UEA Vacation

Oh wow.

 

One week you are just sitting at home, and the next week you are at Mt. Rushmore!  I can't believe it!  I've never been before and you went without me!  Oh well, I guess you can't postpone your whole life while I'm gone.  But you really should ;)  Just kidding.  I'm glad you had a good time.  I have wanted to see it before, it must be really neat.  I just keep thinking of National Treasure 2 and how there is like a massive treasure room underneath Mt. Rushmore.  I wish you had found it.  That would have been cool :)

 

I don't think I tried anything new to eat this week...  I did have something spicy again, but it was a bit better this time.  Although I would still really prefer to not eat spicy things.  I guess I did have English Chips from a real Chippy!  That was cool.  It was called Prospect Point Fish Bar.  But I didn't eat any fish.  That's gross.

 

I hope that Kade is okay.  That is really rough, not just physically, but will be rough emotionally.  Hopefully he gets feeling better soon.  I know he must have been a great missionary.  I hope he doesn't forget that.

Jordan and the shot glasses.  Haha.  I totally forgot about that.  I was like 7 or something, and I don't think that we knew what shots were.  But we thought those glasses were something else.  I can't believe that he is leaving so soon!  2 months!

 

I would like to send you a list of cool things to do at Staffordshire University:

 

1: Play video games.

2: Play football.

3: Go to Birmingham.

4: Get smashed on the weekend.

5: Listen to the Sister Missionaries.

 

It's so weird.  People just listen to us, they let us in.  I've realized that most of the time I don't know what to say at a normal doorstep approach anymore.  Because recently it's been like, 'Hey, Marco, we taught your friends the other day... do you want to let us in?'  Yeah, I already knew Marco's name.  But really, I basically started a conversation like that this week.  He let us in, and although we didn't teach him, we taught 3 of his friends.  There names were Kevin, Akelish (AK) and Sebastion.  Sebastion didn't really want to listen, but he was waiting for them to go to the library with him.  After we taught them, we were in another house (that we had just got through the door) and we got a text from AK saying, 'My friend at Portal 4 wants to know more about religion.  Go talk to him.'  We thought it might be a joke, but the next day I texted him back and said, 'Send us his name and phone number and we'll set up a time to meet with him.'  And he did.  I called him (his name is Sam) and he was like, 'I didn't really know what AK was talking about, but, sure, you can come over and talk about your book.'  Appointment.  Nonmember Referal.

 

They are all like, 'Oh yeah, Julian met with you last week!'  Appearently Julian is cool... so everyone wants to talk to us now.  Weird.

 

We met again with Alex and Lewis, whom I didn't think was sincere.  But Alex prayed!  And he looked in the Book of Mormon for something specific to pray about, which is amazing!  The thing he flipped open to happened to be about sexual sin, but he still prayed about it.  He said when he prayed he felt something... but he didn't know if it was just the window being left open.  Haha, jokster.  When we shared the 1st Vision we ask how they felt after it.  He was like, 'I felt nice, but not as good as when I prayed.'  WHAAAAA?  It was so awesome.  We invited them to be baptized (which I kept postponing because I didn't know if it was appropriate to invite someone when they were rolling a joint...), and they said when they know it is true.  They didn't want to be rushed.  But I think they will love the Plan of Salvation!

 

We also had someone come to church!  My very first investigator at church! (Well, Lee has come, but he is kind of like a perpetual investigator.)  His name is Maneesh, and he is a friend of Karthik and Shamanth.  We were going to teach all of them on Saturday, but the other two went to Stoke for the weekend.  So we taught him, pretty much just about baptism.  He is Hindu and prays to the God of Bachelors, because he is single.  Haha.  Although we had some Nickleback helping us out in the background, he still accepted a baptismal date, and came to church.  Therefore he is a dated investigator!  We aren't sure if he understands that, but it is our job to help him :)  He really liked meeting everyone in church, and the branch really welcomed him.  Hopefully he keeps coming, and his friends come as well!

 

Karthik also said that he read some of the Book of Mormon, and felt peace when he prayed in his heart about it.  I don't know what is going on, except that Moroni's Promise is true.

