Austin wrote a couple books here {There is a Jane Austin Museum Mom!}. Everything is built with bath stone and the architecture is beautiful. This place is famous for its Roman baths, and a kind family visiting from California gave us money to go today, so I think we will make our way over there after e-mail and buying groceries. There are parks and a cool river and it is such a beautiful area to be in. I've been focusing so much on looking for people on the street and the work that I am just today starting to realize everything. It is a very touristy place in town with all the shops, and it has been so sunny these past few days. I am so grateful for that. Fun fact my flat {apartment on has a bath too haha}. This my view from my flat.

Missionary Work: This place is beautiful and very posh, but missionary work is hard work. We have taught and met with so many people that everyone just combines in my head. Since being here, we have been able to teach around 5 lessons and visit a lot of less active/part member families. The person that stands out in my mind is Yibo. Yibo is a progressing investigator from China that attends the university here. He has gone from believing in no God to believing and reading the Book of Mormon and praying every night. I cannot tell you how happy I felt after that lesson to see him progressing closer to our Savior. That feeling of helping others draw nearer to the Savior is worth all the doors slammed in your face, all the rejections, all the rude comments, all the awkward moments, and everything that gets thrown at you on the mission. I am struggling with street contacting and knocking doors. It bothers me how I feel awkward or let my fear of being rejected stop me from talking to people and I pray everyday for the Lord to help me. The example of Enoch is really helping me in Moses 6 and I'm praying for the courage to open my mouth because I know the Lord will put the words I need to say to that person. I think my whole mission will be a test if I can trust in the Lord as I struggle with things. I do know our Savior knows everything we are feeling and wants us to come to Him for help. I know that He knows how it feels to be awkward and afraid and I have faith that He can help me out.

Bath Ward: The members are amazing here. You don't realize how wonderful it is to go to church and see families being strengthened together until you are on a mission. I was told by my companion that I am very blessed to have such a strong family ward here. I loved every minute of those 3 hours and really needed that to remind me the whole point of this gospel is to return back to your Father in Heaven with our family. I am so grateful to have the solid family I have, and we are really praying to meet families to teach here. I bore my testimony and felt such peace of the Spirit. All members testimonies uplifted me and they all love us because they haven't had sisters for 10 years. The zone leaders of the Bristol area are also in our ward. I appreciate members so much more now, and if you have missionaries in your ward go talk to them and help them out. It truly means everything on the mission.

I love you all and want you to know how much I love this gospel. I know I am serving in Bath because there are people being prepared to heard the gospel and be baptized into this Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am so far from perfect, but am thankful that the Lord is willing to work with us at any level we are at if we are willing to involve him in our life. Ether 12:27 is really helping me out these days.

Cheers,

Sister McLeod

English and American are not the same language. I'm learning that day by day.

Ether 12:27  And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

Whirlwind - Week 1

WOW! I seriously feel like this computer is about to explode in the amount of time it gives me, so sorry if I didn't get to write you guys all that much! I was blown aways about how many e-mails I got and overwhelmed with the love and appreciation I feel! Thank you so much! I love to hear about the updates of your lives, it means a lot.

Companion: I love her so much! Her name is Sister Gorniak and she is from Tasmania, Australia! Lauren Ockey only can appreciate how excited I was to find out that my companion was Australian. And she is just full of love, jokes, and sweetness. I love how much we laugh and her accent is the best! My roommates are also Sister Su from Taiwan and Sister Cowley from Arizona (Rosie Card you must be dying right now because of the connection) They feel like my companions too because we do everything together too! They are the best and we just crackup at meals and in our rooms. I am trying to acquire an Aussie accent as well as a British one.

MTC: Is awesome! So there are 64 of us that arrived on Thursday, we are from all over the world and are either going to the London or London south mission. Probably 2/3 are elders and the rest of us our sisters. oh and Jeff there is an Elder Rodriguez from the DR who said he was in your mission and recognized you. The food is great, and it was such a miracle that I didn't have any problems adjusting to time! I'm learning and studying so much like on accelerated speed! All the elders are so nice and seem so young to me. My teachers are legit. Sister Willis and Brother Carr are from England and are hilarious and teach so powerfully with the spirit! Sister Willis served in Temple Square and Brother Carr served in my mission.

England: Is so pretty and green and everything you imagine it to be, but I was not prepared how cold it is. I am in for a real treat if this is only May. The Preston temple and its grounds remind you of an English garden and I was dying with the green ivy arches! I relate everything to Harry Potter and felt like I was in the maze in HP4.

Spiritual: The things I am learning and teaching to others are things I have known my whole life, but I finally have trust and confidence in the spirit to guide what I need to say. An MTC Devotional by Bednar is exactly what I needed to hear the answer to. It was is it the spirit or is it me? His answer: Quit worrying about it! Go to work and press forward in Jesus Christ. be good boys and girls and you will do things without knowing that it is the spirit. he went on to tell some awesome stories, but it is what I think I needed and we all need to know. We worry about things we shouldn't worry about when we should just focus on the gospel and keep moving. The spirit will be there. I have such a testimony of this as I have been here in the MTC. As I have focused on studying on the gospel of Jesus Christ, you are directed to have to Holy Ghost. I was scared about teaching, but as we have met with investigators the Spirit is there and I feel like my words are His. I cannot wait to get out into the mission field on Tuesday! The MTC is great, but I'm ready to do His work because it is what everyone needs to hear. Everyone needs to feel the love of Christ and I'm stoked!

Okay sorry I feel like a mad woman right now, and I don't know if I am making sense and this e-mail is missing A LOT of things. The MTC is a whirlwind, but I have to go! Ahhhhh! Okay I love you all so much!

Love,

Sister McLeod

Sister Su, My companion, Sister Gorniak, Sister Cowley, and I

This one is for you Rosie Card! {Me and Sister Cowley}