Monday, January 25, 2016
Hello my amazing family!
>
> Hey family!!
>
> HOLY SMOKES! This week. Ya know how people say missions are hard. Yeah. They are wonderful but this one has been a hard one. Sister S and I are going to start switching using the computer now so I will only have 1 hour on it and then my ipad which always takes 10 times longer so sorry if the emails arent as long. Which is good so we are both getting a chance to use it but of all weeks i feel like this one I need to just get everything out so I am going to type as fast as I can so that I can tell you as much as possible!! But i apologize if they are shorter in advance! :)
>
> BUT oh my family. This week has been a crazy one. I can do this right? Tell me I can. Its so funny to me how up and down weeks are. Last week I just felt SO HAPPY - life was good and exciting and things were truly so wonderful and then this week was just well... poop in a lot of ways. Still so wonderful becuase I am a missionary but it was a hard one. This week has been a week where opposition is just so real. We have been finding and finding and finding becuase the people we are really teaching have baptisimal dates which is wonderful but we need to start building our teaching pool up again - so we were out with days full of finding - knocking and street contacting and working so hard! We did all that we could be exactly obedient too!! (biggest tender mercy too - Sister S and I had a really good talk and she just went on on how she didn't want to seem like the disobeient one and that we do need to be exact with it all - oh my. Praise the Lord! So things with that have been so much better which just makes me feel so much better about everything! So that is so good! WE really are striving to be exactly obedient!) We have cracked down on all of the little things and are just doing our best to really plan with the spirit to know where we should be and where we should work and as we are walking places we are talking to people and just all of it AND nothin. So i guess more than anything it has just been a testing week.. not a hard one but more of a testing week. I am really just having to choose faith and rely on the lord when the days can seem long and everyone we talk to is athiest or silly church of england. I know that we will find people though! And this week will be better! I am going to MAKE it a better week! So things will be great! :) Look forward to an email full of miracles next monday! :)
>
> One thing that I do really need your help on - aka I want 4 emails tonight telling me their advice on it all :) - Sister S is INCREDIBLY stressed out. LIke to the point where I really am nervous about what to do. Just with all of the possibility of moving (which actually WILL happen! Wether we move to stains or not sill isn't decided but we will be moving houses - it just doesn't work with having 4 sisters in the living place we are in now - so im not sure when it will all go through but we will for sure be moving) so with all of that, plus a lot of our sisters have been going a little crazy and that has stressed her out, ontop of that we have just been finding and finding and just getting a lot of rejection has just been piling up for her. On saturday night we were knocking and she finally got to the point where she said she just couldn't do it anymore. She broke down crying and just so upset and just said how she felt like she couldn't feel the spirit. She also has really struggled with migraines in the morning so for the past couple of weeks she has been turning off the alarm but then going back to bed becuase she can't take the pain with the headache so then she is missing a lot of studdies which then makes her feel disobedient she she is angry at herself which then results in her being quiet and angry and easily snappy. OH my family. Help me. What do I do? I am trying to love her and help her and remind her that she can do this and that she is a good missionary and all of that good stuff but i feel a lot of the time that I can't do anything right. This morning was a rough one. She got up late again so she was in the worst mood and well yeah it was just rough. I ended up breaking down and then she broke down apologizing and then I finally talked her into calling president for help and she did so lets pray that that helped! I really do love her. This past transfer she has become one of my friends - not just a comp - and we can get on SO well and work so well together but there are just times like this where she is so stressed and I just dont know what to do to help. SO yeah. Any advice would be the best! I just want her to be happy. THe light at the end of this tunnel too is that we have PRESIDENT INTERVIEWS on thursday. Oh I am so happy and can not even wait. I just need his help and advice on everything and after talking to him i just feel so much better. SInce I can't talk to you it is the biggest blessing when I get the time to get his help! And i get a whole 15 mintues with him so that wil be the greatest. So things will be good! I have full confidence this week will be better! :)
>
> And one reason I know it will be is becuase ROB IS GETTING BAPTISED ON SATURDAY!!! Oh my! I am so excited. SO EXCITED. THis is the first person I have been able to see from the very begining to the point of him getting baptised. I have been there every step with him and I just can't even tell you how amazing and humbling it is to see how it changes people. I know i have said it in the last couple of emails but it still just amazes me. The gospel truly CHANGES us. Rob is completely different - still his goofy self but he just has been changed. He is just happier and better off and I just love it. Oh it will be the greatest day! Expect lots of pictures next week! We also have an exchange this week which will be exciting - we are still with grannie annie so its extra exciting with how close things are! And then we have zone training and president interviews! So it will be a busy and wonderful week! I am excited to go out and work hard! :)
>
> This last week I had my first english breakfast! OH MY HECK YOU WOULD ALL LOVE IT!! Mom - it had lots of sausage so you probably wouldn't as much but oh. All it was missing was grandmas egg dish and then it would have been perfect. I think i would have died on the spot of a heart attack - but it would have been perfect. THey fry everything - including the toast usually!! and its just meating and fatty and wonderful. It was so great!
