Moves, Baptism, Easter, etc.

Okay well, good news everyone. Its the sabbath today. Why is that good news? you all get to rest this day! I don´t though. I´ll get over it.

I´m using a weird spanish keyboard right now. here I´ll show you: ñÑÇç¿¿??

Why am I using a spanish keyboard? well tomorrow, our pday, is a bank holiday!!! Or in american, its a national holiday. Not really any celebration, people just like to take random days off here in England. Sooo, the library is closed tomorrow. I´ll send a better mass e'mail tomorrow. WIth pictures of mel´s baptism. Also, i´ll send a picture of what i see on this screen, its hilarious, every single word is "mispelled" because the keyboard is in spanish.

Oh yeah, that´s why I´m on a spanish keyboard. We´re at a member´s house at the moment, a spanish woman who Elder Remon and I found on the street a few weeks back, and we´re using her computer to e'mail and let you guys know that we don´t know how long we can use thecomputer tomorrow. 

ALSO, moves. Elder Remon is going to kennington, in London :( sad day. I´m getting elder Mackay, have no idea what he´s like but president millar called me just to tell me that he´s a good cook... thanks i guess..? HAHA but yeah Elder Remon is going to be sorely missed. probably one of my favorite companions. 

have to go, love yall, might write more tomorrow. if not, whoops! but I´ll send photos tomorrow

love,

elder blumenthal

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More pictures of what went on in the week!!!

We took Mel to the temple, and it was PERFECTO. And the coolest part about the temple, is that every single time I've went to bring an investigator, I've seen someone from one of my previous wards. This time it was... MAD DOG RON!!! AKA Calum and Hannah's dad. He was mowing the lawn just like Dad. it was awesome. Totes got a photo with him.

The baptism was awesome. Brother Phillips the Ward Mission leader baptised mel, in spanish, it was awesome, he did it pretty good too for having broken spanish. Haha. She even got up afterwards and bore her testimony. It was so cool. I'm confident that we baptized a convert on Saturday.

Anyways, thank you for the e-mails everyone, sorry I don't have time this week! love ya!

-Elder Blumenthal

Continuing To Work In The Vineyard

Well, this week we worked hard. We taught 15 lessons. We spent a bunch of time just talking to people in the high street. We didn't really get many new investigators out of it though. BUT I know Heavenly Father is waiting to bless us. AND, the best part of this week, is that Mel's baptism is solid!! April 19!! We're so excited. We've got to really rush to get everything ready for the service.

Well, this library;s computer sucks so much. its the slowest thing in the world. Oh my days. So sorry if there's a bunch of mistakes in my typing, it takes like 10 seconds for the words to appear on the screen.

Well yes, the other good news is that I got my call, and I'mc oming home the 16th of July. Oh my days!!! 3 months. No time. I'm scared. And In just a week is transfers!!! I hope Elder Remon doesn't leave. We have too much fun together. He's such a boss. And there's like 15 people we teach that speak spanish, so it sucks if he left, I can't speak spanish!!!

A funny story, is that I bought a nice suit at TK maxx last P-day (yes, they call it TK Maxx in england...)  and guess what, the lady forgot to take off the magnetic tag thing!!! UGH!!! And tis the one that explodes ink if you break it off. Oh my days.

Also, on top of that, while walking home, the rain was really hard and it exploded my bag! so my recepit got washed away in the rain!!! So I don't know what I'm going to do about it, but I want my blue trousers dangit!!!

On the bright side, today is a nice day and the sun is out. Woot! and Mel's baptism. WOOT WOOT!!! Haha. 

love you all, thank you for the e-mails, you're all wonderful.

-Elder Blumenthal

General Conference Weekend!

Well, its official. Tammer the Hammer is officially home. I literally wanted to bawl when I saw the picture of him with BDN and Logan in Fausto's. The fact that he's still wearign his badge!! Like, seriously, you all ahve no idea how I feel about this all. Oh my days. I miss him SO dearly. I can hardly speak. So I must type instead. Makes me want to come home more and more, but at the same time, it makes me realize that my time ehre in the field is so limited. Oh my gosh... its actually scary.

 

This computer is so rubbish, its like breaking in half as I type this letter now. But I'm trying to send some photos I took this week. I have WAY more photos but they're from a long time ago, so I don't feel likeuploading them really. I havent' taken many with Remon for some reason. But he's probably one of my favorite companions. We get along great. And when he's angry, he yells in spanish, so it doesn't mean anything to me! And I  just laugh! And he laughs too so its awesome.

