Miracles

Full up: Yesterday after church, I just was filled with so much love of the gospel, miracles, Newton Abbot ward, Teignmouth, the people, just everything to the point where I just started crying in happiness. There are these moments where it feels like there are so many blessings that literally you do not have room enough to recieve them. I had a similar experience one of my last Sundays in Bath. It renews my faith, and strengthens my testimony that God is truly a God of Miracles and of love. I feel like my understanding and sincerity of saying that grows stronger and stronger each day. 

Miracles:

1. Testimony meeting yesterday seemed to focus on the missionary work happening in Teignmouth. Bishop is just amazed about all of the people we are teaching and to think the Sisters opened the area 1 year ago. My favorite thing in missionary work is the progression. Seeing an area or person start from nothing and bit by bit, line upon line, growing each day. It parallels to my belief in God and this gospel. Everything good comes from God and the small and simple things each day. When many days go by and you are able to reflect on the progress, it is the best feeling.

2. There were testimonies born for the first time ever yesterday. They were so pure, beautiful and sincere.

3. A recent convert and her familly who had been away for awhile came to church. 

4. Kieron's grand-daughter and boyfriend decided to come to church with no invitation. I asked her why she came today and she said I have no idea, it just seemed right. Both her boyfriend and her have no concept or teaching about who God is and we are teaching them Tuesday at Kieron's. I have been praying for this opportunity to start sharing the gospel with Kieron's family. We had prayed that day that we could reach our goals for new investigators and that was truly a miracle.

5. Denise, who is the best friend of Judy and a member, bore her testimony for the first time in many years directly to Judy and Judy was in tears. She is getting baptized at the end of this month and you could just feel the love and connection. Denise is older and broke her hip, but made it to the stand. 

6. Judy's granddaughter Charly decided to come with her to church.

7. Our zone has been struggling in church attendance and and we fasted for a specific numeric goal that was way above any week we have had thus far, and we reached it exactly yesterday. 

I seriously could keep going and I don't know how meaningful all these things are to a person reading this, but these are people mean everything to me. I love and care about so incredibly much. They mean the world to me and to see God's hand at work helps me and humbles me to know whose work and glory this really is. I feel like the gospel gives us lens to see miracles. So if you haven't cleaned yours lately, clean them and look around to truly see the miracles. I love how the Spirit is constantly telling Nephi in 1 Nephi 11-14 to "Look". Look for the good in others and yourself. I love you all so much, and I'm grateful for your prayers. I really feel them.  

Overbrimming

Church: Church was packed. When I say packed, I mean Sister Chamberlain and I ended up sitting on the ground in the back and I am not complaining! The Bath ward is so special because they are unified in such love for one another that you can just feel it so strongly as you walk in. Church being packed had a lot to do with many families coming back from holiday, but still with the elders and us combined we had 7 investigators at church! Church as a missionary is a bit stressful. Enjoyable and awesome, but still a little bit stressful. This is a typical thought process of my Sunday. Wake up and pray that all the people that said they would come will come, that all the lifts will go according to plan, and just text and call. When we get to church we are talking to all the members to see how they are doing, while waiting for our investigators to come and then get members to help them feel welcome. We are constantly moving and talking and thinking and praying. As soon as you are in a meeting whether it be Relief Society, Gospel Principles, or Sacrament you are hoping that the investigators are having a positive experience. And in our case this Sunday, we had unexpected investigators turn up which was awesome, and this one creepy guy. And then in the middle of Sacrament meeting we got another call from someone else coming that needed directions. They got there with 10 minutes left and we gave them our chairs. Then after church ends, you are trying to get to talk to all the less actives, investigators, and members you need to ask to come on teaches. Everyone is asking you about your schedule when you can come for dinner or do service or teach or any random thing. It's a lot of multi-tasking and I am not complaining, but definitely gives you a whole new outlook on church. The time I really try to focus on is the Sacrament, which is why we go to church. At that time I focus on my Savior and His sacrifice for me. How I am imperfect and make mistakes constantly, but how willing He is to forgive me if I put my faith in Him and repent. And then how we are able to have the constant companion of the Holy Ghost promised to us. That is the best gift Heavenly Father gives us and man it is amazing to be a missionary because I am starting to understand more how the Spirit speaks to me.

We are working so hard. Every night this week I am completely dead. It's the best feeling ever because you can honestly feel that you gave that day to the Lord. We set really challenging goals this past week, and that is what helped us stretch and grow so much. I wish I could keep writing about all the experiences we are having. We are really over knocking hahaha, so we have been praying that people will be put in our paths that we can teach. The Lord answers prayers because we met 5 people whether that be on a bench, park, or street that we were able to teach right then and make a solid next appointment. Summer is ending soon so we need to find all these people before they start hibernating again haha. 

Sister Chamberlain is such a blessing to me. I love her and we get along so well. The Lord has been so good to us, and I am just amazed that if are obedient to His commandments, He blesses us. It is that simple, He is promised to bless us, we just have to be willing. Doctrine & Convenants 82:10 (I think that is right) I love you all so much!

Love and Cheers,

Sister McLeod

Doctrine & Covenants 82:10 - I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.

Sister Grobler and Sister Lloyd ~ Sisters I was with for a couple days in Bristol waiting to get Sister Chamberlain

This is the cutest family ever we are teaching, Sujata, Smruti, and Sparsh :)

The p-day before Sister Barker left our district we got together for some mini-golf in Victoria park. So fun!

And we found middle earth

Sister Chamberlain and I. We are pretty lucky to be here in Bath.

This is Tracy. She is amazing and is like my English mum.