Transfer Day!!

Early This Morning (3:34 AM)
I'm so sorry everyojne for the really short e-mail but I'll make up for it either later this week or (hopefully not) next monday.

Transfers were moved from a Wednesday to Monday because President Millar has a mission presidency meeting in Spain. So everything is really hectic right now and we have about 2 minutes to e-mail everyone and let them know that we are still alive but we have no time to e-mail today!!! But don't worry, I'll let everyone know how I'm doing later.

I've read all your e-mails, so don't worry everyone, they're great! 

About the transfer, Elder Wainwright is moving to High Wycombe! Which is somewhere in the Staines zone. Going to be pretty sad seeing him leave but he's been in Haywards Heath for 7 1/2 months!!! So it was his time. Haha. 

 I'm staying in Haywards Heath, and I'm getting a new companion Elder McCook. I have no idea who he is yet, haven't met him or anything, but he's been out for longer than me so he will be District Leader. Can't wait to meet him, but I'm pretty nervous to take over the area (I won't really be taking it over but I'm going to be in charge of knowing everyone and everywhere)! This week is going to be very busy, we have 3 baptismal dates set right now so we'll see how they work out as time goes!

Oh yeah and I'll upload some pictures when I next see you guys. We bought a YARD of Jaffa Cakes for only 4£ and me and Elder W thought it would be smart to eat them all in one go. 30 jaffa cakes each. Oh boy I was so close to puking. It was awesome. Jaffa Cakes are the best, I wish we had them in America.

Okay I have to get going, love you all, thanks for the e-mails, I really appreciate them. Until next time!

-Elder Blumenthal

Later That Day (10:22 AM)

Transfers was this week and so this may still be a short e-mail, I'm sorry! But I'll keep it down to the point.

We saw loads of people this week, but what was awesome was the last few days. We went to a bunch of people's houses, some who have not seen us in a while!!! We went to a woman named Lynn's house, she's so awesome, and her son William is the greatest! She and the Stones are good friends and their son Michael and William are friends too. His room is covered with Doctor Who stuff! I got pictures this time, because I've only been there once before and I never got the chance to take pictures. Haha! I also took a hilarious video of William playing as Doctor Who. HAHA!

We have been working recently on a fireside at our chapel for the stake where President Millar is going to be speaking! It's going to be so intense.

Oh yeah, I got a new companion, Elder McCook. The guy's awesome, he's so great. Anyways yeah hopefully he'll adjust well to the area and hopefully I can be a good example to him and I can be humbled to learn from him! He's going to be District Leader so luckily I won't have to deal with that. Haha!

I also attached some photos of the shenanigans of me and Elder Wainwright. He got a one-sie (i don't know how to spell it) from a girl in our ward, so he always wears it now in the flat. So funny. I also have some pictures of the food we got the other day, steak and kidney pies and scotch eggs. Scotchs eggs are SO GOOD! I don't think they have them in America, but they might.

There's also photos of a lady in our ward, Julia's kids who are just crazy.

Great Week! Lots Of Missionary Work!!!

This week was awesome. Early on in the week we had a night where 4 different people wanted to see us in the space of an hour and a half. So we had to literally do splits and do 2 lessons each. Crazy!! The members who we needed for splits weren't available so me and Elder W were kind of stressing because we didn't want to have to cancel appointments with anyone. So what we did was bring Calum with us on a split, and his dad Brother Boyd. It was so awesome! I stuck with Calum and we taught their friend Abbey and also his neighbors Wayne and Stasj (I can't spell). So powerful, I can't believe Calum has only been a member of the church for 8 days. He bore such powerful testimony, I couldn't help but smile as he was talking. Long story short, things went really well and we currently are preparing 3 people for baptism!!! Hopefully everything goes well with that. The Lord really blessed us with such strong people to see, and such amazing examples of member missionaries like Calum, Hannah and Brother Boyd (their dad.) The boyds are so awesome!!!