>
> I also opened your feeling discouraged letter this last week. and IT HELPED SO MUCH!! Thank you thank you thank you!!! I love you all so much! Having your support and love and just knowing you are there makes everything okay. Even though youre far away you feel close and I am so grateful for that! :)
>
> Another thing I was going to tell you is that as a mission we have a goal to finish the book of mormon by next general conference in April! DO IT WITH ME!!!! Will you? Its like 3 months away - you totally can! :) I think you all should. Let me know!:)
>
> But yeah! Sorry its not a really exciting week. I more of just needed to vent it all out to you. Its just been a lot of finding and a stressed out companion and then getting to the breaking point. But all things are good now. We have hugged it out (haha hugging it out works all the time huh ky?;) ) and after this joy is taking out to eat and we are getting ice cream so life is wonderful! Things here in england are great! i still am so grateful to be a missionary and get to serve my saviour. I LOVE HIM! As crazy as this week has been with all of the up and down emotions he has been constant. He is my anchor and my rock and I am just so grateful that he is always there. He has become my greatest friend and best buddy and go to guy for every situation. As well as YOU all have been there to be that anchor for me! I can get through anything here becuase of all of YOU behind me supporting me and helping me. I couldn't do it without you. Truly I couldn't so thank you for just being so wonderful! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!
>
> But i hope you have the GREATEST week! Make it the greatest week! :)
>
> I love you! SO SO MUCH words just never do it! I am so blessed and thank our heavenly father for all of you everynight! Never forget how much I love you and miss you but how grateful I am to be here serving right now! Praying all the blessings go your way! :)
>
> LOVE YOU!!
>
> Sister GWilliam
> Hey family!!
>
> HOLY SMOKES! This week. Ya know how people say missions are hard. Yeah. They are wonderful but this one has been a hard one. Sister S and I are going to start switching using the computer now so I will only have 1 hour on it and then my ipad which always takes 10 times longer so sorry if the emails arent as long. Which is good so we are both getting a chance to use it but of all weeks i feel like this one I need to just get everything out so I am going to type as fast as I can so that I can tell you as much as possible!! But i apologize if they are shorter in advance! :)
>
> BUT oh my family. This week has been a crazy one. I can do this right? Tell me I can. Its so funny to me how up and down weeks are. Last week I just felt SO HAPPY - life was good and exciting and things were truly so wonderful and then this week was just well... poop in a lot of ways. Still so wonderful becuase I am a missionary but it was a hard one. This week has been a week where opposition is just so real. We have been finding and finding and finding becuase the people we are really teaching have baptisimal dates which is wonderful but we need to start building our teaching pool up again - so we were out with days full of finding - knocking and street contacting and working so hard! We did all that we could be exactly obedient too!! (biggest tender mercy too - Sister S and I had a really good talk and she just went on on how she didn't want to seem like the disobeient one and that we do need to be exact with it all - oh my. Praise the Lord! So things with that have been so much better which just makes me feel so much better about everything! So that is so good! WE really are striving to be exactly obedient!) We have cracked down on all of the little things and are just doing our best to really plan with the spirit to know where we should be and where we should work and as we are walking places we are talking to people and just all of it AND nothin. So i guess more than anything it has just been a testing week.. not a hard one but more of a testing week. I am really just having to choose faith and rely on the lord when the days can seem long and everyone we talk to is athiest or silly church of england. I know that we will find people though! And this week will be better! I am going to MAKE it a better week! So things will be great! :) Look forward to an email full of miracles next monday! :)
>
