Mom!
Oh my goodness, this week has been incredible! We just dove into the work, and worked ourselves to death, and the fruits seem to have finally arrived! Miracles have been happening. It's these weeks that coming on a mission is for, and I've begun to recognize that it always comes after the last of your strength is gone. After the hardest things happen, and after the toughest of trials. I'm so grateful for opposition! (2 Nephi 2).
So, first of all, I got to go to Oxford and Reading this week (and don't you dare say that "reeding", because it's "redding"). I love Oxford. It's the coolest university town ever. It's like Provo, except in England, which makes it way, way, way, way more awesome. So, basically, it's actually nothing like Provo. Anyways...
We were there for a fireside on digital missionary work, which went really well (presented it in Institute, which is actually held at members homes because there are so few YSA in England. Actually, in Oxford, there's quite a few, maybe 30 or so). We did some hardcore contacting there (it's called a workover if it's not your area. At the end you give all of the contacts you got to the missionaries who actually work there). My goodness, we rocked that area. I've never seen so many prepared people in my life. Just person after person on the street. All willing to pray, all willing to take a Book of Mormon.
Yeah...It would be great to be a missionary in a Uni town :) But then there's the whole, everyone's your age and getting distracted thing :) And speaking of Oxford that city is gorgeous. The architecture is just incredible. We got to go to Christ Church, which is where the Harry Potter films are filmed. Great hall and everything! Best day ever! It was an amazing experience, not to be missed :)
Got to drive there as well for practice! On the motorway and everything :) It was wonderful. We call our satnav Judas Iscariot for obvious reasons. There have been some 20 minute detours because of that guy. Evil roundabouts...
Pictures will be on the way soon!
Christmas list! I totally forgot to bring it to the chapel! I will for sure put it up next week, so that you can know what things I'm running out of. I'm so sorry, I'll make sure it's completed by then.
Phonglei (we finally found out how to spell his name :) ) came to church!!!!!!! Oh my goodness, with his whole family too!!!!!! He just had so many excuses, and it seemed to keep not working out, and then finally, after so many prayers and tears, he came. They had a great time. His kid, Ho-long, is my best friend. He's like 6, and he's just barely going into school, so he has better english than anyone in the family. We sat next to each other in church and talked about Jesus. He's got the Asian respect mixed with the English humor and talk. It's really quite hilarious, he's a man among men.
Their family cleans up well, and I know this is a step in the right direction. They're actually selling their house pretty soon here and moving to Manchester. We've decided it's best not to baptize them here, but we've taught almost every lesson, and there are mandarin missionaries in Manchester. I know they need to be there, and I know we're laying the foundation for another missionary's skill and circumstance. I'm so happy for them :)
I only just realized it was P-day yesterday, which is a very good thing. I'm so glad when that happens, because I know that it was the Lord's mission that week, not mine. I'm so focused right now, I hope that I can continue to have this as my standard.
Love you all, your prayers have obviously been at work here.
Elder Foster
Oh my goodness, this week has been incredible! We just dove into the work, and worked ourselves to death, and the fruits seem to have finally arrived! Miracles have been happening. It's these weeks that coming on a mission is for, and I've begun to recognize that it always comes after the last of your strength is gone. After the hardest things happen, and after the toughest of trials. I'm so grateful for opposition! (2 Nephi 2).
So, first of all, I got to go to Oxford and Reading this week (and don't you dare say that "reeding", because it's "redding"). I love Oxford. It's the coolest university town ever. It's like Provo, except in England, which makes it way, way, way, way more awesome. So, basically, it's actually nothing like Provo. Anyways...
We were there for a fireside on digital missionary work, which went really well (presented it in Institute, which is actually held at members homes because there are so few YSA in England. Actually, in Oxford, there's quite a few, maybe 30 or so). We did some hardcore contacting there (it's called a workover if it's not your area. At the end you give all of the contacts you got to the missionaries who actually work there). My goodness, we rocked that area. I've never seen so many prepared people in my life. Just person after person on the street. All willing to pray, all willing to take a Book of Mormon.
Yeah...It would be great to be a missionary in a Uni town :) But then there's the whole, everyone's your age and getting distracted thing :) And speaking of Oxford that city is gorgeous. The architecture is just incredible. We got to go to Christ Church, which is where the Harry Potter films are filmed. Great hall and everything! Best day ever! It was an amazing experience, not to be missed :)
Got to drive there as well for practice! On the motorway and everything :) It was wonderful. We call our satnav Judas Iscariot for obvious reasons. There have been some 20 minute detours because of that guy. Evil roundabouts...
Pictures will be on the way soon!
Christmas list! I totally forgot to bring it to the chapel! I will for sure put it up next week, so that you can know what things I'm running out of. I'm so sorry, I'll make sure it's completed by then.
Phonglei (we finally found out how to spell his name :) ) came to church!!!!!!! Oh my goodness, with his whole family too!!!!!! He just had so many excuses, and it seemed to keep not working out, and then finally, after so many prayers and tears, he came. They had a great time. His kid, Ho-long, is my best friend. He's like 6, and he's just barely going into school, so he has better english than anyone in the family. We sat next to each other in church and talked about Jesus. He's got the Asian respect mixed with the English humor and talk. It's really quite hilarious, he's a man among men.
Their family cleans up well, and I know this is a step in the right direction. They're actually selling their house pretty soon here and moving to Manchester. We've decided it's best not to baptize them here, but we've taught almost every lesson, and there are mandarin missionaries in Manchester. I know they need to be there, and I know we're laying the foundation for another missionary's skill and circumstance. I'm so happy for them :)
I only just realized it was P-day yesterday, which is a very good thing. I'm so glad when that happens, because I know that it was the Lord's mission that week, not mine. I'm so focused right now, I hope that I can continue to have this as my standard.
Love you all, your prayers have obviously been at work here.
Elder Foster