 

We are a bit worried of keeping track of everyone and making sure that we don't leave anyone behind, or let them get too busy for us.  It is going to be difficult, honestly.

 

We went on exchange again this week.  Sister Allison came here with me.  I always think her name must be Allision, even though it is her surname.  Huh.  Anyway, she is from Lester, so she is English!  She served in Stafford when Sister Low first got to the area, so she's knows all the members and things.  She is also really hard core about missionary work.  I swear she has no fear.  Except we all do.  But she is amazing at just talking to people and in a instant they are her friends. I learned a lot from our exchange, it was good.  While we were on exchange we met a boy named Camroy who is from the British Virgin Islands.  He doesn't have a copy of the bible, because he believes it has been changed over time.  WHAAAA???  Sister Low and I were able to teach him.

 

I tried tinned macaroni and cheese.  I would love if you sent me some easy mac for Christmas ;)

 

Quote.  Karthik (When invited to come to church with us...): 'Yeah!  First church in UK!!!!'  To bad he was unable to come.

 

There is this one boy that everytime we are talking to an angry person seems to ride by and say things like 'Religion is the cause of all wars!'  Guess who tracted into the angry bike boy.  Yup.  We did.  He wasn't very happy.  Probably best to avoid that home for a while.

 

I love riding trains.  I want to go on a train trip someday.  If I ever travel around England or Europe, trains are definitely the way to go.  They are just so exciting!  Maybe they wouldn't be if I had grown up my whole life riding them, but I just get so excited everytime I get to ride a train.  I always wish it could last longer :)  We take the train everywhere, now that they took the car back (a senior couple came), and I love it.  I also don't understand, however, how stateside missionaries get to district meetings and zone conferences.  I suppose it can't be that difficult to work out, but the bus system just doesn't work like the train system. Somedays I wish that we could just take a break and grab a train to London. Everybody else is doin' it ;) 

 

You know what else is great?  District Meetings.  I'm not even sure I knew they existed before I left (like I knew that Brendan and Sam were District Leaders, but I don't think I knew what they led...), but they are one of my favorite things ever.  We get together with all these other missionaries and get to talk about how we can improve and be better, and really build each other up.  Plus we get to have district lunch afterwards and just share funny stories and things.  Plus you get great quotes like this. 'Go tell them to read Harry Potter and pray about it.  Then ask them if they felt the same they feel when they read the Book of Mormon.'- Elder Neilson (current District Leader).  And the best part is when you get to use it.  Like yesterday this man was like, 'How do you know the Koran isn't true?' Well, go read the Koran and pray about it.  While your at it, read some Harry Potter.

 

Speaking of HP.  The other day on the way home there was this hill lit up exactly like Harry Potter.  Sister Low and I may or may not have ran over the hill yelling 'EXPELLIARMUS!' and 'STUPIFY!'  and going psh psh psh, to make the wand sound.  And when I say that we may or may not have, I mean that we did.  It was awesome.

 

I got a card from Grandma Carol and Grandpa Danny on the same day!  It was really great.  Grandpa said that you all went over and sat around the fire and things.  I love that.  Mom, you and Grandpa write really similarly.  It's kind of weird, but you find the same type of things important, and share the same kind of details.  I don't think I would have ever noticed it before.  Like father like daughter, I guess.

 

Sometimes I feel like England isn't actually a country.  It is actually like a time warp or alternate universe.  You know how in the new Star Trek the timeline completly changed?  I feel like my life did the same thing when I got on the plane to head out to the UK.  It's weird.  But in the alternate reality Spock and Uhura end up together, whereas before they wouldn't have.  I mean, of course we also happened to lose the planet Vulcan, but the Spock/Uhura romance was worth that right?  So it seems to be with England.  I have lost Hyde Park, and everything I love, but in this alternate reality I'm learning all kinds of new things and meeting new people and growing up.  But the best part about this timeline is it is running parallel to yours, and eventually it will meet up again.  So I'll have this alternate reality in addition to everything else.

 

I guess that was really complicated.  Alternate realities seem easier for me to imagine than thousands of miles.  Huh.  Good thing I'm taking a break from sci fi, I guess.

 

Well.  I love you all.  I hope you know that.