> One thing that I do really need your help on - aka I want 4 emails tonight telling me their advice on it all :) - Sister S is INCREDIBLY stressed out. LIke to the point where I really am nervous about what to do. Just with all of the possibility of moving (which actually WILL happen! Wether we move to stains or not sill isn't decided but we will be moving houses - it just doesn't work with having 4 sisters in the living place we are in now - so im not sure when it will all go through but we will for sure be moving) so with all of that, plus a lot of our sisters have been going a little crazy and that has stressed her out, ontop of that we have just been finding and finding and just getting a lot of rejection has just been piling up for her. On saturday night we were knocking and she finally got to the point where she said she just couldn't do it anymore. She broke down crying and just so upset and just said how she felt like she couldn't feel the spirit. She also has really struggled with migraines in the morning so for the past couple of weeks she has been turning off the alarm but then going back to bed becuase she can't take the pain with the headache so then she is missing a lot of studdies which then makes her feel disobedient she she is angry at herself which then results in her being quiet and angry and easily snappy. OH my family. Help me. What do I do? I am trying to love her and help her and remind her that she can do this and that she is a good missionary and all of that good stuff but i feel a lot of the time that I can't do anything right. This morning was a rough one. She got up late again so she was in the worst mood and well yeah it was just rough. I ended up breaking down and then she broke down apologizing and then I finally talked her into calling president for help and she did so lets pray that that helped! I really do love her. This past transfer she has become one of my friends - not just a comp - and we can get on SO well and work so well together but there are just times like this where she is so stressed and I just dont know what to do to help. SO yeah. Any advice would be the best! I just want her to be happy. THe light at the end of this tunnel too is that we have PRESIDENT INTERVIEWS on thursday. Oh I am so happy and can not even wait. I just need his help and advice on everything and after talking to him i just feel so much better. SInce I can't talk to you it is the biggest blessing when I get the time to get his help! And i get a whole 15 mintues with him so that wil be the greatest. So things will be good! I have full confidence this week will be better! :)
>
> And one reason I know it will be is becuase ROB IS GETTING BAPTISED ON SATURDAY!!! Oh my! I am so excited. SO EXCITED. THis is the first person I have been able to see from the very begining to the point of him getting baptised. I have been there every step with him and I just can't even tell you how amazing and humbling it is to see how it changes people. I know i have said it in the last couple of emails but it still just amazes me. The gospel truly CHANGES us. Rob is completely different - still his goofy self but he just has been changed. He is just happier and better off and I just love it. Oh it will be the greatest day! Expect lots of pictures next week! We also have an exchange this week which will be exciting - we are still with grannie annie so its extra exciting with how close things are! And then we have zone training and president interviews! So it will be a busy and wonderful week! I am excited to go out and work hard! :)
>
> This last week I had my first english breakfast! OH MY HECK YOU WOULD ALL LOVE IT!! Mom - it had lots of sausage so you probably wouldn't as much but oh. All it was missing was grandmas egg dish and then it would have been perfect. I think i would have died on the spot of a heart attack - but it would have been perfect. THey fry everything - including the toast usually!! and its just meating and fatty and wonderful. It was so great!
>
> I also opened your feeling discouraged letter this last week. and IT HELPED SO MUCH!! Thank you thank you thank you!!! I love you all so much! Having your support and love and just knowing you are there makes everything okay. Even though youre far away you feel close and I am so grateful for that! :)
>
> Another thing I was going to tell you is that as a mission we have a goal to finish the book of mormon by next general conference in April! DO IT WITH ME!!!! Will you? Its like 3 months away - you totally can! :) I think you all should. Let me know!:)
>
> But yeah! Sorry its not a really exciting week. I more of just needed to vent it all out to you. Its just been a lot of finding and a stressed out companion and then getting to the breaking point. But all things are good now. We have hugged it out (haha hugging it out works all the time huh ky?;) ) and after this joy is taking out to eat and we are getting ice cream so life is wonderful! Things here in england are great! i still am so grateful to be a missionary and get to serve my saviour. I LOVE HIM! As crazy as this week has been with all of the up and down emotions he has been constant. He is my anchor and my rock and I am just so grateful that he is always there. He has become my greatest friend and best buddy and go to guy for every situation. As well as YOU all have been there to be that anchor for me! I can get through anything here becuase of all of YOU behind me supporting me and helping me. I couldn't do it without you. Truly I couldn't so thank you for just being so wonderful! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!
