Oxford

Hello! Merry Christmas!

Thanks for all the gifts! Christmas was fun. 

It was good to be able to talk to you all on Skype. We had a good time on Christmas. There was no public transport so we had to walk to visit some members but we got a ride to Pauline's place to have dinner and Skype.

 I've moved to a new area so that's why I'm e-mailing today. I'm now in Oxford with Elder Lika from Albania. I don't have much time left to e-mail but I hope you all have a happy new year!

Central London

Getting exited for Christmas. I can't wait to talk on Skype. I was thinking of Skyping at 3 but I can probably see if 4 works. If you wouldn't mind reminding me what Skype address to call that would be lovely. I can check my e-mail right before the call. 

We went to central London last week to tower bridge but didn't have time to walk all the way to Big Ben like I wanted. But there were lots of Christmas markets set up and interesting things to look at. 

There was a place selling exotic meet burgers. I couldn't help it; I had to try a crocodile burger. It was not bad. The temple trip was nice. We had a nice dinner and sang Christmas songs. We will be Skyping at Pauline's (the Welch's) and they will be feeding us. It will be fun. I think Justin looks more like Ace Ventura. Talk to you on Thursday.

Slowing Down

Hey everyone. 
Nice to hear from you both. Not a lot has happened this past week. Things seem to be slowing down as we approach the Christmas season. We mostly just saw less actives and members as it's becoming impossible to meet up with any investigators. We did have some appointments with our investigators but they all cancelled. 

The Muslim family that we were teaching had to cancel this week and said they wouldn't be able to meet with us until the new year. We met this really nice Scottish lady on the street and she was very interested and wanted us to come over and teach her and her partner the next day but when we showed up no one was there. Over all it's been somewhat of an uneventful week. But it's been good strengthening our less actives and visiting them. Two of them came to church yesterday and it was great to see them there. They really want to keep coming every week and stay active now.

I got packages from home and from my grandparents on both sides. The senior couple brought them to church from the temple. I can't wait to open them but this year I'll wait until Christmas day if I can. 

There are some exiting events coming up that I look forward to. On Thursday we are going to the temple and having a Christmas dinner, on Christmas eve we are going to go caroling at Tower Bridge. Today our district are going to central London. I'm hoping to see lots of Christmas decorations.

How do you like you'r early Christmas gift Sister Fisher?

Christmas Video

Hey everyone.

Last week was a very slow week and not much happened. It was looking to be one of our busiest weeks but plans didn't really work out. We had a lot of lessons planed from all our finding and calling people but most of them canceled. We did get to meet with the Muslim family again. They are very nice and friendly. They do want to learn more from us about our church but they have told us that they will never change religions. They say they have lots of respect for all religions but they only want to learn. It's common to run into Muslims especially in this area. They are always nice people.

Contacting hasn't been too successful either. We've met a lot of really interesting and nice people (and many crazy people too as Sister Fisher said) and have had good discussions but none of them were interested in meeting with us. Hopefully they use those cards and see the Christmas video. That will plant a seed. I love the he is a gift video; it's really good. The website is really cool too. We do get 10 cards per day to give out. I think it's a brilliant idea.

Regarding Christmas packages, we will be going to the temple on the 18th for a Christmas dinner like last year so I should get the packages there. And Sister Fisher, you can open the package I sent you. I would have waited a bit longer to send it if I wanted you to wait for Christmas day. I just can't wait to see pictures and see how you like it. I'm glad it got to you.

Some of the Christmas traditions over here are different.  They ware paper crowns over here that come out of those Christmas crackers (those things that you pull apart and it pops and there's stuff inside). They're also really big on Christmas jumpers over here. They're everywhere. I can't remember there being so many back at home. I can't really think of much else.

We haven't really seen much of our regular investigators. We've met with a couple new investigators but we've had a hard time setting up appointments with people. Sally is back from I think Ireland so we've been trying to see if we can find a time to meet with her. Akin is actually just as busy as before. We just can't seem to meet with him. He's not doing too good either; He's been sending us texts saying he's not happy anymore. We can't help him unless he finds the time to meet with us. We've been in contact with a lot of people trying to meet with them but they usually say to call back or just cancel appointments. I guess it's a busy time of year. We haven't seen Isaac in a long time but he said we may be able to meet with him this weekend if he's not busy. He'll let us know.

Elder Cook

We had a lot more appointments this week but most of them didn't go through. We've been calling lots of people and hardly anyone answers. But we did finally get in contact with a less active family that we haven't seen in a while and we set up an appointment with them. We also got an appointment with one of our investigators who's baptismal date we had to drop. His name is Akin. Turns out he got a new job and now he's a whole lot less busy. So now we can hopefully meet with him more. He's really trying to start a new life. He has said that he hasn't been very happy and has had a hard life but when I talked to him on the phone he said he's trying to think more positively and that he's got a new view on life and he's much happier now. 

Sam's happy too. He bears his testimony every time he gets the chance in classes. It sort of surprised me to find out how much of an impact the church has on him. We also had a referral from the mission office that seems good. They are a Muslim family and we stopped by their house as soon as we got the referral. They were really nice; they let us in and fed us and were really interested. We have another appointment with them and we're exited for that.

Elder Cook was pretty cool. He talked a lot and did a Q&A thing with us and the Mission Presidents of both missions talked a bit as well. I'll send you another e-mail with more info.

Sorry Sister Fisher I forgot to add your e-mail to the recipients last week so you didn't get my e-mail. Do you want me to send any info or did Dad fill you in? I'm out of time but have a nice week!

Quentin L. Cook

Dear Sisters and Elders,      The highlight of the week was the visit of Elder Quentin L. Cook and his wife. He took the opportunity to shake the hand of all present. He then told a lot about the history of missionary work in England. This included his personal service as a missionary 54 years ago. One of his companions was Jeffery R. Holland. I was serving as a missionary about the same time, but in Australia. He reminded us that our calls are all dictated by one of the Twelve Apostles. We are called to succeed not to fail. Revelation will provide when there is a lack of experience, if we are faithful and living obediently. Missionary work is filled with hard things and rejection. This occurs because our Heavenly Father wants us to grow. D&C 31:7 states that the Savior said, ”I will open the hearts of the people, and they will receive you.” Many will harden their hearts and reject our message, but we should not be discouraged. It is a time to increase our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He quoted President Gordon B. Hinckley, “Tell the missionaries, if you have more faith, you will have more success.” We need to seek the spirit and have faith that the Holy Ghost will do the teaching. The first vision and the Plan of Salvation always invite the spirit; use them often and bear testimony of their truth.      At the conclusion he pronounced an apostolic blessing upon our mission and missionaries. He acknowledged that rejection and family problems at home may draw us to think that we could do more good at home. He blessed us with a realization that all those we love, now or in the future, will be blessed for our service and sacrifice now. He blessed us to understand the great heritage that is part of this London area. He blessed us that our missionary service would be a blessing to us and our posterity forever. He also blessed all those who have any special needs, some known only to God. May we give of our time with a free and willing heart that we may be able to receive the blessing bestowed upon us by one of the Lord's special witnesses of His Name. I love you and ever pray for you. President Millar