 

Sister Jasmine Hull

 

PS  Sometimes I really miss being called Jasmine!  We met this mum and her little girl was named Jasmine and I like yelled/screached... 'Her name is JASMINE?!'  Sister Low was like, 'Oh, that is such a pretty name...'  I'm a bit jealous of that little girl.  I want to be Jasmine.  But I guess I'll be Sister Hull for a while longer.  Maybe I'll get use to it.

 

I love you!

 

Mom!

 

I got the Halloween package :) I recieved it on Thursday, so I'm not exactly sure how long it takes to get here, because of the mission office and things.  I think they will send you a letter about Christmas packages, but they say to try to send it before the first week of December.  I loved the 'costume' by the way.  I've been wearing it running, because it is still dark in the morning and I think it makes me more visible than a USU shirt :)  I opened the package at specialized trainings because S. Low's interview went forever (as did mine, we love talking to President!) and all the other missionaries were like, 'are you a Trekkie?'  Well, yeah.

 

I also got a tape from Katie, Andrea, Chelsey, Carrie and Heather!  It was so awesome, I freaking loved it.  S. Low loves it too.  We especially get the Minivan song stuck in our heads.  But really, I hope I have a seat in the minivan.  Because if I do I'm strapping myself in and never leaving. 

 

Jenika is already going on another date!  Wow!  That will be fun for her to go with Nick, they will have a very good time, I have no doubt :)  I was telling S. Low about some of my dance experiences and things they other day.  Like how I went to prom in a 71 Firebird.  That was cool :)

Sounds like White Christmas is coming right along.  Seems to be ahead of schedule to me, but I'm not very good with time right now.  Every day is the same and different.

 

Jordy, getting ready to go on a mission!  I can't believe it honestly, it seems so foreign (harhar, laugh at my pun, please).  But really, he is going to have an entirely different experience than me.  And it is going to be awesome.

 

Hmm... E. Layton was in my MTC district.  And he was going to the Scotland/Ireland mission.  That is too bad that he isn't doing well.  That is really nice that you sent him a card, I'm sure he will appreciate it.

 

Haha, Stan, a recent convert was asking me about Mitt Romney last week at church.  Stan is 80 years old, and knows that he is a member of the church, but I'm not sure that he knows that it means he also classified as Mormon.  He was kind of disgusted about some one said in the paper about us, and by us I mean mostly Mitt.  Whatevs.  Brush it off.  Is John Huntsman still showing well?  I would really like for him to be President, honestly.  We'll see.  Elections are coming up soon... will I get a ballot?  It would be for city or county reps I think...

 

X FACTOR!!!  Everyone in England watches it on Saturday night!  And I am a bit jealous, I've watched bits through the window before, which is completely useless because you can't hear them singing.  And of course Simon and LA Reid would get the good groups, because they are the best producers.  I would probably choose LA myself, if I had a choice.  Either him or Clive Davis, because me and Clive are besties.

 

This has been such a week of blessings.  We needed it.  We were so blessed to have 8 new investigators this week!  It is so amazing!  To put it into perspective, last transfer we had 9 new investigators over 6 weeks.  We are so blessed.

 

It really is the YSA.  I told you about the experience we had last week with the German and the Muslim... we went back to the same student housing, and found so many amazing people.  These people are actually intelligent, and listen to us. They realize that there is truth out there and they have to be informed about it before making a decision.

 

Monday was like the day we imagined our missions to be.  We were going from door to door, having amazing conversations and setting appointments right and left.  We got through one door to these 3 YSA men 2 from India and one from the Mauritias.  We taught the restoration right there and then.  It was so amazing.  The two from India seemed mostly polite, but Ashwin, the other one, seemed really sincere about his quest for God, and not being agnostic anymore, but really defining who God it.

 

We knocked a couple more houses, still having good conversations, until a couple from Nepal let us in.  We didn't really get to teach a whole lesson, but explained a bit about Christianity, because they didn't know anything about it and had a ton of questions.  We seriously had an amazing night teaching the gospel. 

