15 Months

Holy talito! 15 months out in the mission field! 9 left!!!! WOAH!! Not that I'm counting down or anything! LOL

 

Alright, this week has been awesome. We taught 21 lessons!!! But don't have too much to show for it. Other than the fact that Druscillia is set for baptism!!! With her daughters. Such a blessing to be there and see them progress.

 

What else? Well I forget. The week has treated us well and the Lord is blessing Elder Fairbourn and I. Its so weird, I sometimes get so worked up and hate going out there to work but at the same time when I actually get out there I don't want to get back home. haha! So basically, you won't ever know how great the Work of Salvation is until you acutally take part in it!

 

I've got to get going, sorry for the lame e-mail yet again. If I could share a scripture this week it'd be in 3 Nephi 19:19-24

 

Jesus demonstrates how we should pray. He prays for the members of the church, and also for them to bless and inspire those who are NOT members of the church; He prays that they too will hear the words of those who already have been baptized. That's my prayer for all of you, if you're a member, to share the gospel. If you're not a member, to listen to the words of the missionaries and other memebrs of the Church of Jesus Christ!!! Finally, in verse 24 it shows that we rely on the spirit as we pray. It makes sense, we should always seek for Heavenly Father's will, and not just pray for things that are convenient or that will only benefit us.

 

Thanks for everything, for yoru letters and everything else. Love you all!

 

-Elder Skyler Blumenthal

Four Elders!!!

No time people, NO TIME! This week's been great. We got the 2 new elders in Catford, it was funny, they got lost their first day on a bus! HAHA! But yeah they're adjusting pretty well i think

Conference was awesome. President Monson's talk really spoke to my soul, no kidding. I loved it. He's truly called of god. When something like this happens to President Monson (his wife dying) only a truly noble man would stand up and tell everyone that we all go through problems, so we've got to endure. 

Really no time at all to e-mail. Love you all for the e-mails, I'll rememmber to e-mail you next week! Hopefully.

-Elder Blumenthal

John 6:65-69

Transfers!!

Hey everoyne, so basically things have been very stressful! Transfer calls are coming on Tuesday. I just got off the phoen with President Millar though, he says that I'm going to stay here with Elder Fairbourn for another transfer, and 2 more elders are moving in! Sweet!!!! So we're going to have to worry about managing that all together and everything. Oh well. But yeah I'm excited!!! I love Catford, being here 6 months is going to be legit.

 

Well anyways I can't think of what hapened in the week, I'm sitll getting over transfers basically. I don't know what is going to be in store this transfer but I hope everything will be well. We taught Druscillia again last week and she's still coming to church and keeping her commitments, so that's so cool. She's still set for baptism with her kids. I'll have to get a picture with them sometime!! Haha! We also saw loads of people who are potential investigators, so if we work hard with them and follow up with them we'll see more than enough success in Catford. 2 more Elders!!!!

 

Can't think of anything else at the moment. We're teaching a few new people, like Desmond, who is the non-member husband of a member of the ward, Alessia. Alessia is awesome. She's from Italy and is very open to share the gospel and everything. Speaking of which, we also saw the Amendola family who I maybe spoke of before, a family from Italy who moved into the ward. The brothers Jonathan and Salvatore are TOTALLY just like Timmy! Its crazy! They even like the same video games as them. HAHA. Holy cow. Anyways, I'll send a few pictures of them. But I have to get goign, thanks for the e-mails again everyone.

 

-Elder Blumenthal

 

Mosiah 5:15

Potentially My Last P-day In Catford

Hello! Well yeah, the end fo the transfer is nigh, by next week I'll (probably) be leaving Catford. Who knows! I hope not though!!! I love it here!!! more than any other ward actually. I think. Don't really know... Hmmm.. London is just way too sweet.

 

I don't have any time at ALL this week, sorry. So I'll try to be as quick as possible, but yeah. We saw that Czech family I maybe spoke of last week (did I? I forget.) Well anyways, they don't understand hardly any english so we took Bishop Shmakov who served his mission in the Czech republic. Hilarious teach. They were just talking and Elder Fairbourn and I were just like, "Uh... cool... smile and wave.." haha! But yeah the teach went alright, the guy there was a Jehovah's Witness and was just a bit too aggressive (in terms of discussing the gospel) and it was a pretty one-sided conversation. But at the end I hope we got our word in (Bishop had to leave unexpectedly) that basically, if you want to find out if what we're saying is true or not, the evidence is in your hands. *points at Book of Mormon*

 

Its as simple as that, no need to discuss all these little things, the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion. People need to realize that, and realize that you can find out that its true (and it is) only form reading it and asking Heavenly Father in prayer if it is true. That's the only way.

