This week I got my blood test results back and everything is in the normal range again - still on the low end of normal, but normal. After I was on the phone with Doctor Bobby, I was so happy, I almost quoted Pinocchio - "I'm a real boy now!" But it's really nice to know that Heavenly Father was watching out for me. I did have a virus but I am recovering from it.
Monday we emailed at the church and played chair football. It's a real fun game. We made lunch for all the elders and us and then that evening we all went to get some traditional English pub food. Sister Dignos tried fish and chips for the first time!! She said it's very oily. We did some finding, but my favourite part of the day was when we were walking home. We saw a group of people and one was our investigator Elizabeth. We weren't sure if she ever wanted to see us again but she was happy to see us. She couldn't really talk because she had friends with her, but it was a little tender mercy of the Lord :)
Tuesday was our finding day. The second set of elders couldn't make district finding so we moved it up with the elders. It was a really good day. We found a lot of people and, after having a full week of crummy finding after a week of awesome finding, we were excited. It was cool to see that when you put your trust in the Lord, he will provide. I had kinda forgotten for a bit. We found 5 people that day and had a few lessons. Then we met up at the park and had a picnic. The elders made pb&j sandwiches and we brought chocolate and bananas. Oh, before we started finding, we ran into one of our potentials and it turns out she was having a really hard time and hadn't eaten in 3 days. We had plenty of food to share so she got a bar of chocolate, a banana and a sandwich. Her face was so sweet when she got it. It made it that much more enjoyable when we finally got to sit down and eat!!
Wednesday was a kinda crummy day. We had not been flogged in like 2 weeks and it all decided to catch up with us in one day. Everyone that we found the day before did not show up. Then we had to do iPad training before zone meeting with President or Sister Dignos was going to get her iPad taken away. All the elders decided to go at the same time. We needed a few quick things from the store right by the bus station and, since we had time, we quickly ran to grab them. We had to run to catch the bus.
Thursday was our first district meeting of the transfer and the Boston elders joined our district. That was the only change at transfers. We biked down and it was so much fun. Sister dignos is getting so much better. She only hit one electric box that day!! It's always entertainment for me! We decided that we really like yogurts and healthy treats because they make us feel better. So, since we were earlier than we thought we would be, we grabbed some yogurts on our way and they hit the spot!! :) We took some pictures after biking. You could say we were really sweaty, but we had fun!! (I am planning on getting a picture of us riding our bikes soon for Uncle Barton. It's still in my mind. Just haven't have a chance yet)
District meeting was good!! I gave some training on being disciplined. I love it - it's what has allowed me to to lose weight or to do great things and it's such an amazing thing to have when it comes to the gospel.
We had a lesson with Ivo and then with Judy. I have to say I am so grateful for the people I get to work with, they are amazing. It's only our third time with Ivo, but he is understanding so much. It's so cool to see someone so excited and willing to learn. It's really a discussion and not a one-sided conversation. That night we had the scripture study class and Michael came and Justin came too and it was really cool to see them soaking it all up. They were asked a question and each gave a great response. I think Brother Martin, our ward mission leader, was happy to see their understanding increase!!
Friday we were out in Gainsborough and we finished the Plan of Salvation with Michael. It was great. The Spirit was really there. When we asked him about what he understands the plan of salvation to be, he said, "It's amazing, kinda scary and hard, but I care about it and want to live it." Anytime he feels the Spirit and he knows something is true, he says, "Well, I care about it and I know it's true." It's so sweet and cool to see the change happen in someone. Sister Dignos went to the restroom and Sister Martin and I were talking with him. I wanted to know in greater detail why he decided to change his life. It's an amazing story!! At the end of it, I asked if there was any stuff he wanted us to take from him so he wasn't tempted to smoke again. Without hesitation, he handed over his e-cigarette and the vapor and the charger. It was so cool. We didn't know what to do with them..... But they are in the trash now!!
Saturday we did weekly planning and then helped with the ward party. We made Chinese dumplings and had a blast. I need to get pictures from Chen Chen and I will send them next week. Michael has been coming to everything and we are starting to see him smile so much more. Seeing the change is amazing!! I am so grateful for the opportunity to see this growth in him and his desire to change.
Sunday we talked with Sister Curtis. On Tuesday we had gotten the news that
James, her son, wanted to get baptized, so we talked with him. By Sunday, he was on the edge and wasn't really interested in taking the lessons because they are boring. He has slight autism and ADHD. We decided that when we start teaching him, we are going to teach the restoration by making cookies and the plan of salvation with a board game, the gospel with drawings and then the commandments with the game memory :) My creative brain is going on high speed. I'm excited!!
I love it when we are able to see the Lord's hand in our work. I know He is there and He cares. I was promised to see His hand and I definitely did. One morning this week I was having a hard time studying and then the thought came into my mind - What would you be doing if Christ was sitting next to you? Tears came to my eyes. I realized I probably would not be reading the scriptures. I would be asking Him questions. It felt like I would be catching up with an old friend. The Spirit was so strong. It made me want to read the scriptures more so when that day comes that I can ask Him in person about his life, I will have the knowledge to know what to ask about.