 

Tuesday we taught a Uni student from Nigeria who wanted to know about the Book of Mormon.  He is seriously the first person I've ever taught that actually understood what we were saying from the get go.  He didn't really appreciate that we were saying his church didn't have authority, but at least he understood what we were saying.  When he gets the answer he will at least know what it means.

 

That evening we went back to the student housing.  2 doors in another student let us in named Calvin from Malaysia.  He was shocked that he had never heard of the Book of Mormon before, and wanted to know all about it.  His flatmate (a Muslim) came in, but unlike others who distract he just listened and told us about his Mosque in London.  Calvin is Christian, but seemed sincere in wanting to learn more.

 

Uni students love hearing about the BofM.  Usually in a Restoration lesson the BofM is last, but we have had to put it first. We are really trying to 'teach to the you' and teach the entire Restoration lesson by teaching the Book of Mormon.  It is turning out sooooo great, honestly.  They all want to know about the Book of Mormon.

 

Wednesday we went back to the student housing, because we had set an appointment Sunday with a YSA from China named Lei.  He is a Chinese Christian!  WHAT?  Prepared.  He had a hard time understanding that it isn't just your belief in God that means you will be saved, but ordinances and things.  He believes that if you belive in God you will see God.  What are these Chinese Christian Churches teaching people? ;)  He is so great, but texted us the next day and has moved to London for 2 months.  We'll have to follow up.

 

We tracted the students again that night and met some named Alex, Lewis and Carlis.  Alex and Lewis are actually from the UK, which is a bit different for us.  Carlis is from Lithuiania, and anti religion, but is actually the one who let us.  They are really into philosophy, and wanted to debate religion a bit.  I gave them this big spchill about Decartes, and 'I think therefore I am', just to show them I was intelligent.  Then I was basically like, 'this is all irrelevant because of the Book of Mormon.'  They kept grilling us for proof, and I was finally like, 'Here it is, the Book of Mormon, there is a test in here, put it to the test.  Just be sincere.'  They all the sudden backed down, and said they would try it.  I hope they are sincere, we'll see.

 

Thursday we had interviews and training.  I love President Preston so much!  He is seriously an amazing man, and I'm so thankful to be serving under him.  I really think it will be a blessing for my entire life :)  Plus missionary meetings really get me going, and lift my spirits.  Its so nice to be around others that have the Spirit, and also the Priesthood.  It makes a huge difference, honestly.

 

Friday wasn't the greatest. It wasn't bad, but nothing super exciting happened.

 

Saturday was amazing.  It was seriously what we all think missionary work is going to be like.  We were teaching all day.  We had 5 member present lessons that day.  That is seriously so huge.  We were going from one appointment to another.  It was such a blessing.

 

We taught Lee in the morning.  He hasn't drank alcohol since Conference!  He thinks it is because he felt guilty when we called by one time and he was drunk, but we think it is because of the Spirit :)

 

We then went back to the uni housing, because we had set up a lot of appointments for Saturday because they doing have uni that day.  We went first back to the Nepal couple.  They weren't really paying attention, and didn't really want us to come again.  That was okay, because we didn't really want to go again, if they didn't want to take is seriously.  Interesting fact, in their branch of Hindu they believe that if they are married in a certain way they will be together for the next 7 human forms they take.  It seems like that would make them together forever.... unless they didn't take a Hindu human form, I guess.  Our Eternal Marriage is better :)

 

We then went to an appointment, and he wasn't there.  I wanted to Call By another Potential, but S. Low was a bit nervous about it, because Claire, our amazing member missionary was there, and she hates tracking.  I was like, 'don't worry, they'll let us in... they are uni students!'  And so he did.  His name is Julian and he is from near Lester (here in England).  And he is black.  So Katie could probably marry him :)  He had a hard time understanding why God forces us to do things.  We were trying to explain agency and he just wasn't getting it.  Claire explained how she ahd to realize how it worked before she got baptized, and it was amazing.  He was much more willing to listen.

 

Our next appointement was with another Julian.  He is from France and is hysterical.  I thought it was funny to have an English person do an American accent.  It is like 10x funnier to have a French person do an American accent.  We read the invite in the Introduction to the BofM and he was like 'I havz to invite you toz read it?'  We explained, no, it was inviting him to read it.  So then when we asked Claire to read a verse he was like, 'We arez inviting youz to read zis book.'  It was so funny.  He is really great.

