Balloon Popping

The moment where you feel more comfortable in ward council than at a YSA game night....that is when you know you've been on a mission a good long time. Haha, ya that was me and Sister Barnes this week.

Balloon popping: I had an exchange with Sister Jacobsen. I don't know if I told you how I totally thought I was going to train her instead of Sister Schmidt, but that is the one. She is AMAZING! She was born in Denmark, but then grew up in Zimbabwe, then went to uni in England to study law and is a convert of 3 years. She has such a powerful testimony that just hits you to the core with the Spirit. We stayed in Bournemouth and had a jam packed day of teaching, but then we did some finding. We wrote a question (ie: Do you believe in God? What do you think happens after we die, you know question of the soul type of stuff) and rolled it up and put it in a balloon. We blew it up and just went around asking people if they wanted to pop a balloon and answer a question inside. It was so effective! Most nearly everyone we stopped was game for it. It was cool that a girl said she wouldn't have stopped to talk to us unless she was intrigued by the balloon. I mean who doesn't love popping a balloon.

Stake Conference: We had stake conference this weekend and Sister Barnes and I were asked to teach the Restoration in 10 minutes to a fake investigator in front of everyone. We were nervous, but the Spirit kicked in and was really special. The Poole stake is getting bigger and can't hold everyone in Poole so this is the first time they hired a place in the Bournemouth International Centre. It was really cool, and Paulo our investigator really loved it. He is doing amazing and is planning to be baptised on November 15th, but he wants it to be earlier so that is awesome! 

We really had an amazing week, and I was able to really feel the Spirit more fully in every aspect. I'm so grateful to be here in this place in this moment surrounded by people I love so much. I'm really trying to focus on the moment because this time is precious to the Lord and it His time not my own, and I better not waste it. I love you all and hope you are enjoying the moment of today.

Love,

Sister McLeod

Haha, just a little fun Sister Barnes and I had on an empty bus one night coming home. We tried to look like we were on a roller coaster...ohh the things that amuse Sister Barnes and I. We laugh so much. She will literally kill me on the mission from laughter.

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