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 

The People

The Why: It is good to slow down sometimes and remember why you are doing something. When you understand the why, the who, what, when, and where, it makes more sense and life suddenly has more meaning. I hit my halfway mark yesterday, so maybe that is why I am being reflective. The why I am out here on a mission is because of the people I have met and will continue to meet. Their stories, personalities, humor, and testimonies have been locked away in my heart and I cannot imagine my life without knowing them. Sister Andersen and I were just realizing that we are teaching the best people and we are so lucky to know them and love them. They are so unique and different, yet the unifying power of the gospel is helping to be happier. I love it and wanted to share a little something about them.

(50's) Judy: Judy is a hard working single mom who will do anything for her family. She stands up for what she knows is right and looks out for the underdog. When she watched the restoration video and when we read the scriptures, she always shows concern for the people who get persecuted like Joseph Smith and Nephi from his brothers. It is so sweet to see her concern.

(30's) Alan: Alan is HILARIOUS! The first week we were together, Sister Andersen and I found him knocking and every time we meet with him he is still amazed that we knocked his door, like it was a privilege. Just from that experience, He knows God is looking out for him. Alan comes from a bit of a dodgy/chavy/noncommittal background, but has this pureness type of innocence and is stoked on the gospel and wants to change his life. He even got a journal that says "man with a plan." We had to take a picture. I wish you could all meet and see how this guy is without trying to be.

This is Alan: A man with a plan!

(20's) Maxie: Maxie pretty much teaches herself. She is thirsty for knowledge and understanding and is so considerate of others. She is always sensitive about doing the right thing, and she is the epitome of "slow and steady wins the race." For Maxie, the truth has come a little bit at a time and through little experiences here and there and she wants to make sure she is committing to something she fully believes in and trusts in. The members love her and she is going to sing a duet with a member at the next musical program. She is immersing herself in the gospel and church activities amidst the trials that she faces and I love her to death. We are going to the moors (beautiful place) with her today for our p-day and then going to FHE at the Vousdans home and Alan is going to come to!

(60's) Bill: Bill is an artist. You should see the texts Bill sends about his feelings about the Book of Mormon. So poetic and he is loving every moment about learning about this gospel. He has legitimate obstacles keeping him from coming to church, but He is trusting in God to prepare a way for him.

(60's) Kieron: And we can't forget about him. I talk about him loads, but he seriously is so thoughtful and I love him to death. He is loving learning even more about the gospel after his baptism and starting to do his family history and heading to the temple for baptisms soon. His family is getting interested, and we are hoping to teach them next! His insights and prayers are completely genuine and beautiful.

So when I knock doors or get knocked over by this rubbish weather, I remember the why and these people. The hope to find that next person I am going to start loving even more and introduce to the gospel is why I go out everyday. It is why I am a missionary.

I love you all so much. Look at the why you do things and it will help you gain a better attitude amidst the trials we face daily. The gospel is true and brings happiness. I know that for myself and I know that for the people I have met.

Love,

Sister McLeod

I was so tired one night, I literally could not get to bed. Haha!

Sister Andersen let me cut her hair! I felt so proud that finally someone trusted me enough! By the way it looks great!

Product hair cut

Kieron!

Sister McLeod :): Kieron was baptized on Saturday and it was just the greatest thing in the world. Although a baptism is so wonderful to see, it is the process of growth and happiness that really makes it so meaningful. He had 3 different baptismal dates before, and to see him finally enter so excited and willing fills me with warmth. I knew this day would come ever since I met him in November, it was just a matter of when. You can feel that with different people, and I was just so glad that the "when" was on Saturday where I could see it. We gave him a quad of scriptures the week before for a baptismal gift, but he wanted to open it after his baptism talk about self-control. It was so cute. He brought it to the baptism and ripped it open and just smiled from ear to ear! I seriously want to put Kieron in my pocket forever!  He wasn't sure if his family was going to come, but they did and it meant so much to him to have them there. There was such a happy spirit at the service and one of the members sang "Savior, Redeemer of my Soul" and it is my new favorite hymn. So beautiful. On Sunday, he received the gift of the holy ghost and tears were streaming down his face. He described the experience afterwards as feeling a warm pressure infusing into his body. He also received the priesthood after church and that is where I teared up. To see how happy he was and to know there is one more righteous priesthood holder on the earth just fills me right up. I felt the same way with Chris in Bath. Afterwards, I shook Kieron's hand and it is a moment I want to freeze forever. He said I made it, and I said I knew you would. When he said thank you, it was the most meaningful thank you I have felt and it was so hard to not not just give him a big hug! Kieron, just to hear his name makes me so happy. I love this gospel so much. It means the world to me. 