 

We had to walk to our next appointment and it was pass tea time, so we stopped at the Esso Garage (gas station) and bought a sandwich before going and seeing the Sri Lankans.

 

The Sri Lankans are so great!  They were all prepared, had even moved the furniture so we would fit better.  We went over the Book of Mormon with them again, because we had taught them before we realized that it was good to use the Bof M when teaching uni students.  Afterward they were like, 'Wait... we prepared a hymn for you!'  Ravindu had learned a Christmas song on the keyboard, and Chitura sang along with it.  I had this huge smile on my face.  It was so amazing.  It was seriously like one of those 'perfect' moments.  I was in England, teaching the gospel to some Sri Lankans, and in their imperfect English they were singing to me about how Christ was born in Bethlehem.  It was so amazing.

 

Wow.  This is how I thought missionary work was going to be.

 

Yesterday we taught David again.  He tried to drop us on Tuesday, but I had him read Alma chapter 32.  He made some stupid joke about Muslims, and I honestly freaked.  I feel like it was 'righteous indignation' but how I portrayed that came out more angry than anything else.  He just jokes about stupid stuff, and it makes me mad.  I mean, who are the most made fun of religions?  Probably Muslims and Mormons.  We tried to follow it up with love, S. Low was a star, but we'll see how it goes.  I think he is really frustrated because he doesn't understand the Book of Mormon and God and so he is trying to hid it and cover it up.  Its really hard because he didn't come from a very loving home, so he doesn't have very good manners, and he also thinks he is a bad person.  It is really hard for him to realize or accept love.  I'm pretty sure David might be the one that was sent to Sister Hull for her to learn patience.  How exciting.

 

Well, here's hoping next week is as blessed as this week.  We keep praying that we will be able to take care of all our investigators and make sure they progress how God would want them to.  We have a large task on our hands, but it is going to be so good.  God will bless.

 

Thank you everyone for being there.  I miss you all more than you know.  Keep writing, and if you can't do that, I would at least love a prayer :)  I'll send some your way.

 

Sincerely,

 

Sister Jasmine Hull

More Pictures

Telford District(before last transfers)

Jasmine's 1/2 birthday with cake she wanted to buy to celebrate

Sister Low and Sister Hull in Liverpool(Mission Tour)

New Picture

In a Telephone Booth

Post Box(Please mail me something)

Hello everyone:)

Hello Family and Friends!

 

So, where can you teach a Catholic and a Muslim at the same time?  Stafford UK.

 

Over the past three days we have had 3 lessons that just happened.  Unplanned, they just 'let us through the door.'  That like NEVER happens, okay.  But it did, and it is a miracle.

 

The last one we couldn't really report as a lesson because we were unable to have a prayer, but it still happened.  There we were sitting on the lawn, Sister Low trying to convince a German Catholic YSA that he should PRAY about the Book of Mormon, and me telling a Muslim YSA that yes, there were prophets after Christ, but not Muhommad.  It was legit.  Best quote of that evening:

 

Sherh (the Muslim): 'They've got their living prophet, we've got Muhommad, and he (point to the Catholic) is stuck on Jesus!'

 

Sister Low: 'We love Jesus too!'

 

That's right, S. Low, you tell him. It really was one of the funniest conversations ever, and yet really enlightening.  Appearently the Koran was written in 400 bc and it has *never* been changed since.  Assuming that is true, that is great.  Sherh was *shocked* when we told him that our book was older... and it had never been changed either!  WHAT?????  He did ask us if anyone had it memorized, because appearently a lot of Muslims memorize the Koran.  I told him Sister Low about had it memorized.  She disagreed.  It really is okay that he didn't believe us, because we are not actually suppose to teach Muslims. 

 

Another funny one.

 

Sherh: After Jesus, who was the next prophet?

 

Sister Hull: Joseph Smith.

 

Sherh: No, it was Muhommad, peace be upon him, and then there was no more prophets, not even your Thompson Man.

 

Sister Hull: Thomas Monson?  Yeah, he is a prophet.

 

Muslims.  Gotta love em.