 

 Well anyways I have NO time at all on the computer, but thanks for your e-mails everyone. love them. Love the work, and I love the gospel. The members in Catford are all my family I feel. Haha. Anyways, thanks again love you all

 

-Skyler

 

Moroni 10:3-5

2 Nephi 33:10-11

14 Months!

Wow, its already been 14 months! What craziness!

 

Okay well I have like.. no time this week. But I wanted to say the week has been awesome! Where to begin?

 

Well how about the fact that Dallin H. Oaks came on Tuesday! That was awesome!!! I shook his hand!!! Haha it was legit. My mind was blown form all the awesome stuff he talked about. It was truly a great night never to be forgotten. i even wrote in my journal (Haha I suck at writing in my journal. Whoops.)

 

Well anyways, someone who came was Druscillia! An investigator who has been to church a few times and her twin sister from the US is a member of the church. She came to Dallin H. Oaks and shook his hand as well! She's so awesome. We're hopefully going to see her and her family be baptized in the coming month. She's a very humble woman who needs the gospel in her life, and I'm sure it will uplift and encourage her and bring her more joy than anything else.

 

So yeah, what else? Oh yeah!!! We saw this family from the Czech republic, the funniest experience ever... We went to theirs with Deco (a ward missionary) and Isabel, which was hilarious because there was like a room full of confused people. they had their 3 triplet 15-yaer old daughters try and translate for us, but it wasn't working lol, so we pulled out our flat's stupid portable DVD player and started showing them a short Joseph Smith movie in Czech language. Everything was going fine, and then it gets to the first vision. Literally RIGHT before Joseph Smith starts praying, the DVD player goes flat. Most hilarious situation ever. They thought the movie was over. I was like "WHAT?! NOOO!!!!" hahahaha so we've gota come back sometimes this week and finish it off. Oh my days. DANGIT! Oh well. they're really cool though. I still don't know what's going to happen even if they join the church... Czech branch?! haha. Well their english has to improve sometime if they're living in England, so maybe coming to church will help them out as well. Luckily, the Bishop served his mission in Czech republic so probably he can help them out as well.

 

Alright well I'm sorry guys but that's it this week! Thanks everyone for the e-mails, you are all brilliant. Instead of quoting a scripture from the standard works this week, I'll quote scripture from an Apostle of the Lord, Elder Bednar:

 

If I had the wish of my heart, I would take a few moments with each of you individually. I would shake your hand, draw you close, look you in the eyes, and say, “You can do this! The Lord you represent and serve knows you can do this. I know you can do this. And as His servant, I promise you will have His help. Please remember always that with His help and in His strength, you can do this!”

 

I was reading that today at LDS.ORG about how to become a Preach My Gospel missionary and I really liked what he said. Anyways, until next week

 

-Elder Blumenthal

 

2 Corinthians 13:14 (The Doctrine of the Godhead, shown by Dallin H. Oaks!)

P.S.
And some pictures of us hanging with my BFF's in Catford ward! Deco Isabel Rhona. Its missing Harry and Josh and Joel but whatever, they'd usually be in there. These guys are legit!!!

P.P.S.
Picutre of Elder Bodhaine with Elder Oaks! LOL!

An Unforgettable Week

Dear all,

Thank you for your e-mails. This week has been actually fantastic. But also really stressful.

Okay so starting off with the good things... well we had loads of peopel at church again! And we've given Druscillia (An investigator with 3 daughters) the 27th of October to look forward to being baptized. I hope she's prepared for that! She's going to be at Wandsworth chapel this tuesday for none other than THE Dallin H. Oaks because he';s visiting the stake this week. Its the first time in over 18 years that an Apostle has visited this part of England. So basically, its kind of a big deal. Haha. But anyways, yeah Druscillia is golden, I was telling Elder Fairbourn that I can really see her joining the church, it looks like the Gospel can help her out so much in her life.