>
> But i hope you have the GREATEST week! Make it the greatest week! :)
>
> I love you! SO SO MUCH words just never do it! I am so blessed and thank our heavenly father for all of you everynight! Never forget how much I love you and miss you but how grateful I am to be here serving right now! Praying all the blessings go your way! :)
>
> LOVE YOU!!
>
> Sister GWilliam
Monday, January 18, 2016
HELLO!!
>
> Hey my most amazing family!!
>
> I hope you have had the MOST WONDERFUL WEEK! Sorry i am on a little late today, we had some members take us out for a walk in the country side and then have lunch which was super fun and I have loads of pictures to send over for you all to see! BUT oh my goodness! This week has been crazy! So much to update you on - the whole only 2 hours to update you on everything each week never gets any easier.
>
> BUT to start off! THis week was the full of meetings week again with MLC and DLC. It was SO great though. OH i just love MLC. I love being there with PResident and Sister Gubler and then all the other missionaries from all over the mission. THe spirit is just so strong and it is so fun to be so involved with everything and a big part of the decision process. This MLC was crazy though with it being the first of the year becuase there was new training sent to all of the mission presidents that were to be put into effect that made things a little different for us... first off - the first presidency has looked over all the different numbers and situations and everything and have pretty much told us all that we are not doing enough. THe lord is hastening his work but we need to catch up with him - holy smokes. SO to help that they have told mission presidents that missionaries should stay in areas and with companions for a longer amount of time. None of this just stay in and area with a companion for 2 or maybe 3 transfers and then leave - they have counseled that missionaries should stay together for now 6 to 8 months instead. And president is ALL IN on that! There is a sister here who has been in her 1st area for A YEAR NOW! HER FIRST AREA! So I had just decided that I was going to serve in aldershot for the rest of my mission.... UNTIL (and this is where it gets a little crazy) the second item that the presidency saw to help the work progress and keep up to speed was that exchanges were going to change. In the white handbook it talks about having a leaders area be a "model area" for other missionaries to come to so that they can see how the work should be done - they said it should be a laboratory that missionaries can come to, see how the work and how missionaries should work, and then they can go back and apply that into their areas. So from now on Leaders will not do splits for exchanges but instead all of the companionships come to our area for 24 and we each work with one of them for that time but we are all in aldershot. So that was a big change! Instead of us going and traveling around to see the sisters and work in their areas they will always travel and come to ours. Making it so we have more time working - less time traveling and that they will see the model area. THEN president said thought that it was upon us as leaders in our zones though to decided if our area was one that could be a model area - if the ward and living situation and area was one that was a place that could be that laboratory for other missionaries and that we should get together as STLs and ZLs and decided if we needed to MOVE to a place that would be that model area. TALK ABOUT PRESSURE! So its been a crazy week of trying to figure everything out and talking a lot with the Zone Leaders who then are talking to president and it is just all crazy.
>
> So we had our first exchange with both of the guildford sisters coming to us and it was so great! i definitely see why this hastens the work. It was so effective and both of them said how much it helped them to not just see the work side of things but how sister stephenson and I worked together and how we did planning and comp studdies and all of that good stufff so that part was great BUT then there is the grannie annie side of it that isn't - the house is just too small for all 4 sisters to be smashed into one room and the study table and room isn't big enough and just the fact that we live in a place with grannie annie where the TV is on and she is constantly needing help with different things and all of that - bless her 82 year old heart. Its just not what is best for the sisters. SO after lots of talk with the ZLs we will definitely be moving - either to the ZL area - stains - to justhave it be this massive model area - or we will have to move to another flat in aldershot. CRAZY RIGHT!? Oh its been crazy. Part of me is sad - its been fun to be able to live with grannie annie as crazy as she can be at times but it just doesn't work with how exchanges are working lately. So it ultimately comes down to president and his decision - and things wont be put into place I am sure until transfers which aren't for another month but thats whats going on right now. I will keep you updated!!