 

It was sad, however that the German boy was being distracted.  He had read parts of the Book of Mormon about 4 years ago, but had never prayed about it.  There was a bit of a language barrier, though.  He was translating words on his i phone and then showing it to Sister Low so that she could know what he was talking about.  I think some of it was lost in translation.

 

But regardless of that exciting lesson, we set up two appointments with French men (YSA) and one with a student from China.  I showed him how to write my name in Mandarin, and he showed me how to *actually* write my name in Mandarin.  That was pretty cool.

 

The most amazing of our impromptu lessons was a man named Sam from Ghana.  He is so smart, he is working on his masters, but he has lived like everywhere.  He speaks Chinese too. What?  He speaks twi, another Ghanaian language, Chinese, English and is learning German.  He said he went to a Christian church one time in China and the id'ed him.  He was like, 'I don't look Chinese!' haha.

 

Anyway, he is a Pentacostal (sp?) and sounds very devout.  When I talked to him, and said we were sharing about the Plan of Happiness, he said, 'well, let's sit down' and wiped off a piece of wall where we all sat.  We then had an amazing time telling him about the Book of Mormon, and Joseph Smith, and answers to prayers.  We asked him if he prayed, 'Yeah, but it probably a bit different from how you pray.  I open by talking to God, the Father in Heaven, telling him the things in my heart, and closing in the name of Jesus.'  Um... perfect.  Sister Low seriously pulled out the pamplet to show him that is exactly how we pray.  He wouldn't take a Book of Mormon, because he wants to find out about it on his own time, but he gave us his number so we can ring him and show him around our church sometime.  Amazing!

 

We had an appointment fall through, but the fellowshipper with us, Sister Dean, had us over for tea and a lesson instead.  Oh my goodness, the Deans are amazing, I want to be just like them when I grow up!  The have two little kids, George and Isla, and they are just such a loving happy family.  The actually met on LDS chat, which sounds weird, but it totally worked out for them.  Although Sister Dean lived in Canada they would go visit each other on holiday until they got married.  And now they live here.  Sister Dean has an English accent now, so I didn't realize she wasn't from here.  She can't do an American accent anymore! (Or Canadian, I guess I should say... they are very similar :) ).  Brother Dean can, though.  It is SO funny to hear English people do American accents, but he is actually very good at it.  His favorite thing was to say, 'Hello, I'm from Beliddlyboingy Idaho!'  They fed us tacos, which no one has here, and reminds me of home, and also Dandilion and Burdock fizzy (pop or soda).  It was some of the weirdest drink I've ever had.  Not like bad weird, really, but just undescribable weird.  Plus, guess what?  The Deans are Trekkies!  Do you see why I want to be like them when I grow up!?  And by grow up I guess I mean in like 4-5 years? haha, its kind of weird that they are not much older than us.  Oh, and Sister Dean said she will teach me how to make English (spicy-less) curry sometime.  P Day adventure :)

 

Well, I'm going to sign off now.  I hope everyone has a great day, and you are all blessed.  Heavenly Father is there, and He is waiting to give you a hug.  

 

Love you all,

 

Jasmine 

I'm back

I'm back :)

 

Sister Low's computer wasn't working yesterday, as were like half of them in the library, so we had to leave early. I've already written my letter to President, so now I don't have much to do, except email you again :)

 

I can't believe the first transfer of my mission is over.  It is completely unfathomable to me.  It's so weird, because at one point it is like I was home yesterday.  At the other point it is like this is my life.  I remember Josh saying a while back that home was like a fond dream or memory and the mission was reality.  At that point I was still home, and I didn't believe him.  But its kind of true.  But further, it is almost like Cache Valley is a dream land, and Stafford is the cold world. 

 

Not that Stafford is all bad.  There is a university here so I do have some intellectual conversations (although they are not conversations I would have ever had at home... except that one time I told the creepy kid in my class that government should be based on a universal morality... that was legit).  There are some sweet old people, who pretend like they are deaf so they can't hear us. 

 

I've realized that missionaries see the people no one else notices.  We see that person walking down the street with their head down, wondering what they are doing in life.  For this reason we meet a lot of lonely people.  We also meet a lot a lot of crazy people.

