So things here are going great! I am just so happy to be here in evesham with Sister P. It’s basically a dream come true. When I first met her, I knew we wouldn't ever be companions, because you never get put with someone you know you would just have so much fun with and then be best friends with. And then it happened. And I thought it would only be for that one transfer in banbury, and then we got really lucky! And now we have been companions for almost 6 months and still going strong! Amazing! I don't know if I’d be able to handle most people for 24/7 LITERALLY, but we are great! And we just laugh all the time, and are so happy. People comment on how happy and what good friends we are all the time. I think it is a good example of the gospel. It’s hard to show how happy the gospel makes you, when you are really struggling with a companion, and sometimes have to fake happiness. That’s not real. So we are just REALLY lucky! And I feel so blessed. That’s a third of my mission with one person. Crazy! Ha-ha.
So T is doing BRILLIANTLY! We are so chuffed (which means pleased in British English). He is just doing really well. At first, we were a bit concerned that he might like one of us, which was why he was so willing to meet with us. But he has been praying every day, and we have been being very careful to have him realize that we are here only as missionaries. And he is doing really great! He has an iPad, and has downloaded the Book of Mormon and the hymns and everything onto it. He found out how to do that from G. And he is really excited to be baptized! We are really excited as well! What a good kid! So he came to church this week. On Saturday, we called a less active named S, who is about T’s age, and asked him if he would be able to come to church to be able to fellowship T. His parents thought there was no way he'd say yes, but the next day he was there! Sitting with T! And they actually knew each other! How random. They had been in each other’s classes in college. So that was great! And it’s a good way to get S back! We are pretty thrilled about that! Also at church, the most wonderful thing happened. So we were sitting there in gospel principles. Me, Sister P, S, T, and Brother Wharrad (the teacher), and who walks in???? ST! We have been working with ST every week since we got here, and this is his FIRST time he's come to church in that! And to make it more, he bore his testimony in sacrament meeting! AhhhhH!!!! We are so thrilled about that. We just couldn't stop smiling! What a good guy! It was a really good Sunday. We are so pleased!
So cool thing about G this week. So apparently he has written a letter to his parents, telling them that he is getting baptized. He hasn't sent it, and once he sent it, he knows there is no going back. So he just has to send it. That’s all we have to deal with! Gosh. I just want him baptized! SOO bad! So hopefully we'll be able to help him through that, to get that letter in the post! Good step in the right direction G!
This week we had a Sister’s exchange. I went to Harborne and served with Sister Nadsady (from Scotland, but goes to BYU. actually, we have a LOT of friends in common. like she knows Justin (bens old roommate), and one of my old FHE moms. and I am sure we have more people in common. she even worked at the HFAC. I must have seen her! But anyway, I have been on a couple exchanges with her before, so it was very fun, and Sister Hedemark (from Sweden, and easily the prettiest Sister here), came to evesham. I was a little sad to leave Evesham and Sister P (it was our first day apart ha-ha) but we did it, and it was very fun. And I learned a lot. We talked a lot about what different things we could teach G to help him. and that was really helpful! The whole mission knows about G, by the way.
We decided this week that our teaching is becoming a little to rote, and not very creative. So we decided to teach every lesson like we would a Young Women lesson. With pictures, and stories, and examples, and visuals. We did this with T and Ty. T has a really hard time focusing in our lessons and he always distracts the conversations. And we knew that we needed to focus them. We needed to really bring up why we come to their home, what our goals are for them, and what they need to do to be able to get there, and to eventually be an eternal family. So Sister P drew out a mountain on a board. And she drew 4 different slopes to ski on (because T loves skiing). The kiddie slope, the easy, middle, and then the hard. The kiddie slope is them meeting with us and us teaching them. The easy slope is them coming to church. The middle slope is them getting baptized, and then the hardest slope is them going to the temple. And we explained that each slope is good, but you can't stay on it forever. You want to be able to get better, and to grow and to be better. And so Ty really got it. Ty is now looking in that direction. I think it really helped her. But T is not at all interested in giving up his coffee. Ha-ha. We’ll have to work with that. But it was good. We really kept their focus so much better! We are going to have to start being a lot more creative!
Sister Clark and Sister Pope wearing the whole armor of God.
Oh what else? I don't really know. We are just trying to work really hard. We are still working really hard at keeping 3 and 1 as a focus! And I think it's really helped us! And I am so excited about T! This week we are meeting with him at least four times. Last night the Branch President, President Retallick, picked T up from his home, and we had a lesson at the Retallick's home. And it went so well. T talked about how he had felt the spirit. He is a really good kid. Very with it. Not at all like a lot of the "chavs" (rougher kids, like gangsters?) that are around this area. He is really good. And very respectful. And we haven't found a concern yet! It’s almost too good to be true. He just is really prepared. How cool! How cool would it be if he went on a mission!? SO COOLLLL!
Anyway! This gospel is true! I am so grateful to be here. The time is flying by. I can’t believe we have passed the nine month mark, and now it's counting down. So strange! We continue to work hard, and try to be better missionaries all the time. I love this work, and I love you SO much! I miss you dearly, and really can't wait to talk to you again on mother’s day! How fun! I love you love you love you!
Love,
Annie
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