>
> So its been a busy week full of that craziness and then lots of long meetings - in between we have done a lot of finding! We have our amazing investigators with ROb and then Jake and Luke (we had to drop Jose - it was sad. But he just isn't ready right now and is chooseing to listen to his friends who tell him to go to the church of england instead OF THE TRUE CHURCH. silly jose.) but they are doing so well. Rob is SO EXCITED for his baptism and its just truly so amazing to see the change in him. He is just so happy and so excited and the ward is so excited for him as well! I just can't wait! And jake and luke are still the happiest and cutest so its wonderful - besdies that we are teaching a couple of potentials but we just really need to find. So we have been spending LOADS of time talking onthe street and knocking and guess what. ITS FLIPPIN FREEZING OUTSIDE. Oh my heavens. Everyone told me how cold it gets but I just didn't understand until I have been out in it for hours and its just the worst. I have started wearing my leggins under my super thick tights and then multiple pairs of socks and then layers of shirts and any big jacket and then my coat and gloves and scarves and hats and then the handwarmers you sent for christmas - the GREATEST!! Thank you!! haha I honestly look like a joke walking around. Im huge with all of the layers on and I feel like people think that we are crazy who see us and think "oh its not THAT cold" and I just want to say back to them that yeah it isn't that cold until you have to spend 5 hours CONTACTING in it! BUT it is great! Tomorrow is supposed to be really cold and then grannie told us it should warm up. Fingers crossed. and YES it did snow. THat shows you how cold it is. It typically doesn't snow. but it did. thank heavens it was on a sunday so we were at church for a lot of it! :) Its so funny too because the world stops and everyone freaks out when there is an inch on the road - people can't drive or walk or do anything and I just want to laugh at them becuase of what we get in Utah. It cracks me up.
>
> I got the patriarchical blessings in the mail mom! THANK YOU they are so fun! AND I got the CUTEST BANNER!!!!!! OH we love it! THank you so much!! You all are the best. It is so fun to get things in the mail - helps me feel so close to you! :) Did you ever get the letter I sent a couple weeks ago? Hopefully! :)
>
> And guess what? Steve got a fitbit today! She loved mine so much that she decided she would just get one herself. So you better believe that we will be having competitions everyday seeing how can get the most. Even though we are together all day long I'll have to jog in place or run up and down the stairs in the house when she is in the bathroom or something to get ahead! :) Speaking of that!We went on that walk today so I got to wear not proselyting shoes and guess what!? MY JEANS STILL FIT!! YAYYY!!!! Praises!! I was so happy.
>
> But yeah, things here in england are just LOVELY and Brilliant! :) I really am just really happy. Ive thought about it a lot durring the past little bit and I just really am happy - which is so strange. I don't understnad why a lot of the time but I have really just tried to put all of my fears and concerns and troubles with the lord and as I have life is just great! He is taking care of it all and all i have to do is my best and that has brought so much peace! I am just so grateful to be out here. KY! Really be excited. There will be REALLY hard days. Really long days. and tough ones where you have NO IDEA WHY IN THE WORLD YOU DECIDED TO COME haha its true but once you just allow yourself to be apart of it there is nothing that will make you happier. Just surrender to all of it - give in and be obedient, work hard, and as you do you will be happy. Its the greatest. I still miss you all like nothing else but its okay because I will see you soon! Ill keep praying to send the blessings your way until I get home!!
>
> I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!! SOSOSOSOSOSO MUCH. And miss you. And pray for you ALL DAY LONG! But am happy here! :) I hope you have the most wonderful week and never forget how much I love you! Stay safe and be happy and keep updating me on everything!
>
> I LOVE YOU!!!
>
> Sister Gwilliam
> Hey my most amazing family!!
>
> I hope you have had the MOST WONDERFUL WEEK! Sorry i am on a little late today, we had some members take us out for a walk in the country side and then have lunch which was super fun and I have loads of pictures to send over for you all to see! BUT oh my goodness! This week has been crazy! So much to update you on - the whole only 2 hours to update you on everything each week never gets any easier.