 

There are things that are like the 'holy grail' of missionary work.  The first is a family.  You see in church videos missionaries are always teaching well adjusted families that are really receptive to the gospel, and want to know how they can be married forever.  Boom.  Plan of Salvation mind bomb. 

 

That isn't how it really is.  Most people come from broken families, mothers who birthed them when they were 16, fathers who are non existant or showed no love.  There are drugs, alcohol, teen pregnancy and who knows what else going on everywhere.  To find a family as shown in the Mormon ads is somewhat of a miracle.  But I suppose it does happen, it has to happen.

 

Sister Low says that another holy grail is a normal person.  A lot of times normal people are blinded by their busy lives, and perhaps pride, and so we meet with a lot of crazies.  But the gospel is made for everyone, and since they are humble they are more willing to accept it.  I suppose it is true.  But if they recieve the gospel, they will be the normal, happy, content people in the next life, because they will have come unto Christ.

 

For example we taught a man named John today.  The lesson was amazing, he has a great faith in Jesus Christ, and realized that there was something to Priesthood Authority.  He accepted to be baptized, and even accepted a baptismal date! (Guy Fawkes day, btw).  John, however, has to be home every night at 7 pm.  Why?  We don't know, but he is probably on parole.  Which means he can't get baptised.  But we'll help him come unto Christ, just as we have tried to help Lee.

 

Mission life is hard.  It's not physically hard, really, but it is emotionally and spiritually hard.  But I get to tell people every single day that Jesus Christ loves them, and that is amazing.  I know that the Atonement is real, and I'm trying to apply it into my life every single day.  With Jesus, I am nothing.

 

I love you.  I hope you are well,

 

Jasmine

:) /:// :(

Hello!

 

Well, first off, because you are all dying to know... I'm still in Stafford!  And I'm still with Sister Low!  I'm really grateful, because I'm not the hugest fan of change, as you know, and I didn't want to switch it up yet.  Sister Low, I think is also grateful, because she was praying that we stay together.  Most of our district is the same as well, however, E. Welch our District Leader is now going to be a zone leader in Preston, and his comp E. Aldred finally had his visa come so he will be transfered to Baltimore Maryland.  So Telford will be whitewashed... we'll see how that goes :)

 

So much has happened this week... I don't know if I'll be able to remember it all!  I suppose things do have to happen rather quickly when you are only in an area for 6 weeks at a time.  Yup.

 

After District meeting last week we went home (which I didn't want to do... I love district meeting!) and had a lesson planned with Bowen.  A couple days before I had gone through our potentials and set up a bunch of appointments, which all fell through, except Bowen :)  He is so great.  He is from Taiwan, and told us that he has been searching for a religion... the lesson was so amazing!  S. Mansfield invited him over to her house to watch conference, which is amazing... a members home and conference!  Yeah-a!  The Mansfields have really taken to Bowen because he reminds them of an asian (oriental) version of their son Brenden, who is on his mission in Canada right now... and when the Mansfields love someone, miracles happen (as when S. Low taught a young man named Yannick, who spoke French... and B. Mansfield speaks French, and Yannick is from Gabone and got baptized, and appearently there is only one priesthood holder currently in Gabone... plus now Yannick.  Anyway... Miracle).

 

Bowen asks amazing questions, and he actually understands what we are saying.  He is a bit worried about converting to Christianity because his parents are buddist and will be upset if he doesn't pray to them.  Plan of Salvation.  Wow.  When we taught him about the PofS it was really amazing because he would seriously ask questions we were just about ready to answer.  They say that the Spirit can prompt investigators, but I never really believed it, you know!  It was amazing.  The Mansfields told us that Bowen loved Conference, he almost clapped for the Choir, and really enjoyed the talks.  He asked B. Mansfield an amazing question that we get to answer at our next lesson with him.  He pointed out that Christ never went to Taiwan... so did that mean that none of the people there would be saved?  What?  That is seriously a question that can *only* be answered by the true gospel... none of the other churches can answer that!  Bowen is a miracle.

 

I recieved the package from you!  I got it at a specialized training they have for new missionaries and their trainers.  So I sent pictures.  I haven't actually taken a whole ton of pictures, because I'm so busy!  But I'll share the ones I have. 

