I got to sing again in church! :) I think that I will always love doing that. I did a solo version of a hymn called School Your Feelings. It actually has a wonderful background, I would suggest looking it up. Also, it was kind of ironic, because sometimes I feel as if I'm not the best at taking counsel from my leaders. Music: the only way to be rebuked beautifully.
Anyways, this week has been quite the mouthful. Let me update you on a few key events:
The Area - The closing of Witney, from the mouth of our wonderful President, is "not set in stone". Therefore, many of our efforts this week have been to remove the mortar that may soon set. Yes, my companion is a carpenter and builder. The point is, we're in frantic search and correlation with the bishopric to find a flat in Witney that is acceptable and up to mission standards. Ah, the many experiences you gain from a mission :) First they ask you to be a preacher, then you become a contractor, an accountant, a counselor, a therapist, a travel coordinator, and sometimes even an Olympic speed walker.
So, hopefully, that'll turn out. The ward actually handled the news quite well: with fanfare and up-in-arms protest. I'm glad to have the bishop on my side when I say this area cannot close. There's a branch that needs to be built here :)
My Drivers License - Ha, I got that. Well, the provisional one, at least. Mounds of paperwork and post finally resulted in a small and somewhat insignificant piece of plastic. Now I'm cleared for the most intense driving test known to the world :) Good thing the reward is a license that is accepted and renown everywhere in the world.
Our Week - I've never had so many lessons in the home as we had this week. It's like we were missionaries from The District or something :) (Do you want to know why that wasn't filmed in England? Because the whole series would be street contacting and knocking on doors, ha. Imagine the filmed planning sessions: "Well, Elder Smith, we've got about five hours left to plan. Let me show you a thing or two about finding!") And referrals as well. It was incredible; like the people of England suddenly knew their neighbors and were sociable.
Investigators - Man, there have been big strides of progress in some areas, and stunts of growth in others. We had nobody at church yesterday...Vincent and his family fell through, and Ian was off at an archery competition. We've got some serious plans this week to get these people to church. With the ward we have, I know that when I bring people to church, it will be a turning point in their progression. Do your missionaries feel the same way? I hope so :)
Well, I don't have too much more to say this week except that we're doing good work. I've become very determined to baptize again in this area, so we just need to find someone prepared. If there's one thing that I've learned in missionary work it's this: once you pass the wall of faith, it's only a matter of time before your righteous desires are fulfilled.
You could say a faithful missionary is patiently waiting, but that defeats the purpose of faith and is an oxymoron, really. A more accurate term would be patiently working :)
I love you all. Wish us well as we patiently work.
Love
Elder Foster
Anyways, this week has been quite the mouthful. Let me update you on a few key events:
The Area - The closing of Witney, from the mouth of our wonderful President, is "not set in stone". Therefore, many of our efforts this week have been to remove the mortar that may soon set. Yes, my companion is a carpenter and builder. The point is, we're in frantic search and correlation with the bishopric to find a flat in Witney that is acceptable and up to mission standards. Ah, the many experiences you gain from a mission :) First they ask you to be a preacher, then you become a contractor, an accountant, a counselor, a therapist, a travel coordinator, and sometimes even an Olympic speed walker.
So, hopefully, that'll turn out. The ward actually handled the news quite well: with fanfare and up-in-arms protest. I'm glad to have the bishop on my side when I say this area cannot close. There's a branch that needs to be built here :)
My Drivers License - Ha, I got that. Well, the provisional one, at least. Mounds of paperwork and post finally resulted in a small and somewhat insignificant piece of plastic. Now I'm cleared for the most intense driving test known to the world :) Good thing the reward is a license that is accepted and renown everywhere in the world.
Our Week - I've never had so many lessons in the home as we had this week. It's like we were missionaries from The District or something :) (Do you want to know why that wasn't filmed in England? Because the whole series would be street contacting and knocking on doors, ha. Imagine the filmed planning sessions: "Well, Elder Smith, we've got about five hours left to plan. Let me show you a thing or two about finding!") And referrals as well. It was incredible; like the people of England suddenly knew their neighbors and were sociable.
Investigators - Man, there have been big strides of progress in some areas, and stunts of growth in others. We had nobody at church yesterday...Vincent and his family fell through, and Ian was off at an archery competition. We've got some serious plans this week to get these people to church. With the ward we have, I know that when I bring people to church, it will be a turning point in their progression. Do your missionaries feel the same way? I hope so :)
Well, I don't have too much more to say this week except that we're doing good work. I've become very determined to baptize again in this area, so we just need to find someone prepared. If there's one thing that I've learned in missionary work it's this: once you pass the wall of faith, it's only a matter of time before your righteous desires are fulfilled.
You could say a faithful missionary is patiently waiting, but that defeats the purpose of faith and is an oxymoron, really. A more accurate term would be patiently working :)
I love you all. Wish us well as we patiently work.
Love
Elder Foster