>
> BUT to start off! THis week was the full of meetings week again with MLC and DLC. It was SO great though. OH i just love MLC. I love being there with PResident and Sister Gubler and then all the other missionaries from all over the mission. THe spirit is just so strong and it is so fun to be so involved with everything and a big part of the decision process. This MLC was crazy though with it being the first of the year becuase there was new training sent to all of the mission presidents that were to be put into effect that made things a little different for us... first off - the first presidency has looked over all the different numbers and situations and everything and have pretty much told us all that we are not doing enough. THe lord is hastening his work but we need to catch up with him - holy smokes. SO to help that they have told mission presidents that missionaries should stay in areas and with companions for a longer amount of time. None of this just stay in and area with a companion for 2 or maybe 3 transfers and then leave - they have counseled that missionaries should stay together for now 6 to 8 months instead. And president is ALL IN on that! There is a sister here who has been in her 1st area for A YEAR NOW! HER FIRST AREA! So I had just decided that I was going to serve in aldershot for the rest of my mission.... UNTIL (and this is where it gets a little crazy) the second item that the presidency saw to help the work progress and keep up to speed was that exchanges were going to change. In the white handbook it talks about having a leaders area be a "model area" for other missionaries to come to so that they can see how the work should be done - they said it should be a laboratory that missionaries can come to, see how the work and how missionaries should work, and then they can go back and apply that into their areas. So from now on Leaders will not do splits for exchanges but instead all of the companionships come to our area for 24 and we each work with one of them for that time but we are all in aldershot. So that was a big change! Instead of us going and traveling around to see the sisters and work in their areas they will always travel and come to ours. Making it so we have more time working - less time traveling and that they will see the model area. THEN president said thought that it was upon us as leaders in our zones though to decided if our area was one that could be a model area - if the ward and living situation and area was one that was a place that could be that laboratory for other missionaries and that we should get together as STLs and ZLs and decided if we needed to MOVE to a place that would be that model area. TALK ABOUT PRESSURE! So its been a crazy week of trying to figure everything out and talking a lot with the Zone Leaders who then are talking to president and it is just all crazy.
>
> So we had our first exchange with both of the guildford sisters coming to us and it was so great! i definitely see why this hastens the work. It was so effective and both of them said how much it helped them to not just see the work side of things but how sister stephenson and I worked together and how we did planning and comp studdies and all of that good stufff so that part was great BUT then there is the grannie annie side of it that isn't - the house is just too small for all 4 sisters to be smashed into one room and the study table and room isn't big enough and just the fact that we live in a place with grannie annie where the TV is on and she is constantly needing help with different things and all of that - bless her 82 year old heart. Its just not what is best for the sisters. SO after lots of talk with the ZLs we will definitely be moving - either to the ZL area - stains - to justhave it be this massive model area - or we will have to move to another flat in aldershot. CRAZY RIGHT!? Oh its been crazy. Part of me is sad - its been fun to be able to live with grannie annie as crazy as she can be at times but it just doesn't work with how exchanges are working lately. So it ultimately comes down to president and his decision - and things wont be put into place I am sure until transfers which aren't for another month but thats whats going on right now. I will keep you updated!!
>
> So its been a busy week full of that craziness and then lots of long meetings - in between we have done a lot of finding! We have our amazing investigators with ROb and then Jake and Luke (we had to drop Jose - it was sad. But he just isn't ready right now and is chooseing to listen to his friends who tell him to go to the church of england instead OF THE TRUE CHURCH. silly jose.) but they are doing so well. Rob is SO EXCITED for his baptism and its just truly so amazing to see the change in him. He is just so happy and so excited and the ward is so excited for him as well! I just can't wait! And jake and luke are still the happiest and cutest so its wonderful - besdies that we are teaching a couple of potentials but we just really need to find. So we have been spending LOADS of time talking onthe street and knocking and guess what. ITS FLIPPIN FREEZING OUTSIDE. Oh my heavens. Everyone told me how cold it gets but I just didn't understand until I have been out in it for hours and its just the worst. I have started wearing my leggins under my super thick tights and then multiple pairs of socks and then layers of shirts and any big jacket and then my coat and gloves and scarves and hats and then the handwarmers you sent for christmas - the GREATEST!! Thank you!! haha I honestly look like a joke walking around. Im huge with all of the layers on and I feel like people think that we are crazy who see us and think "oh its not THAT cold" and I just want to say back to them that yeah it isn't that cold until you have to spend 5 hours CONTACTING in it! BUT it is great! Tomorrow is supposed to be really cold and then grannie told us it should warm up. Fingers crossed. and YES it did snow. THat shows you how cold it is. It typically doesn't snow. but it did. thank heavens it was on a sunday so we were at church for a lot of it! :) Its so funny too because the world stops and everyone freaks out when there is an inch on the road - people can't drive or walk or do anything and I just want to laugh at them becuase of what we get in Utah. It cracks me up.