 

This is really sad news.  We have to be inside our flat during Guy Fawkes day evening.  So I probably won't even get to see a bonfire.  I told S. Low that I'm going to ask our neighbors to have one in their back garden... although that would be really dangerous, I would get to see it! haha.

 

GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!!  I love it so much.  I wish that for the rest of my life I could alternately go to the Temple and listen to General Conference, and that is all.  Really when I watch General Conference I'm the person I want to be, and I really feel so inspired and amazed.  Chris was right, we did get to watch all but the last session.  We watched the RS session right before the first one on Saturday, although the sound kept going off every 10 minutes during the RS session, like clockwork.  Except when President Utchdorf talked, which was a miracle.

 

JADEN AND JENIKA!!!!  Start doing your family history!  I was SO excited when Elder Bednar was talking, I wanted to grab my laptop and start doing FH right then!  Then I realized I have to wait and I was sooooo sad.  I love Family History so much!  Its amazing!

 

There were so many good talks, they were so inspired.  Some of them definitely answered questions I had.  Now I just need to remember the inspiration.  Sometimes I forget that there is still good in the world, and that we can really make that choice everyday, and that we do make that choice everyday.  Life is really hard, you know, but we need to do our part.

 

David came to the Saturday session.  He drove up and brought B. Heath and B. Hingerty with him.  We think he thought it was like a road trip or something :)  He dressed smart in a tie, which we didn't even ask him to do, so that was good.  He got a bit restless, but I suppose sitting there for 2 hours would be quite long if you had never done anything like that before, you know?  I hope he learned something.  We have our first lesson with him since then this evening, so we'll see how that goes.

 

You know?  We see the people no one else does.  There are also people who won't listen to us about religion but like chatting with us.  There is one such man who is a Chelsea supporter.  He loves Chelsea, Star Trek, and sharks.  He feels like it is destiny for him to go to Salt Lake someday.  I keep telling him it is because of that he met us and is suppose to listen to us... he doesn't realize it, though.

 

Some people are like 'you already talked to me last week...'  Yup. We probably did.  And we probably will again until you listen to us.

 

Loni told me in a letter I'd eventually start having dreams about England.  I have.  I don't remember all of them, but I do remember this one.  Elders Gallacher and Craig (The Assistants) were giving Sister Low and myself some special assignment.  They were getting frustrated with us, however, because we were taking so long.  Why were we taking so long?  I couldn't get my Disney Princess Tights on!  Oh how I wish I really had Disney Princess tights!

 

What is the end all question that shakes the older generations faith?  Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain and Abel.  All the sudden Cain and Abel have wives... where do they come from?  Oh no!  I can't be Christian anymore!!!!!  That is totally unexplainable!!!!!  Its not that hard to work out, people.  Not every single person ever born has been mentioned in the bible.  Wow.

 

The younger generation?  Science.  Blah blah blah.  When S. Low explains entropy (sp?) they realize they don't really know science.  Also because Staffordshire is all about computer and IT and things, a lot of these people play video games, and are studying gaming design.  So they haven't thought much about God or science, to be honest.  One boy did claim he didn't believe because of philosophy, and that caught be off guard.  I told him that God was most logical.  Next time I have a big whole schpill that I can say about Descartes... but the spirit is more convincing than that anyway.

 

Josie got her mission call!  That is so exciting!  Grandpa Danny actually mentioned it in a letter I recieved from him yesterday, so I knew a bit earlier :)  Calgary... I think that is where Josh Stapley went, if I remember right?  And with the Temple, that is so exciting.  Speaking of Temples.... 2 in Africa!!!!  I love Africa! (Some woman told me I should be in Africa... I told her she needed Jesus too...)  Also, Provo, and the first Temple ever in Wyoming!  Yay!

 

Jordan got a bit of his shopping done! Yay!  That is half the battle... okay not even close, but that is cool. 

 

I MISS YOU ALL.  I have to keep saying it.  There are really great people here, and homesickness is lessoning, but I do miss and love my family.  I hope you are well.  I pray for you.

 

Loves,

 

Jasmine