Weather: In other news, England is getting hit so much with rain. There is flooding in a lot of areas and in the town over the rail line that paralells the sea was demolished and the rail line was hanging in Dawlish. The waves were going insane! On p-day we went and videoed them. I'll send some pics. But we are doing great! Just a little wet. 

What I have learned in England: Umbrellas are useless, rain coats are the way to go.

Crazy waves, a view from one of our investigators flats

I love you all so much!

Love,

Sister McLeod

Talks

Accent: Sorry to report, but no, I don't have an english accent folks. But my grammar is decreasing. It is scary. My district leader has a hickish type accent from Utah and one of our investigators is from London and they say things like "we was" and stuff and I am catching myself saying stuff like that. AHHHHH! And then I say my o's like an irish person at times. I think I already told you guys that, but I have no idea what my voice is doing!

 

Progress In Talking: I am grateful to be a misisonary because I am getting more comfortable with giving talks way last minute and being completely fine with it. It is so weird when I look back on the first talk I ever gave. I think I was 12 and I wrote it out like a week before and practiced it over and over. I also think of my sophomore year when I had to give a presentation on Nelson Mandela and completely blanked and started it over like 3 times and after the class I just started crying and never having a desire to speak in front of people again. BUT you never stop trying. Practice makes perfect and you just say a prayer and rely on the Spirit to take over when you talk. And I am sure I'll have experiences in the future where I don't give the best talk, but I'll learn from it and keep trying. I got a text Saturday night about speaking Sunday morning. I've learned that a good talk consists of a personal story, scriptural example, application to life, and linking it to the Savior ALWAYS. So that is what I did and I think it was the best talk I've given and the least stressed out I've been. Thank you mission.

 

Investigators: Sorry, I don't talk about investigators as I should. It is weird because some things you experience as a missionary with someone are so special and personal that you feel weird writing it. I'm not being selfish, I promise, but just know Kieran and Maxine are progressing and doing awesome. Kieran is working on quitting smoking and Maxine is up to Helaman and wants to join the ward choir! We have other invetsigators that are in the beginning stages, and good things are going to come.

 

Weather: IS CRAZY. We are actually really blessed in this Southern most part of England compared to the rest of the country. It is cold though. One moment it will be sunny, and the next pouring down. That is England for you.

 

Lars: We had an awesome district meeting that got Sister Andersen and I pumped about making specific goals. We have heard those stories of people praying for a specific person and actually finding them and bringing them to the gospel, so we thought we have the faith we can do it too! So we prayed and the person that came to both our minds was a male, black puffy jacket, shoulder length hair, and Sister Andersen thinks his name is Lars. So we are looking for Lars everyday! We will find him!

 

Exchange: I love helping out sisters. I didn't fully expect how much joy it would bring, but I love being able to learn, listen, and love the different sisters I get to meet! Sometimes it is so crazy to think that the Lord trusts us 18-21 age people to do what missionaries do to a specific area of the world. That we are living on our own, figuring out transport, appointments, talking to everyone we meet about the gospel, etc. But He trusts us, and everything always works out. For exchanges, you pray about who, when, and where you will exchange. So I felt good about Sister Jacob coming to Teignmouth with me. We trained it to Torquay and back and had an awesome day. Our goal was to have fun street contacting. I asked one of the first ladies I met if we could help her (she was carrying garden stuff), and she said yes!! She was heading to her allotment (no one in England really has a garden/yard so there are these places you can buy and do your garden) and so we went and helped her for an hour and a half. She was a Jehovah's witness and really friendly and open, and we ended up teaching her the Restoration while we were helping her. SO AWESOME. I just love how you never know where you will end up in a day. You plan of course, but then you go where the Lord needs you to go. Anyways, it was a cool experience and I love Sister Jacob lots. I think we have a family connection or something because her family is from Scotts Valley.