>
> I got the patriarchical blessings in the mail mom! THANK YOU they are so fun! AND I got the CUTEST BANNER!!!!!! OH we love it! THank you so much!! You all are the best. It is so fun to get things in the mail - helps me feel so close to you! :) Did you ever get the letter I sent a couple weeks ago? Hopefully! :)
>
> And guess what? Steve got a fitbit today! She loved mine so much that she decided she would just get one herself. So you better believe that we will be having competitions everyday seeing how can get the most. Even though we are together all day long I'll have to jog in place or run up and down the stairs in the house when she is in the bathroom or something to get ahead! :) Speaking of that!We went on that walk today so I got to wear not proselyting shoes and guess what!? MY JEANS STILL FIT!! YAYYY!!!! Praises!! I was so happy.
>
> But yeah, things here in england are just LOVELY and Brilliant! :) I really am just really happy. Ive thought about it a lot durring the past little bit and I just really am happy - which is so strange. I don't understnad why a lot of the time but I have really just tried to put all of my fears and concerns and troubles with the lord and as I have life is just great! He is taking care of it all and all i have to do is my best and that has brought so much peace! I am just so grateful to be out here. KY! Really be excited. There will be REALLY hard days. Really long days. and tough ones where you have NO IDEA WHY IN THE WORLD YOU DECIDED TO COME haha its true but once you just allow yourself to be apart of it there is nothing that will make you happier. Just surrender to all of it - give in and be obedient, work hard, and as you do you will be happy. Its the greatest. I still miss you all like nothing else but its okay because I will see you soon! Ill keep praying to send the blessings your way until I get home!!
>
> I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!! SOSOSOSOSOSO MUCH. And miss you. And pray for you ALL DAY LONG! But am happy here! :) I hope you have the most wonderful week and never forget how much I love you! Stay safe and be happy and keep updating me on everything!
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> I LOVE YOU!!!
>
> Sister Gwilliam
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
I LOVE my FAMILY!!
Hello Family!!
I hope you all have had the MOST WONDERFUL WEEK! It sounds like it was busy with sports which is SO FUN! I miss sports a lot! KY! I still have to read your letter so I will respond to it after but i watched the video you sent of corner storming the court! OH MY GOODNESS. that is SO COOL!!!!! Oh i love it! AHH high school sports are the best. And then the pictures of the banners dad sent - holy smokes! AND you guys are ranked #1!! Its SO EXCITING!! I love getting the updates on the game! PLEASE keep it up! And keep killing it! STATE here you come! First off! Rob is so excited to get baptized and it is the greatest thing ever. He is just so excited and all the members are so excited - everyone was talking about it at church yesterday and so many came up and said they will be here. It is so amazing to me to see how the gospel really does change people. Rob is so different - he is happier, more confident, has more drive and purpose, is more kind, just EVERYTHING! It has just been really humbling for me to see how when we accept and apply the teachings of the Saviour it really does change us into better people. I have always known that in the back of my head but being able to witness it first hand is really incredible. being a missionary is the greatest thing ever. I really do love it! SO YES! Rob is doing great! I can't wait for his baptism! Keep praying for him please! We are also still meeting with Jake and Luke who are still the best! We had a funny situation this last week with them... their mom (who is a LA coming back to church) got remarried recently to a man who is not a member. We taught the boys 2 weeks ago about the plan of salvation and how if we are baptized and follow Jesus Christ we can go to the celestial kingdom. Well apparently after the lesson they went up to their step dad and told him how he wasn't going to be able to go to the celestial kingdom or live with them forever because he wasn't baptized. YIKES!! As you can imagine he wasn't too happy about that and the fact that there were 2 girls coming into his home telling his boys all of these things! Luckily we were able to go around again this week and have dinner with him and clear everything up with the boys. Haha have to be careful when teaching kids! :) But they are still doing great and on date for valentines day! Its just so fun and I feel so blessed to be apart of this all!
