Miracles of Children

Miracles of children: It really amazes me how close to the Lord children/ teenagers can really be. Two of the highlights of this week came from a 11 year old and a 13 year old boy.

1. On Thursdays, we do a Family Home Evening type of activity and lesson for our investigators and members. One of the recent converts has a 11 years old boy who has asbergers and has had his ups and downs in deciding if he wants to join the church. He is extremely intelligent and hyperactive. When we were in the lesson part, he wasn't paying attention (or what we thought) and when we watched this Mormon message it completely brought the Spirit. His little brother and him shared the most sincere desires to really test to see if there is a God through praying and fasting. Their words were so sincere and honest and it was one of the most powerful lessons I've been in.

2. On Sunday, in fast and testimony meeting Jack and Phoebe came. Phoebe is 11 and Jack is 13. Their mom has been less active for 20 years or so. After explaining what a testimony was, he asked if he could bear his testimony, but if he could write it down. Oh man, it touched me so much. It went along the lines of how much he enjoyed learning about the church, how friendly everyone was, how he appreciated the sisters, was looking forward to camp(youth camp is this week), and how he was feeling the Spirit. It was so sweet and completely unexpected. I really know Jack will lead his family in being baptized or returning to church.

Costco: Sister Sargsyan has not had anything happen to her physically this week, so that is awesome. We went to do an MRI in Southampton and guess what I WENT TO COSTCO AND IT WAS A PIECE OF HEAVEN. Oh man it was so bizarre to be in Costco in England. I didn't even know until Phil Grant (aka as the best member ever) took us there after the appointment for lunch. The only difference in the food is they added cottage pie. man it was the best. as you can see in the pic. 

Diversity: I do appreciate the diversity of Bourenmouth. One day we taught an Algerian, Oman girls, Russian, English, South African, and Indian all in one day! It is so nice that Sister S knows so many languages.

Well I love you so much. I really appreciate all of your prayer and love. I really feel it so much. Bournemouth is the best. So beautiful. It has been an amazing summer. I love seeing and hearing from all of you and I just am so thankful for everything in my life. The gospel really has given me so much strength throughout my life and especially on the mission. I love you all and you must watch this! Haha, if any of you watch one tree hill i totally had a flash back to that in the beginning with the basketball. anyways, it is so powerful!

Love you loads!

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=3701964025001

This is a horrible pic of all of us, but nonetheless heres a pic of MLC!

Testify

Miracle: So Sister Sargsyan has been having crazy intense migraines every day(lasting from like 10 mins to a few hours), and she is being the biggest trooper ever but I love how I really know the Lord loves his missionaries. After church yesterday she had another one and the elders gave her a blessing. We went on our way (she was still in pain) and we stopped a couple people in our path until we met Tim. Tim is someone we taught in the first couple of weeks and said he would meet us again only if our paths ever crossed again. Bournemouth is huge and lo and behold we see him again and he has actually been reading the Book of Mormon. We had a great street teach and he wanted to meet again. Sister Sargsyan said that as soon as she started testifying her pain went away. It is amazing that that cure to physical, emotional, spiritual pain in the mission is juts sharing our testimonies. It is the best fix for anything. I love it and love how the Lord is mindful of all of our situations.

Weather: I have been blessed so much in Bournemouth. It has rained 3 times since I been here the past 6 weeks. It is so warm and I am getting ridiculous tan lines. 

MLC: We went to MLC on Friday and the night before we drove to Winchester to stay with the sisters there. That one picture is with Sister O'Brien who I knew from Plymouth zone. She is the best and Winchester is so beautiful. MLC is the best spiritual feast and I love President Millar so much. There is a pic of all the sister training leaders and then one of Sister Cowley and Sister Barrows. we have the same pic our first day flying from Atlanta to Manchester. I love them both so much. The other pic is me and Sister McLaws. She is just full of boldness and happiness (amazing missionary) and we are just getting a pic that our names are so close. She is training an Armenian in beloved Bath at the moment. The Channel Islands (Jersey and Guernsey) are in our zone and i asked president if we could do a work over there with the sister and he said yes so that will be the coolest exchange ever. we have to take a 4 hour boat! 