We also headed to the Wandsworth Chapel on Sunday evening (purely out of the blue) because Elder Fairbourn just got like, assimilated into the choir for Elder Oaks. HAHA! And they asked me and I was like, "Uh, heck no. I'm not singing. Elder Oaks will hear my terrible voice and kill me or soemthing" HAHA just kidding. but yeah so that's happening. And so after that we were trying to get home but the train line is like... shut down?! so we took a rail-replacement bus with the Peckham Elders. Longest bus ride ever. But also the greatest. Just chillin. Uploaded a photo. i want to take more photos recently but my SD card is full, and I can't afford a new one. Whoops. If I get a flash drive some time I can transfer the photos, but until then I'm kind of stuck. I can't afford anything because I spend all my money on food. Whoops.

I've also found uot that quite a few people actually read this thing. HAHA! So I need to take it a bit more seirously perhaps. I'll try to. I hate writing these mass e-mails cause i want to say something different to everyone! Oh well. Thank you for all the letters everyone.

Even though a lot of thigns have been on my mind, I felt realyl really inspired and the love of Heavenly Father this morning as I read the scriptures.  Believe it or not, I felt his love for me in Alma chapter 39. Yeah, its the chapter where Alma finds out that his son basically did one of the worst thing you can do on your missions. But despite that, its not that "rebuking"...

9 Now my son, I would that ye should repent and forsake your sins, and go no more after the ^alusts of your eyes, but ^bcross yourself in all these things; for except ye do this ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. Oh, remember, and take it upon you, and ^ccross yourself in these things.

 10 And I command you to take it upon you to counsel with your elder brothers in your undertakings; for behold, thou art in thy youth, and ye stand in need to be nourished by your brothers. And give heed to their counsel."

I just like it because he's saying, yeah you messed up, but just stop doing it from right now, listen to your brothers (for me that means companion, priesthood leaders) and just work on being good!!! And then these 2 verses,

13 That ye turn to the Lord with all your mind, might, and strength; that ye lead away the hearts of no more to do wickedly; but rather return unto them, and ^aacknowledgeyour faults and that wrong which ye have done.

14 ^aSeek not after riches nor the vain things of this world; for behold, you cannot carry them with you."

Meaning, work as HARD as you can, do all you can to take yourself out of situations and instances to be tempted or to sin, which takes some sacrifice, but none of these temporary things are going to last anyways. And finally, a verse that I felt the spirit so strongly:

15 And now, my son, I would say somewhat unto you concerning the ^acoming of Christ. Behold, I say unto you, that it is he that surely shall come to take away the sins of the world; yea, he cometh to declare glad tidings of salvation unto his people."

I really just want to bear my testimony and let you all know that I'm not at all perfect. I'm far from it. But Christ makes us better than what we are now. I know that much. I don't know everything, but I know enough of what I need to do. and many of you reading this know what you need to do also. Isaiah 1:18

-Elder Blumenthal

P.S. photos of random stuff, including Malachi (a member's son) at the Temple. that kid is so hilarious! He's like the most innocent child ever. Haha

Summer Is Almost Gone!

Hey everyone! Summer seems like its going away! It was actually cold today! I guess that's what English weather is like though

 

This week's been awesome. I'll upload a few pictures that I forogt to last week. I need a new camera though! My card is full so I don't know what to do anymore. haha. Anyways, yeah. one of the pics is us at Blackheath park when we were walking ot the Blanchard's for a dinner appointment. Oh my days, that park is beautiful! Looks way different when you're walking thru it compared to being on a double-decker looking down. Anyways, we had a great week. We had loads of people at church! It was legit! Now we have to start committing and helping people towards baptism.

 

We also were talking with Isabel and she was saying she wants to serve a mission! That's so awesome. I never expected to take part in teaching/baptizing someone who would later want to serve a mission... a girl no less! So inspiring.

 

I just realized that I have no time. Woops. Super sorry. Hey thank you for all the e-mails everoyne, and I'm still expecting to hear from some of you guys! (Stee, Zac, Kaden etc) Levi e-maile dme though, what a champ! love that man!

 

Anyways, gotta get going. love you guys.

 

-Elder Blumenthal