 

We had dinner at the Pelhams during the week, and i've never laughed harder on my mission. Ryan was making me crack up so hard. I think at one point I almost choked I was laughing so hard haha! And sister Pelham made us Burgers and Chips, which was awesome because it brought back memories of America! It was the best.

 

Anyways, later on in the week we had church and it went awesome. Calum blessed the sacrament; the first time he's ever been to sacrament as a priest!!! It was so awesome, I'm so glad I could be a part of him joining the church. We also had a woman from the ward come home from her mission and had a "Munch and mingle" thing after church, which was really great. I should have took pictures but I was too busy munching. Haha.

 

Well anyways I have to get going, but yeah this week is Elder W's last week in the area (most probably) and he's been here for 7 1/2 months. So we're going to be busy this week!!! We're going to get everyone around who ever knew him from before to come to church this Sunday. Its going to be packed!!!

 

I love you all, and thanks so much for writing me everyone! Until next week!

 

-Elder Skyler Blumenthal

Calum And Hannah's Baptism!!!

Well the moment had finally came, Calum and Hannah's baptism!!! It was awesome. I was really nervous though to baptize her. But apparently I did it right, so all is good.

 

I don't know what to say about it other than it was awesome. They were so happy and excited, and everyone we wanted came along! We could have had more members, but we saw them the next day for their confirmation. My favorite part is that we baptized 2 people who are so willing to share the gospel with others (they've already given out like 8 books of mormon, and a Gospel Principles book) that maybe they'll inspire other strong active members to get out there and share the gospel as well! We all have a duty to share the gospel, or at least help the missionaries in their efforts as much as we can, whether that be by going on split teaches with them, or even finding people for them to teach.

 

Anyways, the next day at their confirmation was even more powerful (for me.) Me and Elder W also got to take part in it as well, it was so great just being a part of that experience. If there is one thing I want to do right now more than anything, its introduce Hannah and Calum to everyone, in person. You would all just love them!

 

Alright well anyways, the rest of the week went well. Elder W broke the pedal off of his bike. Like, the actual pedal arm, just snapped in half. So Calum and his neighbor Wayne got the crank, popped it off, and replaced it with a crank from another bike, as well as the pedals. but in order for it to fit we had to literally bang out some dents in the bike frame and stuff. It was so funny, 3/4 of the time they were working on the bike, Wayne was just hitting something with a hammer. Calum's friend Eduardo was there, he speaks hardly any english (just spanish) so it was so funny just listening to him say random stuff.

 

I have to get going now, but thank you everyone for the e-mails! I know I probably haven't responded to all of you, but I wish I could have! If there is one thing I need to improve on, its finding time to write to everyone. I love the church and how much it brings families together, because after all, that's what is most important to us in life, is families. If I can suggest a chapter to read it would be Alma 12, the whole chapter. It's really interesting, it talks about the Plan of Salvation, or God's true plan for us.

 

Another thing I'd want to invite everyone reading this to do, is have Family Home Evenings on Monday nights. It doesn't have to be a 2-hour long sermon... Just something small, to bring unity to the family at home. I know life can get in the way, but setting time apart to have family home evening will make everyone happier. I promise!!!

 

I have to go now, love you all!

 

-Elder Blumenthal

Hey Everyone!! (And Pictures From Calum and Hannah's Wedding!!)

Elder Blumenthal's Mass E-mail:

Wow alright, I have a lot of apologizing to do. I was rushing today to get food for our Zone P-day today, and I didn't have time to actually write anyone, just read everyone's e-mails. So sorry! Next week I'll be much better. Hopefully.

Well anyways, today was awesome, we had a zone P-day and were playing football for like 3 hours. The greatest! And everyone brought food from their country. Elder Cantos made this really tasty french toast stuff, but he's from Spain so I guess its Spanish bread. And sister Naseem (she's from Pakistan I think) and Pallekonda (not sure where she's from) made some really good but REALLY spicy rice. 

