Sun In England!? Crazy!!!

Yes, this week we finally experienced sunshine!!! I'm so glad. In fact, one day it aws actually pretty hot!!! So much better than the terrible weather we've been having before.

 

Well thank you everyone for the e-mails, sorry if I couldn't get back to everyone. This week has been pretty good. I don't feel like Maidstone is quite back on its feet yet, but Elder Eccleton is a great misionary and has been out for 20+ months so he knows what he's doing!

 

We saw Ollie and Shona this week, we haven't been able to see them for quite some time actually. Ollie texted us a bit earlier telling us that he didn't want to investigate the church anymore because his family wasn't alright with it. But Elder Eccleton and I saw him and he basically said that his family wasn't very keen on him becoming a member of the church, and he was really saddened by that. But we basically just told him he had his agency, and that we just want him to grow closer to Heavenly Father than anything else. I was really satisfied after seeing them, because I saw the blessings of letting people truly use their agency, and giving them hope for a better future despite some bad circumstances.

 

Well I forget what else we did this week, dangit!!! I should bring my journal to the library!!! Haha. We had a good day at church, but it was SO hectic and stressful that morning because we were trying to sort out people to get a lift to church, and I forgot my tie to church!!! It was so embarassing!!! But Chris Collingwood lent me his tie, man that guy is so awesome!!! Oh yeah, that's what we did way earleir this week, we went over to his and played some cool board game called "dungeon" its way sweet. I'm totally gonna buy that game when I get home, haha!!!

 

alright I have to get going, thank you everyoen for your support.

 

-Elder Blumenthal

Very Long Week

Dear all,

 

This week has been really long and hard. The area is basically dead in terms of teaching pool, so Elder Eccleton and I are struggling to get as many lessons as we should be. It definitely can be hard taking over an area, especially if you realize you've got alot of bad (or should I say lazy) habits that hinder the work. Its a good thing that Elder Eccleton is such a good missionary though, he's been out for nearly 21 months! Almost going home.

 

Transfer calls are tomorrow but I doubt I'd be moving. I think I'll be here for at least 1 transfer with Elder Eccleton first. The mission is getting loads of missionaries!!! Everyone is going to be training at one point probably. Its going to be huge. And despite that there's still the same amount of cars and zones so basically everyone is just going to get crammed into areas and such. Haha! But still, I'm excited!!!

 

I got the package from the family last week. Little late dont ya think?! HAHA! But I do appreciate it. Thank you for it. I like the letters in the package as well from the ward in Highland Hills. Be sure to thank the ward and let them know I still think of them!!!

 

I have to get going, thank you for all the e-mails, it's going to be quite interesting this next transfer seeing what's going to take place, and how we can find new opportunites to strengthen the ward.

 

-Elder Skyler Blumenthal

Six Times!!! Craziest Week Of My Life

Hey everyone,

 

before I begin, I apologize for the lack of weekly e-mails lately. Things have been so ehctic and crazy, but not necessarily in a good way. I hate when being rushed for time when there's not anything exciting or uplifting coming up. But anyways, this e-mail will talk about what happened the past few weeks.

 

So first thigns first, Joe was baptized!!! And I have photos!!!! Here's the crazy part though. I was doing the baptism!!! Well no worries, right? wrong!!!! Elder Hegerhorst (bless him) didn't seal the plug when filling up the font, so during the song of the baptismal service he went to check on it, and the water was draining!!!!!!!! So we basically had to just carry on and baptize joe in this water thats like, up to our knees. Just kidding it wasn't that low but it was pretty low.... Anyways, Joe kept kicking up his feet! Over and over!!! I had to baptize him... 6 times... That's right. It was really embarassing. Looking abck on it I just laugh though. Oh my days. At least its over now though. And he still enjoyed it. Later on we went to this Priory? (friary? I don't know what its called) and fed these geese or something with Joe. It was good stuff. Elder Hegerhorst and him were talking, I was just chasing the geese around, it was so funny. They were hissing at me and stuff!!!