 

Anyways! ALL is Well in ISRAEL, I love you lots and thank you family for the picture book and calendar, I look it all the time and just love you all so much! Have a great week!

 

Love,

Sister McLeod

 

This is a picture from Christmas. Us and the Newton Abbot elders (Elder Blackner, Smith, me and Sister Andersen). I just love all of my district so much.

Loved

Exchange: So dreams do come true. Sister Cowley was my best bud and roommate in the MTC {Missionary Training Center}, and both our companions went to the London mission. We sat next to each other on the bus on our way to Staines from the MTC both wondering where we would go and who our trainers would be, what our fears would be and what not. I remember at one of the pit stops we got out and we just wanted to go talk to people about the gospel, but we were just hesitant and nervous. It was like the MTC was our zoo, and we were being introduced to the real habitat we belonged to and we were confused what to do. Haha. Well when we got to Staines, we got our areas and she and I were the only ones to go to the Bristol zone and we have seen each other at every zone training and conference. We talked about how we wondered if we would ever serve together, and so sure enough we got to for a day this week! There is a sister training leader in every zone right now. The goal for the future is to have 2 serving together with a car. So right now Sister Cowley is with Sister Pitcher, who is the sister training leader for the Bristol Zone and they go on exchanges with each sister companionship in the zone (There are 4 them). Exchanges are a 24-hour period where you switch companions and areas, so I got to go to Bridgewater (1 hour 30 min) car ride with Sister Cowley and Sister Pitcher came to Bath. Man I was so excited, and it was so good to talk to Sister Cowley. We are always struggling with the same things everytime we see each other so it was so fun and good to serve with her for a day and see how far we have both come since the MTC. We talked to everyone without a fear and taught some great people. I just love how the mission is refining, pushing, and changing us for the better. We both agreed we are working hard, but feel like we need to give our hearts more completely to the Lord. So until Sister Cowley and I meet again, we will discuss how we are doing as missionaries. Anyway, such a great day. 

Terms of Endearment: Okay so everyone in their texts ends with x's. Example: Okay that sounds good, take care. xx. I just started doing it too haha, but then I finally asked one of the members one day, and she had never heard of xoxo or o's being hugs. So they stick to kisses here in England. Oh and they call hugs here cuddles. Just so endearing right? And I absolutely love how people always say love, like hello my love, take care love, it makes me feel loved! By the way, my comp's and I pump up song everyday is "You are Loved" by Josh Groban. If you are ever feeling down, just put it on repeat, works like a champ. 

Dinner Appointments: So the ward is so awesome. We have 4-6 DA's {Dinner Appointments} every week so we don't have to make too much food. Since the ward is divided with a lot of the strong members in the elder's area, we don't get to see them too much, but the Relief Society president who is the coolest had 2 daughters who kept on insisting we come over for a dinner. They kept complaining that they always had to have the boys come, and they wanted the girlies - hahaha. Their family is the cutest and funniest and reminds me of all my siblings cute, young, and strong families. So we asked the zone leaders, and it ended up being a big dinner with the elders, the recent converts, and us. It seriously felt like Thanksgiving and it was so fun. Just felt like one big family. The little girls, who are 4 and 6 definitely got their girl time and it was so great to be there with everyone and share a big spiritual thought with the elders. And we got to serve in Calne for like an hour and a half before the dinner, and it was so fun to look for people to pass over to the elders. We found one really cool woman and talked this group of like 10 teenager punks, it was the best. 

Weather: What the heck!? Once it hit September it just decided to get cold. It is manageable cold right now, but the members keep telling me I am going to freeze later on. But I refuse to be scared about it. Can't be bothered. K but funny experience, it was down pouring one day while we were walking back home and all of a sudden, a car splashed in this huge puddle and I was completely drenched from head to foot. I just screamed of shock and just started laughing. I took one for the team since I protected my Sister Chamberlain from it. I'm sure there will be many more experiences like that here, but thankfully we were headed home anyway.

Work: We are continuing to find more people. We are still teaching Sujata and a family, but are just building and building. We are going to be super positive this week and have the goal to baptize everyone! Haha, you know that youtube video about the little girl in the mirror saying "I love my mommy, I love my life, I love everything, etc. Well Sister Chamberlain do that everyday as well. I know there are people here in Bath being prepared, we just got to find them!