 

Well, this week was grand. we had general conference, and we watched it at the Wallace's house, which, being interpreted, is the Bishop's house. I should've gotten photos, UGH I'm a failure. We went with our investigator Mel, again, should have photos. But alas I don't. Anyways, what else? we went bowling last week, I definitely should have photos of that. But as you guessed, I don't. but Sister Green and Elder remon do, so I'm going to bug them for the photos.

 

I did service 4 flippin times this week!! Woah! And managed to teach 13 lessons, which is great, since Aldershot is pretty dead at the moment. Very successful. When Elder Barney (the dinosaur) our district leader asked how we had so much success, I basically just attributed it to when jesus says, "If thou canst believe, nothign shall be impossible unto you." serious folks, we always talk about how great faith is, and never even realize how hard it can be (and such a blessing it can be) if we exercize it. Uchtdorf's talk was great in talking about it I thought.

 

Well, I have to go. I'l send more photos. I love you all. and want you to know that I'm not perfect, an lately I've een realizing that since we're not perfect, we shouldn't hodl others to that pedestal.

 

love ya

 

-Elder Blumenthal

 

"I have no enemies but for the truth's sake. I have no desire but to do all men good. I feel to pray for all men. We don't ask any people to throw away any good they have got; we only ask them to come and get more. What if all the world should embrace this gospel? They would see eye to eye, and the blessings of God would be poured out upon the people, which is the desire of my whole soul."

-Joseph Smith

I'm In Aldershot!

Hey, everyone. Yes, moves were last week, didn't find out until AFTER e-mailing, dangit, so I couldn't tell you guys until today, but I moved! I miss newbury!!! I love the members so much, definitely going to visit them again. Somehow. Maybe.

 

My camera won't work on this computer!! Dangit!!! I'll have to find some way to send you guys photos, I have loads of them. Sigh.

 

Anyways, yes, well my last days in newbury were tough. Elder O'keeffe got as a new companion, Elder Hilton, who actalyl served in Newbury before!!! Weird. Anyways, I thought it was a good move by President Millar, because Elder O'Keeffe needed help in taking over the area.

 

And I am now with.. Elder Remon!! From Spain. He's awesome. And young. Only 6 months out. I'm so old compared to him! haha! But we work hard, and we get work done.

 

Speaking of the work, this area stinks! just kidding its awesome. But it is almost desolate completely from a teaching pool. Our only hope is this girl Mel, from Spain, whose getting baptized on the 19th of April. She's way cool. But Elder Remon and her speak spanish because she isn't very good at speaking english. I'm trying to learn spanish as well, ahha, I agreed to help Elder Remon learn English if he helps me learn spanish :) Anyways yeah, she's great, came to church as well, and has fellowshippers and everything.

 

Its a 4-man area!! Or shoudl I say, 2 man and 2 woman. Yeah, there's sisters in our ward! Sister Green and Sister Dunlop. Both from Australia, both awesome. They are on fire. Sister Green reminds me exactly (And I mean exactly) of Catelyn. its just weird.

 

What else... Well aldershot is an ex-military town or something, you couldn't tell by looking at it though really. But there are loads of really old Nepalese people walking around, haha, because apparently the UK hired Nepalese soldiers "Ghurkas" to fight for them at some point a while ago, and they were like super beast, so now they just chill in the UK, retired. Kind of funny though because none of them speak english. Its almost pointless to try and proselye among them (though we still try.) We just say "Namaste" which means "how are you" and they do "namaste" back, haha, and that's about all we know.

 

Well, sorry for the lack of mass e-mails recently. I don't know what else has been going on. We're just stuck knocking or finding most of the days here, but I don't really mind as much as I used to, because Elder Remon is a cool kid, we laugh about everything. I always butcher my spanish and hejust laughs.

 

well, thank you everyone for the e-mails. love you all. Until next week!

 

-Elder Blumenthal

My Mission Just Flashed Before My Eyes

Woah, I just sat there and realized I have, like, 4 months left in my mission. And then I'm done. That's crazy.

Timbo is coming home in a month! And Some of my companions are going home soon too! Elder Wainwright my trainer goes home in a fortnight. Elder Hegerhorst goes home at the end of April!!! And my BOY is nearing his year mark! That is just... CRAZY.