 

So anyways the next day he was confirmed, that went well, and his parents were there for the confirmation. They seemed to really enjoy it I think.

 

So everything is "back to normal" throughout the week. We had Zone Training, where our entire zone gets together and has a little meeting and such. President Millar was there for interviews as well, telling us the amazing thigns happening in the mission. Here's something funny: We have 26 sisters in the mission right now. In the com,ing months, 26 sisters are coming into the mission!!! So every single sister in the mission right now is going to have to train!! Holy cow.

 

Anyways, we had a good day with that, came back home, got a phone call from President at 10:00 or so. He said Elder Hegerhorst was moving, to Bath!!! Which is in the Bristol Zone. He's going to be a Zone leader!! But even crazier is he said "And your moving tomorrow morning." WHAT?!?!!? Holy crap!!!! It was so stressful that night. Basically I was getting a brand new companion and taking over the area and everything, it was crazy.

 

So anyways, that brings me to this moment now. I'm with Elder Eccleton and we've been working the area a bit. I've been pretty sick the past few days, Don't know why, I felt guilty for not getting out and workinga s much as I wanted, but on Sunday I found out that one of the people we visited was sick and couldn't come to church... So i was just like "... whoops." So I'm not going to go out if I don't feel like it. I don't want to make any more people sick or anything.

 

well I ahve to go, I'll just upload some pictures. and a few videos I think. But yeah. Its funny because while waiting for Elder Eccleton, I had to go in a Tri with Elder Patten and Diaz in Welling. but the other elders there had the same Dinner Appointment as them. So just 5 missionaries were walking around the street, it was so funny!!! And I ate more fou fou, this weird pasty starch stuff you eat with your hands and dip in soup. Its just powdered yam (but not the yam we use in America) with water. Its pretty nice. Then I ate plantains and stuff. Anyways, I ahve to get going. Thank you everyone for your e-mails. Love you all!

 

-Elder Blumenthal

8 Months Today!?

Hey everyone. I have only 10 minutes today but its been such a good week I have to tell you guys!!!

 

We had only 1 investigator at church, but it was his first time! His names Chris Connolly, really a cool guy. We're also preparing Joe for baptism later this week! Keep him in your prayers as we try to help him make that covenant with the Lord.

 

We took Ollie and Shona to the temple visitor's centre, they're awesome. Ollie was making me laugh so hard! We basically just let the sisters teach everything because they've been trained to show what the Temple is all about, and Ollie was just awesome. He really enjoyed it. But after this one video ended the room was completely silent, and the sisters were all looking at ollie, and so were we, and he just looks up and is like "Uh... why is everyone staring at me?" hahahahh!! It was so funny! But yeah he really enjoyed it.

 

Oh and I kind of forgot that moves was last week. but me and Elder Hegerhorst stayed!!! In fact most of the zone stayed. Only 1 person moved... Kinda weird. But yeah I'm excited. We might see 2 baptisms this transfer!!!!! So I just can't honestly wait!!!

 

I have to get going but I'm going to send a few pics and maybe videos (if they work) of just some places around England, and photos of Ollie and Shona at the temple. Love you guys! Thanks for the e-mails!!!

 

-Elder Blumenthal

Very Good Week!!

Hey everyone, thank you so much for all the e-mails. I didn't get to actually reply to all of them because I literally ahve almost no tiem to write!!! notice all the spelling errors because I'm typing so blindingly fast!!!!

 

Anyways, this week was really good! I was quite stressed about back home with Grandma Lake passing away, but I know the Lord lifts us up when we're the most low. That's what he loves to do!!! Mosiah 24:13-14

 

We had 5 investigators at church this sunday!!! Which was absolutely awesome. Joe came again, he's really enjoying church and he stayed for all 3 hours. We also got Ollie there, a guy who lives next door to us who is just so genuine and is really just looking for a way to strengthen the faith that he *thinks* he doesn't have. I love that guy.

