Blessings

This week: It was a bit of a crazy week to say the least. Ended up in hospital in the middle of the night, but things are working out and we met with another doctor later on in the week and are continuing to meet with them to figure out what is happening with Sister Sargsyan. Won't go into detail about it all, but it is so hard to see someone in pain and not be able to do anything about it. I really wish I could switch with her or just get a giant pain vacuum. 

Crazy guy: There was this man we met on the street that we invited to church and he ended up coming. Well, turns out he just wants to marry my companion and I have never prayed so hard during a church meeting for him not to do anything crazy. 

Blessings: Seriously on my mission it seems like the hardest of weeks the Lord blesses you the most. He is so very kind and I am so grateful for prayer. This week it seems like I am in continuous prayer in my heart and really know that my Heavenly Father is there and listening and helping me and the people I am around.  We were able to find some really cool new people to teach that are really interested and almost every dinner appointment we had we were able to bring an investigator and teach them. Mike is planning to be baptised in August and he is doing so great. He already loves the members so much and has felt the influence of God increase exponentially in his life these past 3 weeks of meeting with us. He is in the process of quitting smoking and I love hearing his prayers. You really can tell if a person is progressing by their prayers. Mike's are so humble and pure. So beautiful.

I love you all so much and am grateful for your prayers. It seems like everything in the gospel comes down to prayer. Grateful for this simple, yet profound blessing in my life. 

Love,

Sister McLeod 

Travel, travel, travel!

Travel: I passed Stonehenge 6 times this week. That is a new personal record for me that I don't think I will surpass another time my life. I was in the car for 22 hours this week!!! That is what happens when you live in the boonies, but I am so grateful for it because I love the green and pleasant country side of England.

Temple: On Tuesday, Sister Andersen and I drove to the temple with George, Maxie, and Eve. So typical that I got my camera out and took one picture and then it died. But the picture I did get was so beautiful. Sister Andersen has all the other pictures, but unfortunately her new area doesn't have a place to send pics, so you'll have to imagine them. We walked around the grounds, the visitor center sisters gave a little speal, and then we had lunch. I love the peace of the temple grounds and the newness of spring in the air with the dafodills blossoming all around. They had a really lovely time and George said he didn't want to leave. I didn't either. You just feel so safe and secure. It was the best way for Sister Andersen to spend her last day. I feel like Maxie and George are family. I love them and Eve (who is a member and has become bff with Maxie and us) so much.

Staines Round 1: On Wednesday morning the McMurteys (senior couple) picked us up in the morning and we travelled to the Staines chapel. That is the central meeting and switching spot for missionaries who are moving that transfer and there were so many. We did some training, ate lunch, and the new missionaries were all sorted and my new missionary, my child, is Sister Schmidt from Germany! She is so great and hilarious. Full of fire, enthusiasm, super outgoing, talkative, and blunt. She is 19 and has a twin who is nannying right now in Australia at the moment. She is from Leipzig which is in the eastern part. She has been adjusting wonderfully and is ready to work and she is loving how the members are so involved with us. She is so amazing, and I have a lot to learn from her.

Staines Round 2: Less than 24 hours of being in Teignmouth, the zone leaders picked us up Thursday night for Missionary Leadership Council on Friday in Staines. We slept over in Staines because it starts at 8am and that would be ridiculous traveling that early from the Plymouth zone. Sister Schmidt stayed with Sister Pollidario's companion for that day. The AP's called earlier in the week to have me speak about resolving concerns on exchanges and discouraging gossip. I had so many thoughts about it throughout the week, but I could never compile it or organize it, and it was so frustrating. I learned a really important bit on personal revelation from this experience. I prayed so much, and I just felt like I kept hitting a barrier/mental block. I continued to think about it up until Thursday night, but still nothing. I just prayed that night that the Spirit would help guide me when I spoke, but I was so nervous. This is MLC, AP's, all the zone leaders, sister training leaders, and mission so a bit intimidating. BUT the Lord always answers our prayers, and I woke up at 5:45 with a scripture and story, and from that point on, I was able to focus on specific things I wanted to share. I felt more confident, and when it came for me to speak, it just felt so natural and I didn't even have to look at anything, I just knew what to say next. Seriously so grateful for the Spirit, and I love how we just have to trust in it and know it will come even if it is last minute. I'm the only STL Plymouth zone now since Sister Bereno from Colombia is going back to a Spanish branch in London, so now I've got sort out 4 exchanges that are so far away without a car and most of the trains still not wroking. I've got my work cut out for me, but it will all be good.

Well I love you all loads and loads and hope you have a great week.

Pictures from MLC and this is Sister Santo who is from the mission district in San Francisco...so we bonded.