Okay well this week was, awesome. We had 2 people at church. Well, 4 actually, 2 of them were non-members. It was just for sacrament (we have sacrament last in our ward) and it was fast and testimony meeting.. oh brother.. but it went well! Super well! They both enjoyed it. Best part of it all though, is FELLOWSHIP. Newbury is the king of kings in fellowshipping. Shebana, one of the people who came to church, was instantly invited to like 15 different activities! Its awesome!!! Kudos to the members for being champs.

Well yes, anyways, we've been teaching shebana (I'll have to get a picture of everyone by next week...) and she seems to be progressing rapidly. Before it was a struggle just getting over the first lesson, but now she's absorbing everything like a sponge! She'd be SUCH a great help in the ward. I'm so excited to have found her with Elder Stradling those months ago.

also, we had exchanges in the week, and interviews with President Millar. He sure has changed a lot since he first came out. I was in the first group of elders that came out when he came in. If that makes sense. basically, I know him from when he was a "greenie." haha! He was about as nervous as I was. But now he's just a champion! You can just feel the spirit so strong when you walk into a room with him.

 Anyways, thank you everyone for the e-mails. I hope to hear from everyone soon, and I will try to e-mail those of you whom I remember. Love ya! until next week,

-Elder Blumenthal

I Hate The Rain

Hey everyone, the week has been realy long surprisingly... Maybe its because I've changed companions!!! Yep, Elder Stradling went to Wandsworth in London. He'll love it. I gave him my oyster card with like 10£ on it. The lucky duck. I'mn staying in newbury obviously, i'm with Elder O'Keefe now, from Stoke-On-Trent, near Manchester. He's a local. haha. First british companion I've ever had. We'll see how thigns go.

 

The week has been rainy. so much rain. I hate it. England is flooding over as well! Pics included, a little bit. the camera is dumb when uploading and I can only put on 1 at a time, so I forget which ones I put up there.

 

But best/funniest part of my week: On the way back from Staines (where everyone meets up for transfers) we were standing there, Myself and O'keefe, and Elder McCammon and Smith his new companion. A train comes by and he's like, "Elder Blumenthal, is this the train?" and I'm like "uh... Yup." Totally wasn't. Got on the wrong train. ALL the way to Windsor & Eton. Which is pretty far. Whoops. HAHA! It was hilarious! Because Elder McCammon is on the phone witht he ZOne Leaders, going "Hey we're lost, we got stuck in-- OH MY GOSH THERE IT IS!!! *hangs up*" haha because we got off at the station with Windsor Castle. Yes, THE Windsor castle. the castle that the queen lives in. So we took loads of pictures. It was the best mistake ever. Elder McCammon was frekaing out, it was so funny. We got so many pictures but I found out later that we were at like.. the side of the castle with boring stuff. The front has WAY cooler stuff! So we missed the changing of the guard. Oh well. Maybe one day we'll go there.

 

and finally just last night we had dinner at Sister Shaile' house, the nicest woman ever. She made us Badian food! (West indian food, like Jamaican food) it was so good. reminded me of Catford all over again.

 

Gotta get going. love you all!!!

 

-Elder Blumenthal

 

Luke 17:7-10. We're all unprofitable servants. The Grace of God saves us alone. I love that parable!

Winter Is Colder And Colder

Okay, dear all, this week has been awesome. Really good. We taught 15 lessons. Found 3 new investigators.

Loads of cool pictures! So many funny experiences, don't know where to begin.. HAHAHA. Oh man. we found a dead pigeon on the way home from stake conference and Tiko picked it up was taking pictures and stuff (hahahaha) and then we saw a member's friend's model house project. Its crazy. its like not even 6 inches tall, its SUPER small. and guess what its made of? Cardboard. its crazy! all that detail! I'm gonna get more pictures tongith when we see them since they're a little blurry.

Anyways transfers is this week so it kinda stinks because ELder Stradling might be moving. Probably. he's been here for 6 months so who knows? I might even move and he trains? hmm. Anyways I need to get pictures with every member before I leave! Definitely!

I think the best part of the week was Sunday. Fast and testimony meeting! So powerful. Loved every minute of it. I love the members here in Newbury, they're so cool. 

Have to get going. but I love you all, thank you for the e-mails and support. we might get snow here soon! Oh no!!! And my bike is like, breaking at its seams!!!

-Elder Blumenthal