Anyways, love you all so much. The church keep getting truer everyday. Keep doing the small and simple things. 

love,

Sister McLeod 

4th of July

Hospital: We were on the bus headed to an appointment and right when we got off the bus Sister Sargsyan just said I feel like I'm going to lose my mind (she meant pass out) and then said she could not feel the right side of her body or her face so i helped her to sit down and rushed to this store next door to get her some water. She really couldn't communicate very well and so I called President and he said to go to the hospital. We called a member to pick us up and we went there and they couldn't figure out why and it eventually wore off after 3 hours. It was a bit scary, but just felt a peace through it all. From that experience I learned we have the most loving members, many of them coming right when they heard especially to give her a blessing. She cannot sleep at all still so going on like a week of getting 1-2 hours of sleep, but she is the biggest trooper. She is still working hard, even though I have no idea how her body is doing it. President came to our church to see how she was doing, and we are meeting with a doc this week. So keep Sister Sargsyan in your prayers. 

4th of July: I was on exchanges with Sister Nelson (from Utah) in Salisbury so in the beginning of our companion study we did a little remix mash of american hymns. Good to be with an American. I love England, but the 4th of July is my favorite holiday. One of our members has a sister from Ohio who is living here, and so she put on a 4th of July party (on the 5th). It was so cute how she was decked out with everything American and making sure eveything was right. Also on that day, the Poole Stake celebrated 50 years of it being built so there was a massive dinner and celebration with 250 members. And it was cool to hear a lot of memebrs stories of helping to build it. Such a good time, so in a way the 4th was celebrated here across the pond :)

A few miracles: We met this man named Mike as he was delivering parcels, and he is the best. He wants to get baptised and quit smoking and was able to come with us to the fourth of july party and the poole celebration and just loved all the members. We stopped a man in the street and turns out he was baptised when he was 10 and hadn't been to church for 25 years and wanted to come...and so he did and loved it! It has been a good week filled with some hospital drama, but accompanied always with miracles and fun. I love you all so much!

Reppin the red, white and blue with Sister Nelson + Bastian. 

Salisbury Cathedral = gorgeous! Salisbury is right next to Amesbury too, where Stonehenge is.

Training Experiences

Bournemouth: The great. It is sooo sunny and warm and so many people out. It is great being new sisters because families are giving you people that they think sisters would be better for and so we are starting to have a good investigator pool with part member families. 

Training: Sister Sargsyan keeps on coming out with the craziest stories about her life and mini mission in Georgia that is so hilarious. I think I need to write a book for her. Like for example in Armenia I guess it is common for men to try to kidnap the person they want to marry if she refuses and this one man (out of many admirers of Sister S) tried to take her when she was going to her car in the grocery store car park, and I guess he is still parked out near his house today waiting for her! Creepy. He even bought her a car. Anyways stories like this keep coming up and I am just loving it. It is so interesting training a lot because every experience and person is completely different. You have sweetheart Sister Chamberlain who I got along really well with in Bath where I was really nervous to train and all our investigators seemed to drop us right before she came. You have sensitive and thoughtful Sister Andersen from Denmark coming into the new area of Teignmouth and starting from 1 investigator and building the area. You have hilarious, talkative, straightforward Sister Schmidt from Germany coming in at the height of success in Teignmouth. And then we've got confident and glamorous Sister Sargsyan from Armenia coming into Bournemouth, both of us new to the area figuring it out and learning English. Missionaries have come up to me and said oh you must be the best trainer, but honestly I feel like I am learning so much every time, being humble and realising how many things I need to work on. I am so grateful for companions being patient with me. I am learning by trial and error with every companion and I liken that to how it will be as a mother. Every child and circumstance in your life will be different. But I love the gospel and the ability to change everyday and just keep trying amidst imperfect.   

Miracle After Church: We had just left church and were walking down the road when we stopped and talked to this Portuguese lady. She wasn't very interested so we kept on walking and I noticed this guy was staring really creepily at my companion and following us, so I said walk fast and pass these two ladies in front of us. The two ladies were wearing really pretty dresses and we said hey I like your dress and started to walk with them. Turns out Bertille from somewhere in Africa was looking for the church and her friend Tamsyn had decided to go with her. She had been baptised in 2008 in Southhampton, but had lost contact to the church and was just going to any Christian church service she could find. We said well we can just go back to the chapel right now and talk and so we did that and it was so amazing to hear her conversion and her friend is super interested too. It is amazing how the Lord works and put them in our path for a reason. Even that creepy guy so we could walk faster and talk to these lovely ladies.  

Well I love you all so much! It is so exciting to here updates here and there and shoutout to Mrs. Kaitlyn Taylor who is not Kaitlyn Taylor anymore. I saw one picture and you looked beautiful. Have such a lovely and sunny week. Someone said it is going to be a warm summer in England so I will take that!

Love,

Sister McLeod

Oh and we took a pic outside the chapel because they were all matching except me

I am getting the best watch tanline ever! Sister S and I in this giant balloon that goes up and down and we got permission to go on it today! And us at the beach on good old p-day.

