BRILLIANT!

                                                

I am in the Wrekin ward in Telford, which is in the New Castle zone. I'm still in England but at the very bottom of the mission, close to Wales. 

This is my first preparation day in the mission! Missionary work is so different from what I expected and a lot harder. I think it's harder because it is something I've never done before. But it is so amazing! I love it and whenever I feel like I can't do it, we teach someone and the spirit is there and I lose whatever desire I had to stop and go home. Whenever we talk to someone we always pray with them even if we just stop for a minute in the street. It is so brilliant! At first I was apprehensive but the spirit is there and it is a completely different experience to pray for someone and their needs that they have asked you to pray for specifically. They see that you care and are willing to take the time to talk with them and they feel of Gods love for them! Smashing! (haha I’m still getting used to the words they use over here) 

It is so fun! I love my trainer! Her name is Sister Hansen! She is so patient with me and is really helping me fulfill my goal to be an exactly obedient missionary. She is from St. George and is the oldest of 5.

In our mission, we really focus on dignified language and being exactly obedient. We can't use the words: guy, awesome, or cool. We also can't say words like crap, gosh, etc. etc. We should remember that we are teaching in the name of Christ and that we need to speak in a respectable way like he would. I know first hand that changing words you use without thinking is very difficult! It takes dedication and willingness to be exactly obedient in order to change habits you have had your whole life. This might sound unimportant but it is amazing the difference it makes to use more dignified language.

I just want to ask if Elder Cook called dad and asked for his help on his general conference talk? Okay, you do not know how blessed you are to be able to watch conference at home or actually go to the conference center! We had to go to the next town to watch it in the stake center and we are 7 hours ahead of you all so we watched the Saturday morning session at 5 pm and watched the next two sessions on Sunday. We never get to watch the last session of conference; we have to wait until the Ensign comes out. I'm not complaining! It was worth it! Some missionaries never have to opportunity to watch conference. Sister Hansen helps me remember how blessed we are as missionaries and that everything is "so good!" I'm so blessed to have an amazing companion, and be in a brilliant mission.

We are going to the women's conference on the 13th in New Castle, which is about an hour away. Telford, by the way, is about two hours away from Manchester, by train. I am so excited! Conference is so good! We also have a baptism scheduled for May 3rd! So good! I am so excited to teach all our investigators! The members of the Wrekin ward are so helpful and generous. They are all amazing and very dedicated to helping the missionaries and fulfilling their callings. 

 "Our spirits resist endings. Why? because our souls are made of things of eternity. Just remember that separations are only short pauses and that our lives are not full of endings but infinite beginnings!" (That is a rough quote from President Uchtdorf’s talk.)

I love you all and miss you terribly!

Sister C #2 :)