 

Next we had Robert, an investigator we've been teaching for a long time who didn't really commit as much as we wanted from him. but he did come to church for Sacrament so we're actually seeing a sort of progress with him as well!!!

 

Next we had Steven (A recent convert) bring his brother and uncle. His Uncle and Brother are basically staunch atheists. So it was a little scary because (from what I've heard) they like to just argue and bicker and stuff about religion. But we took them into the Gospel principles class and basically I didn't have to do anything!!! Whenever he had a question about God, or about religion or about anything, everyone else in the class room had an answer for him. You could tell that what peopel were saying was genuine, and he began to be humbled by everyone's love for the Gospel. It was a really good sunday.

 

Anyways, I have to get going. love you all!!!

 

-Elder Skyler Blumenthal

Very Quick E-Mail!

Hey everyone, thanks for the e-mails. I just got word that my Grandma passed away this week! I was devastated. I'm glad to hear everyone is coping with it well. It was a really tough e-mail for me to read. But I saw immediate blessings just in my e-mail inbox. Firstly I got an e-mail from Steven whom I've not heard from for 7 months!!! And I also got a great e-mail from a friend who bore their testimony to me randomly. But it wasn't random. I really needed that. So thank you everyone for your e-mails!!!

 

This week went by so quickly and we've had lots more success. I've been strugglign to have patience with people, (my companion is great though,) But its taught me to be humbled in the lord's presence. We had Joe come to church this week! I lvoe that guy! He even stayed for all 3 hours. If you know this guy Joe we're teaching, it was a huge personal sacrifice to leave his comfort zone and come to church for 3 hours, so we're so grateful for that. We were fasting specifically for him and it was so great to see him make that effort. Me and Elder Hegerhorst are really starting to love the people we're teaching and loving the work.

 

There are mixed emotions today from the e-mails I've gotten and from the experiences I've had throughout the week. Above all I can't help but think of the Savior, and how he's always there to comfort us. in Alma 7:11-12 it talks about the atonement and what he actually went though, and not once does it mention sin. We seem to only look at the Atonement and just something to keep us clean from sin, but its more than that. It helps us through grief, sickness and pain if we believe on His name. Well, I hve to get going. Love you guys and talk to you next week!!!

 

-Elder Blumenthal

Four Weeks In Maidstone Already!!!

Dear everyone, this week has flown by way too fast. i don't know where the time went. i honestly don't remember much throughout the week either, which I guess is good? Or bad? I don't know, haha!

 

We had a Multi-zone conference where I got to finally see Elder Ormsby, my MTC companion!!!! It was awesome to see him again! He's serving in Brighton, which is basically right by where my last area was in haywards heath. (just south of it)

 

We learned about what exactly the church is doing about this whole "Book of Mormon" musical coming out. They're really going all out on advertisements and such to spread the word! Russel M. Nelson was right when he said that the last days are here and that the work is going at a blinding pace now (or something like that!)

 

We received training (Kind of) on how to prep members with their missionary work when this comes out. The 2 questions people will probably ask us as members of the church are, 1: What is the book of mormon? and 2: Why is your church doing this??

 

Be prepared to answer those questions!!! It will prove to you guys that you can be member missionaries and have missionary experiences all the time.

 

Anyways, enough about that. This week was awesome and we met a really cool guy named Dan on the street! Just walking along to an appointment (we were already late to... woops) we talked to him and he was really nice, we're seing him later today. He's 18 and is in the Army, and has already been to afghanistan!!! Holy cow. But he's very humble and willing to learn about how the Lord can help him and each of us.

 

I have to write President, but I'm grateful for all that you guys do and the e-mails I get form each of you! Thank you so much and I hope you're preparing yourselves for the work of the Lord that is progressing. Never forget to study the scriptures and brush up on the answers to life's great questions that the Book of Mormon gives us. I challenge each of you to read the Book of Mormon with questions in mind, questions that only God can give you direction for. I promise than in some way he'll answer you.

 

-Elder Skyler Blumenthal