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

Lots of Happenings and Pictures!

Judy and Denise at her baptism

Wow what a lovely week! I am just filled with gratitude for the love I feel for evey person I've met in Teignmouth and Newton Abbot. My eyes have been annoyingly leaking. I took pictures of a lot of people who have made an impact on my life. I didn't get everyone, but here are a million pictures.

Bourenmouth: Presdient called Saturday morning and asked me to pinkwash an area and train a new missionary. Pinkwash means that the area used to have elders, but they have closed it down for a bit and are now opening it to sisters. I am excited/scared, but more on the excited part to begin this new adventure. It will be fun to train and to come into the area together knowing nothing about the place or ward. I think what awaits me is a lot of prayers, getting lost, but seeing a lot of miracles as well. I guess I can't get out of the southwest of England haha, but I am blessed to be going to a seaside city again. 

Judy's baptism: I have been teaching Judy since December. It was really cool how it all came to be because we felt prompted to go by a older member Denise who lived at the very top of Teignmouth when I was with Sister Andersen. Me being a novice to Teignmouth I thought it would take 15 minutes to walk there, but with the hills it ended up being 50 minutes. I am proud to say when Sister Schmidt and I walked there a couple of days ago it only took 30 minutes, so I'm getting in shape with all these hills :) But during that time with Denise the Spirit was very strong as we got to know her and when we asked if there was anyone we could go by, she told us about her beloved friend Judy whom she has known for 30 years. We stopped by and once every 2 weeks turned into once a week which turned in to 2 then 3 times a week. Judy cannot lie, and it has been so fun teaching her because she will say exactly what is on her mind and ask wonderful questions. She has a heart of gold and does anything for her family and friends. I love her so much. The baptismal service was so special as Denise spoke about friendship. They were both in tears and it just made me tear up as well. Charlotte, her grand-daughter sang "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing." At the last moment she got scared she couldn't hit the high parts so we offered to sing it with her. Man we, or more me, made her look good because of my not so good voice, but it was special and she is the cutest and has made me braclets and a little smirf for a good bye present. What a special memory to end in Teignmouth.

Miracle teach:  I want to talk about this miracle of a teach we had. We met Christina on the street a month back. She is 17 and we have been meeting her at this little bench/pavilion right by the sea when members aren't able to have her in their home. We came to the teach with Elisa, a member who just got called to the Adelaide Australia mission (fun fact for you all), and turns out Christina brought her friend Louise who is interested. It gets better. We start teaching word of wisdom and law of chastity after a brief overview and how to begin teaching for Louise when a lovely girl turns around from another bench and says "Hey! I am really interested in what you are talking about, can I join in?". It was such an amazing experience and we are now meeting with both of those girls as well as Christina. Christina's mom let her finally come to church and so that was another miracle as well!

Teignmouth: I have loved this place and people with all my heart and I've really learned on the mission that home is where ever the gospel and love is. I am grateful to have seen the incredible progress of this area and see Kieron, Paul, Judy enters the waters of baptism. Things are conitnuing to progress and hopefully when I visit in a couple years there will be a Teignmouth ward.

I love you all so much, and appreciate your love and support. It means a lot.

Heather, Rebecca, Oliver, and me. I don't have time to write about her, but I know one of the reasons I needed to be here was to be with Heather during this really difficult part of her life. She said you are like a sister to me, and I feel the same way. There have been so many ups and downs, and I am so blessed to know this family.

 Judy, charlotte, me and Smirf

Vousdens = Amazing family, I don't know what we would do without them. That is Bishop and his wife Susan (I think she looks like Aunt Anne), his son Joe who returned from his mish 2 weeks ago in Leeds and Shannon, the prettiest 16 year old ever!

Maxie, she is also like another sister and she is planning on being baptised, she is just waiting for the penny to drop on a few things. She is pretty much a member already though and we have been through a lot together.

This is one of the many meals we have had together and it is so cute they always just give me a fork because I am American and am not the best with the knife/fork approach of Europeans.

Elisa Zuchic is the sweetest person ever. She is from Croatia but moved with her Mom 6 years ago to England and joined the church. She got her mission to Adelaide Australia. How cool is that!

Miracle teach. Emily had to go before the end, but here's a pic of Christina, Louise, me, and Elisa.

Dohertys. They an an Irish family who moved into the ward last year. They came pretty much with nothing and I am so grateful for their example of stalwart faith. We go every Thursday to them for dinner and they are hilarious in such an English dry humour type of way. 

My choir family!!!!!! Love every single one of them sooo much!