I love this gospel and I am excited to give it my all for the last bit of time I have here in the blessed place we call England!!
Lots of love!!
Sister Ashley MacKay
Monday we emailed at the church and played chair football. It's a real fun game. We made lunch for all the elders and us and then that evening we all went to get some traditional English pub food. Sister Dignos tried fish and chips for the first time!! She said it's very oily. We did some finding, but my favourite part of the day was when we were walking home. We saw a group of people and one was our investigator Elizabeth. We weren't sure if she ever wanted to see us again but she was happy to see us. She couldn't really talk because she had friends with her, but it was a little tender mercy of the Lord :)
Tuesday was our finding day. The second set of elders couldn't make district finding so we moved it up with the elders. It was a really good day. We found a lot of people and, after having a full week of crummy finding after a week of awesome finding, we were excited. It was cool to see that when you put your trust in the Lord, he will provide. I had kinda forgotten for a bit. We found 5 people that day and had a few lessons. Then we met up at the park and had a picnic. The elders made pb&j sandwiches and we brought chocolate and bananas. Oh, before we started finding, we ran into one of our potentials and it turns out she was having a really hard time and hadn't eaten in 3 days. We had plenty of food to share so she got a bar of chocolate, a banana and a sandwich. Her face was so sweet when she got it. It made it that much more enjoyable when we finally got to sit down and eat!!
Wednesday was a kinda crummy day. We had not been flogged in like 2 weeks and it all decided to catch up with us in one day. Everyone that we found the day before did not show up. Then we had to do iPad training before zone meeting with President or Sister Dignos was going to get her iPad taken away. All the elders decided to go at the same time. We needed a few quick things from the store right by the bus station and, since we had time, we quickly ran to grab them. We had to run to catch the bus.
Thursday was our first district meeting of the transfer and the Boston elders joined our district. That was the only change at transfers. We biked down and it was so much fun. Sister dignos is getting so much better. She only hit one electric box that day!! It's always entertainment for me! We decided that we really like yogurts and healthy treats because they make us feel better. So, since we were earlier than we thought we would be, we grabbed some yogurts on our way and they hit the spot!! :) We took some pictures after biking. You could say we were really sweaty, but we had fun!! (I am planning on getting a picture of us riding our bikes soon for Uncle Barton. It's still in my mind. Just haven't have a chance yet)
District meeting was good!! I gave some training on being disciplined. I love it - it's what has allowed me to to lose weight or to do great things and it's such an amazing thing to have when it comes to the gospel.
We had a lesson with Ivo and then with Judy. I have to say I am so grateful for the people I get to work with, they are amazing. It's only our third time with Ivo, but he is understanding so much. It's so cool to see someone so excited and willing to learn. It's really a discussion and not a one-sided conversation. That night we had the scripture study class and Michael came and Justin came too and it was really cool to see them soaking it all up. They were asked a question and each gave a great response. I think Brother Martin, our ward mission leader, was happy to see their understanding increase!!
Friday we were out in Gainsborough and we finished the Plan of Salvation with Michael. It was great. The Spirit was really there. When we asked him about what he understands the plan of salvation to be, he said, "It's amazing, kinda scary and hard, but I care about it and want to live it." Anytime he feels the Spirit and he knows something is true, he says, "Well, I care about it and I know it's true." It's so sweet and cool to see the change happen in someone. Sister Dignos went to the restroom and Sister Martin and I were talking with him. I wanted to know in greater detail why he decided to change his life. It's an amazing story!! At the end of it, I asked if there was any stuff he wanted us to take from him so he wasn't tempted to smoke again. Without hesitation, he handed over his e-cigarette and the vapor and the charger. It was so cool. We didn't know what to do with them..... But they are in the trash now!!
Saturday we did weekly planning and then helped with the ward party. We made Chinese dumplings and had a blast. I need to get pictures from Chen Chen and I will send them next week. Michael has been coming to everything and we are starting to see him smile so much more. Seeing the change is amazing!! I am so grateful for the opportunity to see this growth in him and his desire to change.
Sunday we talked with Sister Curtis. On Tuesday we had gotten the news that
James, her son, wanted to get baptized, so we talked with him. By Sunday, he was on the edge and wasn't really interested in taking the lessons because they are boring. He has slight autism and ADHD. We decided that when we start teaching him, we are going to teach the restoration by making cookies and the plan of salvation with a board game, the gospel with drawings and then the commandments with the game memory :) My creative brain is going on high speed. I'm excited!!
I love it when we are able to see the Lord's hand in our work. I know He is there and He cares. I was promised to see His hand and I definitely did. One morning this week I was having a hard time studying and then the thought came into my mind - What would you be doing if Christ was sitting next to you? Tears came to my eyes. I realized I probably would not be reading the scriptures. I would be asking Him questions. It felt like I would be catching up with an old friend. The Spirit was so strong. It made me want to read the scriptures more so when that day comes that I can ask Him in person about his life, I will have the knowledge to know what to ask about.
I love this gospel and I am excited to give it my all for the last bit of time I have here in the blessed place we call England!!
Lots of love!!
Sister Ashley MacKay