I love you all!

Love and Cheers!

xx

Sister McLeod

I believe this is the video Mackenzie is talking about...

English 101

Oh my goodness, it is proper hot here! They said they didn't have a summer last year, and that this weather is supposed to last a month. I'm starting to understand how missionaries in hot places feel, the sun drains you, but I am getting a sweet farmer's tan and shoe tan line so I am counting my blessings. And the sun makes everyone friendlier :) Yesterday I was told I have a beautiful accent, so I felt pretty cool for a minute. The english accent is so normal to me and I used to think I wanted to have one, but I just like how I talk because it is me. My companion has mostly had foreign companions, and so her accent is kinda like a hodgepodge of something. No one can ever figure it out when they are talking to her, it's funny, but she says I am Americanizing her again, prepping her to go back in 6 weeks! 

Family: Marina sent me pics of the farm, and it looked so fun and made me so happy all my nieces and nephews are getting to have that experience we all had. Some of the best memories of my childhood were there :) Give all my love to the kiddos.

Here is a list of the differences or things I love about England I've started to make. And this is all my bias and I have only been in one place, Bath and the surrounding towns/villages for about a month and a half so ya it is just my opinion. Bath is a city and as you get further you get more in the country in places like Radstock, Mid Somer Norton, etc. I get the best of both worlds being in the beautiful countryside and in the city. 

1. They say Hiya, and I love it because hi is too short and hello is to formal.

2. When someone says "have a good day!" you respond "and you!" instead of you too.

3. Food tends to run on the bland side, it is still good.

4. Trousers = pants

5. Pants = underwear

6. Petrol station = gas station

7. They say garage gare--idge

8. Never seen so many different flowers

9. Eat everything with potatoes

10. May appear standoffish, but they are softies at heart :)

11. Chips = fries

12. Crisps = chips

13. Squash is their form of juice. It is like instant crystal light, you buy a high concentrated container and then pour mostly water and then a little of the squash.

14. Loo/toilet = bathroom

15. Men tend to be better dressed

16. Everything is crammed/narrow. Cars, roads, houses are so narrow. I have mad respect for bus drivers, I really don't get how they don't hit anything.

17. Everywhere is saturated with green. So beautiful.

18. Lack of trust of government/health system--I think that is a universal thing

19. Dental care = super expensive

20. The water is very hard. I don't know if that makes sense, but there are so many minerals in it and when I take a bath, I never feel very clean, and you need a ton of shampoo and soap.

21. Their beans in a can are in a tomatoe sauce base and beans on a toast is so delicious!

22. Roundabouts everywhere!

23. Everyone loves to talk about the weather. If it is raining, they says it is rubbish outside. If it is hot, they say it is too hot to do anything.

24. I love when they say "I can't be bothered." to let you know they don't care or are too lazy. I love saying this one.

25. When saying bye or thanks = Cheers!

Spiritual: I finished reading the Book of Mormon again! And you know what, it is still true, but I love to keep asking God again if it is because He will confirm that truth to our heart and mind time and time again by the Holy Ghost. We just have to ask. And so I Mackenzie Kaitlyn McLeod want to let you know that I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and was translated by Joseph Smith, a prophet called of God. Because I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon, I have a stronger knowledge of my Savior's love and know what I must do and become to live with Him and my Heavenly Father again. It brings clarity and companionship to the Bible. There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God except us choosing to reject it. I know as we read the word of God, we are led to the love of God. I know that reading the Book of Mormon daily converts us more fully unto the Lord and so I look forward to reading it again. In fact I read 1 Nephi chapter 1 today and saw it in a whole new light even though I have read it countless times. The lessons we learn from the Book of Mormon relate to each of our lives. This gives me a further witness this book written 2 thousands years ago lets us know God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Although the standards of the world may change, His truth remains constant and enduring. The Book of Mormon is full of good, and that good comes from God. Until I read it again, and write another testimony I leave with you these words that are completely sincere and have come because of taking the time to read, ponder, and pray. Do those three things and you'll learn for yourself :) That is what I'm doing everyday, inviting others to learn for themselves.

 

Lots of loves,

Cheers!

 

Sister McLeod