Sara McGuiness is the mom of 8! Can you believe it?. She just had little cute oscar, who is already being so musical

Hilarious Sister Schmidt: We were doing Judy's garden and Sister Schmidt was frustrated her fence wouldn't fit and she was like find me a saw, and I was like sister come on, it is alright, but no she would not leave it like that so we find her a saw and she just keeps sawing for a good 20 minutes. 

Stella and Kids: They were baptised in September, and they are just so great. Stella is AMAZING! So much respect for everything she has done as a single mom with everything that happened in the past. They are just so loving and fun.

Sam and Bryony: Love these two.

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!

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.  

Miracles

Some Miracles of the Week:

1. The elders met a man named Deon for literally 20 seconds in Newton Abbot, but in those 20 seconds he said he had faith, but dint have a church to go to and gave them his phone number and told them he lived in Teignmouth. The elders then called us to let us know about him and to give him a call later that evening. Literally an hour later, we were walking in Teignmouth and stopped a man. Turns out it was Deon! We proceeded to teach him, and set up a time to meet again. I think the Lord really wants Deon to be taught and we are excited about him.

2. We watched Finding Faith in Christ with Alan, and it was one of those teaches where the truth just clicked. The Spirit was there and he was able to understood more fully about who our Savior really is and what he has done for us. He was tearing up, and although he was feeling awful he came to church on Sunday. There was some drama between him and a less active member that he actually knows, but thanks to the elders and another member they were able to calm him down in a classroom and his whole demeanor changed from the beginning of church to the end. The blessings of coming to church are real, even when we feel horrible.

3. Maxie has not been feeling good lately, but she was driving around the roundabout by the church one evening and saw the lights on and remembered that it was choir. She felt like she needed to just sing to feel better, and lo and behold right as we are walking by the chapel we see her and is like is that Maxie!? We never usually go to choir on Wednesday, but we felt like we should that day. We were late, and it seriously was just meant to be that we could just see her since we hadn't been able to for a few days. After choir there was a relief society activity that she stayed for, and it was so good to see her smiling and happy and participating. Yet again the gospel, the members, the chapel, and the Spirit uplift those in need. I love seeing it repeated again and again in so many lives.

Calming down and focusing on the person: So we are really busy lately in teaching and going on exchanges and what not, and there was one time I realized that I was stressing about getting to the next appointment during a teach with someone else, and I stopped and pondered afterwards: what am I doing? I need to just focus on this person and their needs at this moment, and trust that everything else that day will work out how it is meant to be AND NOT STRESS. I was reading in 3 Nephi today about the Savior visiting the Nephites in the Americas and I love how He was about to leave them after speaking and teaching them, but there is a moment where he just looks at them. He sees they have tears in their eyes, and he feels their faith. He is moved with compassion, and even though he needs to go, he stops to help those in need. He heals those in need, blesses the children one by one, and prays a beautiful prayer to Heavenly Father with them. They are filled with joy, and he is filled with joy. It is this circle of reciprocated love that really brings joy to our lives. BUT, this opportunity and joy that happened could have been easily missed if Jesus was stressed about time. I am learning that everything works out how it is meant to be, and we just need to stop and focus on the person that is right in front of us. I love the quote that goes along the lines that, a problem to be solved should never take priority to a person that needs to be loved.

I love you all,so much.

Love,

Sister McLeod    

Progression

Halloween: I really have learned to appreciate American enthusiasm for Halloween. People celebrate it here, but it is not as big and people are not so creative with their costumes. I asked all the kids in primary what they were and 90% said they were witches. Come on now!, where is the creativity there. But there is a holiday tomorrow, November 5th, called Guy Fawkes. It is something about someone trying to blow up parliament or something and they celebrate it by burning things and doing fireworks. so obviously a really cool day. The ward is having dinner and fireworks at the Turvey's tomorrow. And today (p-day) I'm so pumped because we are having an arts and crafts day with Sister Turvey who I love so much! 

Chris: Chris is progressing right along and is so excited about his baptism on Saturday!!!!! AND SO ARE WE!!!!!! We have taught him everything in a lot of different members homes and he has accepted everything with such enthusiasm! He even expounds on the doctrine. For example, we were teaching law of chastity and he went off about Elder Bednar's talk about Chastity in the Ensign we had given to him a couple days before. He is a natural teacher and is going to be such a strength to the church. We are having dinner and a lesson at the Pattersons' tonight so you can say it is going to be the best p-day ever!