This last week we spent a lot of time serving which was really neat. I have come to see lately that I am the type of missionary that is so focused on finding people and teaching them so they can be baptized. I want to be the good example to the sisters in the zone and to be a good missionary and all of that and honestly, kinda embarrassing to admit, but when we had so much service to do for members and such I wasn't too thrilled about it at first. I just wanted to be out working - as in finding. But there were some amazing experiences while serving this week that it reminded me that this is what I am here to do. I am here to represent my Saviour and that means doing what he would be doing if he were here. And I KNOW that that would including serving everyone he could. So I stopped being silly and remembered that I am here to find but most importantly be where I need to be - and this week I needed to be serving! Radika - that nepalese woman had an emergency and was rushed into the hospital so we went and saw her a couple times. Something that I LOVE about her is that she LOVES and I mean LOVES the book of mormon. Here is this little nepalese woman who no one can understand but she just sits there with her book of mormon adn just reads and reads all the time. Her book of mormon is so worn and marked all over. As we were sitting there in the hospital with her as she read out some of her favorite scriptures I was so grateful for her example of loving the book of mormon. They are so important to her and only until my mission did I feel the same way about them as she did! YOU ALL BETTER BE READING EVERYDAY! Really understanding the book of mormon has changed everything for me!
This week we also did a lot being STLs which was great! We went and visited some sisters who were struggling. I love having this calling and being able to serve! I honestly feel like i am really inadequate and have no idea what I am doing a lot of the time but I love being able to try and help and just be there to be their friends! I love it! :)
But that was pretty much my week! A lot of serving, and visiting sisters and then meeting with our friends as well as contacting. We are really trying to find more people to teach! This next week will be crazy with it being MLC and DLC again so time will be short but we are DETERMINED TO FIND 5 new investigators! Watch out aldershot! We are coming for ya!
Life here is so good though. England is still so rainy and wet - we have heard this next week it is supposed to start being really cold. Which always makes me nervous because I already think that it is really cold... so we will see! Wish me luck. I already look like a marshmallow! I have taken some pictures of some of the places we go a lot. I realize I only send home pictures of me and Sister Steve and missionaries... which is great but I want to remember the places as well! So i'll send those over! Then when I am home I can tell you all about them! :)
And can you believe i made it 6 months?? Only a year to go! Crazy. Its been so great for me to think back to how much I have changed in the last 6 months. Just thinking back to Peckham feeling like there was no way I could do this to now where I still think a lot of the time there is no way that I can do this but I now know that its okay because my Heavenly Father and Saviour are there the whole time. I think that has been the biggest change for me over this 6 months - the fact that i KNOW now without any doubt of the reality of our heavenly father and Saviour. They are SO so real to me. and I Love them. I was talking to one of the sister about our missions and she asked if I loved my mission. As I thought about it there are a lot of things that I don't love about it - things that can be hard and days that can seem rough BUT with all of that I DO LOVE the relationship that I have with my Heavenly Father and Saviour now. And that wouldn't have happened had it not been for the crazy days. SO the answer to her question was a BIG YES! I don't like everything but I do LOVE that my testimony is stronger than it has ever been. I may not be converting a lot of people here in England but one thing for sure is that I am becoming converted myself. more and more everyday.
sorry this email isn't super exciting! I wish I had some crazy fun story to tell you but things here are just really great and people are progressing - including myself! I hope you all have the MOST WONDERFUL WEEK! Continue keeping me up on everything and never forget how much I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!
Love you so so much!!
Sister Gwilliam
Grannie Annie's house - the one with the pole in front of the door. Do you see the weird faces on the building?? Hah I don't understand. Silly England!
Sent from my iPad
Grannie Annie's house - the one with the pole in front of the door. Do you see the weird faces on the building?? Hah I don't understand. Silly England!
Fern - the 9 year old that was baptised a couple months ago wrote this out for me last night!
Sent from my iPad
Sent from my iPad
The train station
Grannie Annie's house - the one with the pole in front of the door. Do you see the weird faces on the building?? Hah I don't understand. Silly England!
Fern - the 9 year old that was baptised a couple months ago wrote this out for me last night!
Sent from my iPad
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