Buckle Up For The Ride

Wow what a past couple of weeks it has been. I regret not writing last week (just so busy didn't really have time). This email is going to be a packed one so buckle up! 

So, 2 weeks ago, we had the wonderful opportunity to meet in person as missionaries! We met as stakes. So, we got a chance to meet with the Leeds stake missionaries and the Huddersfield Stake Missionaries. We got to have our first in person interviews with President and Sister Green for the first time in 15 months! It was so good to see them and to be with other missionaries. In each stake we had a study about the commandments. We focused on Preach My Gospel chapter 4. Elder Dupre and I led the Huddersfield study and Sister Houskeeper and Sister Wong led the Leeds stake. It was a great experience and I'm hoping we get to meet as a zone next transfer which I think is likely to happen if things go according to plan with government restrictions. 

We had lots of opportunities to meet inside people's homes and loads of lessons. We had tea(dinner don't worry Haha) with Bernard and a returning member named Andrew Sproule. It felt so good to be with each other and we had a good laugh. 

We met with many of our returning members as well. One Returning member we met with is Denis Whitaker and oh wow let me tell Ya he has so many taxidermy animals in his house. He's obsessed with collecting things like that and wartime antiques. He told us he had £20,000 worth of stuff that the police confiscated because apparently it is illegal to have deactivated weapons and things like that. We asked him what he had been up to one day and he told us he was just cleaning off some pigeon skulls (near 50 of them). It is things like this that just make a mission so unique and funny. 

We were able to do loads of service in people's gardens because the weather has been quite nice recently. Summer over here only lasts about 4 weeks sadly but it has been nice and I'm actually tanning! The service projects have been a huge blessing for the people on the council estate (government paid housing for the needy). We have made a good impression on many of the people and they are viewing the church as a friendly and welcoming place. We've had some great conversations with many of the people as we help serve them. One lady was just so grateful for us trimming her hedge because the day before she had paid £40 quid(bucks) for some local garnering to mow and trim her hedge, but they did about half of her front yard and nothing to trim the hedge. She was shocked we were doing it for free. We definitely left a good impression on her.

We were able to meet with our friend Elijah 2 weeks ago(this past week he couldn't). We discussed the 2 great commandments and charity/love. We had a great discussion and he had told us recently that he read the last chapter in the Book of Mormon and really liked it. It was very similar to what the apostles Paul wrote in the New Testament. We also met up with our friend Anthony in person twice these past 2 weeks. Anthony wants to quit smoking and he told us he just going to go cold turkey and stop. I'm not sure if he's going to be able to do that Haha, but we gave him some additional options if he can't stop. We taught him the gospel of Jesus Christ and we taught it very simply so hopefully he can understand. 

We had a nice BBQ with bishop on Sunday 2 weeks ago and the day was beautiful. So sunny and warm. We had some burgers and "hotdogs" (not sure if they were hotdogs or something similar). It was great! 

On our Monday last week, we went to the Yorkshire dales (a national park in England) and visited a place called Malham Cove. It was a busy and beautiful day. The roads to get there were narrow so there were lots of traffic jams there and back. It was nearly a 2-hour drive one way. As we were leaving the park, I had taken a wrong turn so I just followed the GPS rerouting me and it took me down a path I'm not sure cars are supposed to go down. As I drove down the path, I knew I had made a mistake. Elder Dupre and I were sticking our heads out the window trying to make sure we didn't hit the stones on the way through. We were literally less than a centimeter a way on both sides of the car and I can only thank God for helping us through Haha. 

This past week we had lots of lessons and in person meetings. We went to the Bradford District's District Council in person and it was so great to have more interaction! Later that day I was able to have a baptismal interview with a lady named Dianne who I found almost a year ago. I had done service for her for a while and I gave her a Book of Mormon just before I left the area in Halifax. She had come a long way and she also had asked me to baptize her! I was so grateful to share this special experience with her. 

The day of the baptism we had done exchanges with the Halifax Elders. We did some service at a local church doing some garden work and then helped out at an allotment later that day for one of Dianne's friends Tahreen. The day was just filled with Joy. She was a bit nervous, but excited for it. I was able to see some great members of the Halifax ward. Oh, how I missed them they are just some amazing people. 

To finish off these amazing 2 weeks we were able to have a testimony meeting at church and a mission wide one as well. I had challenged the whole zone to bear their testimony and nearly all of them did it was so great! The spirit was so strong and I was filled with Joy. 

Spiritual Thought: 

These past few weeks I've had my testimony solidified in the power of charity. 

Moroni 7:47

"47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him."

I know God loves each and every one of us. If you feel down or you feel lost or confused choose to be filled with the pure love of Christ. As you decide to serve someone, I can promise you will feel happier. It is such an amazing opportunity I have to be on a mission and just SERVE! I truly believe missionaries are so joyful because we are in the service of our Lord. Charity truly never fails and you will be blessed as you develop your love for those around you. 

Keep being awesome and keep being great! Have a wonderful week and I'll talk to you next week!

Love you all!

Elder Jones 

1. Bernard

2. Country side

3. Denis Whitaker

4. Dianne's baptism!

5. Exchanges with Elder Price and Armstrong

6. Name tag photo

7. Zone call

8. Yorkshire dale