Hey everyone,
To say I spoke too soon is an understatement. It was a little hard to focus on anything this past week with everything going on haha. Heres a brief summary of this week:
▪Monday: an hour after pday ended last week, all the missionaries got a text from our mission president. We're no longer allowed to find people face to face (no tracting, street contacting, or bus contacting), and we also cant even meet with our friends face to face. Everything has to be over video chat or phone call. They said we could still leave our flat though
▪Tuesday: elder stayner and newell both started feeling not very well so my mission presidents wife had us stay in the flat all day.
▪Wednesday: we got quarantined mission-wide. Now we can only leave our flats for grocery shopping, exercise, and to go to our chapel (we only get 3 GB a month so church wifi is a necessity sometimes haha). So we've been doing a lot of phone contacting lately haha. Which actually has been a blessing in disguise. We're teaching more people now than before, all over video chat! Weve been busy all day which isnt what I was expecting at all. It has been really sad not to be out on the street talking to people, but we're making the best out of our situation. And weve been doing a lot of member work as well which has been amazing!
▪Friday: Elder Stayner got a call early morning. He had to go to the mission home that night and fly home the next day. Trump I guess put in new travel rules, so he flew home Saturday. So now Elder newell and I are by ourselves. So weird
▪Saturday: Woke up to the news that a substantial number of missionaries will be sent home in the coming period of time. It was really hard to deal with. I thought for sure saturday was my last day in England. It was the saddest I've felt in a long time. But nonetheless we went out and worked. We taught a bunch of lessons and phone contacted a ton as well. But that night we had a mission wide conference call, and we were reassured that for the time being, we dont need to be worried about being sent home. The situation isnt to that point yet. Which was such a relief
-Today! We're gonna be in a trio again starting tomorrow! Elder Chen (different elder chen from the one that trained me) is coming to Manchester to be with Elder newell and I. Hes from taiwan! Kinda weird to be in a trio again, but now we're gonna have a native chinese speaker to teach us chinese haha. The new missionaries are coming in a week early so they have to start moving missionaries around now I guess.
But here's some good news! About a month and a half ago, I went on exchanges with my zone leaders in Lancaster. And we taught this man (Daniel) who had met missionaries like a year ago, but he was dropped about 6 months earlier because he wasn't really progressing. So my zone leader found him randomly on the street one day and then we taught him together for the first time in 6 months on exchanges. And the night before, from 11 PM to 5 AM, he literally read over 300 pages from the BoM, and highlighted all his questions. So we met with him and literally spent an hour answering all his questions. After, I felt prompted to invite him to be baptized, and he accepted! But since lancaster university closed due to the virus, he has to move back home, and guess where that is?? Manchester! So I'm gonna baptize him! I'm so excited, hes amazing. He should get baptized this week on thursday or saturday.
It's kinda been a rollercoaster of emotions this past week. It's probably been the longest and most stressful week of my life. Finding out we were no longer able to talk to people in person was kinda devastating. I really loved just getting out on the street and talking to people. And then just everyday we were getting more news that just made the whole situation seem more grim. So this past week I've been studying a lot about faith and hope to kinda counteract the other feelings I've been having.
Mormon 9:
21-22, 27:
“21 Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.
22 For behold, thus said Jesus Christ, the Son of God, unto his disciples who should tarry, yea, and also to all his disciples, in the hearing of the multitude: Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature;
27 O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him.”
Elder Stayner and I talked a bit about faith and doubt a couple weeks ago. But he said one thing which just stuck out to me. It's not even eloquent or catchy or anything, it just stuck out for some reason. He said “I'm so sick of doubting”. And that's how I feel. I'm so sick of doubting. I just want to have faith in Christ! “I believe in Christ, so come what may!” This is what Jesus Christ has asked us to do. To go forth, to preach the Gospel. And as long as we have faith in Christ, He will bless us. We don't need to worry because He is on our side!
-Elder Ensign 高长老
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Altrincham Road
Manchester, M22 4BJ
England
 |
| Ice Cream |
 |
Plus some pics of Manchester and stuff cause I was convinced saturday was my last day haha
|
 |
| Add caption |
 |
| Add caption |