 All the STLS

This is Maxie, George, Eve Somerville (love that lady so much!) and me and Sister Andersen

Answered Prayers

Imi: So Heavenly Father really does answer prayers,but we just have to work hard and be patient. We have been trying so hard to find solid people to teach, and it was frustrating because it seemed like every return appointment we would go to would fall through. In our planning and prayers we strongly desired to find someone who is seeking the gospel. On Wednesday, we got a text from the office with a mormon.org referral. We got the address and number of Imi saying she was inspired by the people of our church, and she wanted to learn more. We felt like it was right to go straight away and so we did. There have been joke referrals in the past, so when it was posh house, we were a bit skeptical, but right when we knocked Imi answered the door and was so eager and excited to see us. She is 18 and in her gap year before uni {university}. She is so COOL AND NORMAL! I feel like I know her from somewhere, but right away we got on and just started talking and shared the Restoration. She was scared it was going to be old people, and so I just know that is was all meant to be that Sister Chamberlain and I met her. She had been investigating the church on her own for about a year, and so we gave her the Book of Mormon (at church she said she read first 12 chapters) and invited her to church. She came, everyone loved her, and she enjoyed it. It was all meant to be that we were eating at the Pattersons after church because we invited her to come, and they got along so well! I feel so blessed to meet Imi. I feel blessed to be in Bath at this time. Blessed to be with Sister Chamberlain. Blessed to have the gospel in my life. Blessed with family and friends I love and pray for everyday. I know God love me, and I know He loves you so much.

Anti-Nephi-Lehies: Alma 24-26. I think this is the most poignant story of applying the Atonement in the Book of Mormon that touches me so much. I love everything about them. They were the Lamanite people converted to the Lord by Ammon and his brothers. These people love the Lord so much and have no desire to sin that they would rather die than slay another person. They bury their weapons. In fact as the armies are slaying them, their last moments are spent praising God knowing that they will be with Him because they have applied the Atonement in their lives and have clean and pure hearts. Their example cuts their enemies to the core and they stop after slaying a thousand Anti-Nephi-Lehies. It continues that their enemies who have just killed them are so touched by their example that more than those who were slain were converted unto the Lord that day. That example of not fighting with more fighting, but complete surrender of love to others and God was the only cure for the hatred of those people. And that story applies to us today. The only cure to contention and fighting is being humble enough to bury our weapons of pride and sin being changed by the Atonement of Jesus Christ by having true charity. I'm trying to do that everyday and I am seeing that I don't get as bothered anymore when people might be rude. I still love them, and I don't have a desire to hurt them, but just love them some more. I'm not perfect at it, and sometimes I think not the nicest thoughts in my head, but I know over time, over the course of my whole life, I can continue to learn to love more and more each and every day. It all comes down to love. I was reading in 1 Corinthians 13, and Paul is just saying how it profits a man nothing to do good things, but not to do those things with charity, the pure love of Christ.

I'm trying to love more, it's not always easy, but it is the only thing that can make us and God truly happy. I love you all and pray for your happiness:)

Love and Cheers,

Sister McLeod

Sister chamberlain and I enjoying alexandra park on p-day

Sister Cowley and I on exchanges enjoying my first fish and chips experience

Prayer

It is one thing to know truths intellectually, but emotionally learning those truths is another thing. The best example of this is change. We all know change is necessary to progress and grow, but when it comes around the corner it still emotionally gets to you. This is how I am feeling with Sister Barker leaving me next Sunday night or Monday morning. She has served faithfully 18 months and has been an amazing example and trainer to me of what a missionary and human being should be like. It seems like I love her more and more each day. And a lot of the emotions associated with change hit me last night. Feelings of inadequacy and uncertainty crept up. I'm learning on the mission and in life that these feelings may come, but it is how we respond to it that determines our ability to overcome and rise up to our potential. And our response always needs to be the same-turning to our Heavenly Father in prayer. I came across this amazing talk in the ensign and it let us know how essential prayer is.  

"Without prayer, there is no possible return to the Father. Without prayer, sufficient faith to understand and keep the commandments is impossible. Without prayer, the necessary spiritual power to avoid temptation and overcome trials and adversity would be unavailable. Without prayer, repentance, forgiveness, and the cleansing power of the atonement are unattainable. With the power of prayer, all things are possible"

Elder Kevin W. Pearson

I'm trying to be brave with this upcoming change, but I know to be brave I need Heavenly Father's help. I know we can do all things with Heavenly Father. I know that intellectually and from past experiences, but prayer is what gives us strength emotionally to accomplish everything we need to do. 

Why be afraid? That is what I keep telling myself. The Lord is on our side and we have had an amazing week. Our lovely Sonia is getting baptized on August 31st and Natalie is on track for September 14th! We are teaching so many people I love dearly and could keep writing and writing about each one. I know when we focus on others, our fears disappear because we are losing ourself in the work. Perfect love casteth out all fear. I know that through prayer and focusing on helping others we can blossom with the changes in our life that may overwhelm us. I'm learning that right now so I can testify of this truth. 

I love you all!

Cheers!

Sister McLeod

And this is the lovely testimony of Sister Barker

"The Lord is the head of this work, it is His work, and we are only called to serve Him.  Each and every day is an act of faith but it brings the greatest blessings, for when we are in the service of our fellow beings we truly are only in the service of our God (Mosiah 2:17).  I have come to know for myself more assuredly that God lives, Jesus Christ is our Savior, The Book of Mormon is Another Testament of Jesus Christ, and Joseph Smith was called of God and given the authority to restore the Church of Jesus Christ as it was in former times.  If you contemplate as to whether to go or not go on a mission let me reassure you that you will never regret making that decision and that God can and will guide you to know if you are "called to the work."  I have loved and still love being a missionary and will be for the rest of my life, so no worries about being released, I'll then receive my new calling of being a member missionary and I am so glad to know that God will sustain me in that calling too :)  I know these things are true and say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."