Anyways, Calum and Hannah's wedding was the greatest. They are so awesome. They even sent us a text and told us that it wouldn't be possible without us. I know that's a lie but it felt so nice to be appreciated by those 2. They are so legit. I have a few pictures of them I'll upload for you guys! Their baptism is this weekend, I can't wait. I get to baptize Hannah and Elder Wainwright is baptizing Calum.

Well last week was pretty slow other than the wedding and such. We had a few people to see but many times they "can't see us right now" and such, so we hope to see them more often this week. We did get to teach this guy Sergiu, whose from Romania. He's really cool. He thinks its crazy that me and Elder W are here, doing missionary work, and not getting paid. Haha!

Conference was amazing. We saw just about every session except the last one. Inbetween sessions (we saw them at the Crawley chapel) we went out and knocked on doors haha. We actually got contact info from someone in the short 20 minutes we were out.

How did you guys like conference? What was your favorite talk? I can't remember them all, but the 2 I liked were Jeffrey R. Holland's talk and President Uchtdorf's talk (on Saturday Morning.) Those talks were awesome. I'm downloading Elder Bednar's talk right now cause I missed the Sunday afternoon session.

Can you guys believe the announcement?! Missionaries at 18 years old. And even more crazy (for me) Sister missionaries at 19!!! I already heard that Miriam is preparing for her mission right now. That's so legit. 

Alright well I have to go, so sorry for not e-mailing everyone if I couldn't get the chance. I'll write home sometime this week maybe! Love you all!

-Elder Blumenthal

Elder Blumenthal's Message That Came With Pictures:
I got a few pictures of Calum and Hannah's wedding. I wanted to get one with me, Calum and Hannah but Brother Babbage didn't know how to use my camera. HAHA! So we missed it. Oh well.

In the giant group photo, the guy right behind Calum's head is Brother Boyd, his dad. He's in our ward as well. That guy is so hilarious. He has the thickest scottish accent on earth, so whenever he makes a joke, I don't even hear what he just said but I just bust out laughing. Haha!! He kind of looks like dad too. And he does the same things as dad as well, he does (or used to do) landscaping and such. He's probably the only guy I've seen in England who doesn't use electric lawnmowers and weed-whippers (cause electric ones are lame!) 

Well got to go. Love you guys!

-Elder Blumenthal

Very Quick Bulk E-Mail For Everyone!

Hey all, sorry but I have to make this very quick. We're having a District P-day today, I have no idea what we're doing, but I'm not looking forward to it. basically because in the past, when we had P-days with lots of people we tended to never get a meal in, so I go the whole day hungry basically.

 

Alright anyways, enough about that. This week has been great! We went one exchanges, Elder peltier came to MY area with me, so I was in charge... SCARY. I had no idea what I was doing, haha. But I stuck to the plans that me and Elder W made the night before, and thigns went well! Elder Peltier is so amazing, I just have to say, that man has POWER. Seriously, we were in the flat just talking for an hour, because I've been having really hard trouble for a while, and he just basically said everything that I needed to hear (but some things I didn't want to.) On an unrelated note, he said that he served in Walter's zone while he was Zone Leader, and he was talking about how great a missionary that Walter was. Man, wish I could've at least served 1 transfer with him. Oh well. Haha.

 

Anyways, I'll upload some photos and videos, and I've got to be off. Thanks for all your e-mails, I haven't forgotten about you guys (those who I didn't respond to) but I just lose track of time when reading e-mails, haha!

 

The one with the guy kneeling is Calum, he's so funny. I just wanted to snap a photo of him for you guys. Me and Elder W gave them blessings for them to quit smoking, and they said ever since the blessing, they feel like they've never smoked in their lives. Priesthood power!!! I wish you all could meet them, they've changed my life.

 

I can't wait for this upcoming General Conference. Going to be so legit. Can't wait to hear what the Prophet has to say.

 

Anyways I have to go. Love everyone, hope everyone is doing well, and I know that this gospel is true. We just need to live it in order to realize how great it is!!!