Fasting miracle: As a mission we had a special fast for 35 or more baptisms in the months of November and December separately, and we saw the direct and immediate blessing that day! Sister Chamberlain and I were teaching gospel principles and out of the blue Billie, a uni student from London walks in. Her grandma is a member and she has been looking for a church to go to in Bath. We were talking to her and she was like this might sound weird, but is there anything I can read about the church. YA WE DO! Anyway we met with her that night and her flatmates were also interested! With all of them there and participating in the lesson, the Spirit was so strong and it was probably the most natural lesson of the restoration we have taught. I love teaching people me age. Billie is eager to learn more and loved church. We are meeting with her again on Tuesday. 

Bath: The Spirit hits me the most during hymns, and I just felt this incredible sensation of love yesterday at church during the sacrament hymn. I was reflecting on my progression as a missionary and a person in general these past 5 almost 6 months and the progression of the ward. The Bath ward is the most special ward I have ever been to in that you can just feel the love immediately as you walk into the chapel. Since July the ward has had 5 almost 6 with Chris baptisms (they hadn't had one for 2 years) and a lot of reactivation. I have been so blessed to experience my first months of the mission here and the Bath ward will always be so special to me throughout my life. I'll find out next Monday what the verdict is of moves. But anyways, life is great. It is winter here so I'm really starting to understand the power of layers and wool tights. 

I love you all so incredibly much!

Love,

Sister McLeod

#26

Miracles: What is a miracle? The natural result of the correct application of true principles.

I learned this at the MTC {Missionary Training Center}, and I have loved applying it and seeing it on my mission. I think we tend to think of miracles as Jesus-status healings, but when you stop and look at your day, you see the Lord is involved in the tiny nuances as we are striving to live the gospel. Whether it is seeing someone three times in one day to finally talk the third time and to realize they are interested in learning more or missing the bus to find some lady who needs your help or finally finding your bus pass after you say a little prayer, God gives us so many miracles! Everytime my companion and I go to bed, we talk about 3 of them we have seen that day and that is only a fraction of them. I invite you to take a step back from your busy day and see the miracles. As you recognize them, you become so much happier.

#26: One huge miracle I saw this week was when we were headed to teach. For the first time since I have been out, I felt like we should stop at this one specific door. It wasn't this huge overwhleming voice, but just a simple thought, hey we should knock on this house. We knocked and met Patricia. At first we thought she was mad because we woke her up, but as we started talking she was so thankful we had stopped by and as I said something about knowing that Jeusus is our Savior she just hugged me. You don't know how much that hug meant to me. I seriously was about to cry as she hugged me because I knew the Holy Ghost had prompted us to stop at this door and meet this lovely lady. It was all meant to be, and I was thankful for that moment where my will and the Lord's will were alligned to knock on #26. That is our goal everyday and when that happens, missionary work becomes easier and much more enjoyable. Our mission president is all about teaching as we find which means sharing 2 principles, a prayer, and hopefully a return appointment as we are meeting people on the street or in their house or anywhere. He believes it will increase the effectiveness of missionary work, and I believe it too because we have seen so much success. It gives you especially more purpose as you are tracting. When you just start teaching the true doctrine people automatically start learning and if they shut the door or dismiss you, at least you know that they learned maybe one thing.

          This is the lethal pasty {picture below}

Funny/Kinda Gross Story: So on P-day {Preparation Day} last week I bought my first pasty {Yes, that's what they call a type of pastry} which is like a bread filled thing of potatoes and steak and veggies and what not. Seems 

innocent, but never again will I eat a lethal pasty. Well later on when p-day ended we were headed to give service to wash windows for a lady, but I was not feeling good whatsoever. Sister Barker was washing the windows and I just sat there concentrating on not throwing up. As we were heading to clean the front windows through her house, my stomach could not take it any longer and I ran for the door, but unfortunately I did not make it. And while this is happening my comanion is holding back the lady's giant monster of a dog who is barking uncontrollably. It was quite embarassing, but the lady was sympathetic and it turns out this was our last visit because she asked to be taken off the records so we really went out with a bang I guess haha. On a mission you really find the subtle humor of the randomest things, and so after we were headed home we had a good laugh. So ya, I can check that off on things to do on a mission. I don't know if it was the pasty because I was sick the whole next day, but I just like to blame it on that atrocious thing.

I love you all, the gospel is true, I am thankful to be able to share this truth as a missionary. Miracles are happening all around us. We just have to open our eyes.

Love,

Sister McLeod

This is the most delicious thing England has offered me yet. They are called digestives, but I call them desirables or delicatbles. They truly brighten my day, and this is a picture to show my love for them and say I have been out for a month!

This is a cliche telephone picture I could not resist. Can check that one off the list!