Week 3 in Rossendale

Hello everyone! 

So this week was so busy! We barely had any time for finding at all.  We literally went from appointment to appointment. At the end of the day I'm pretty sure I didn't just go to sleep, I would pass out. 

So I finally met Becca! She is our only investigator right now and she is amazing. She has basically already accepted the gospel. We went to her house just this week and we taught her the plan of salvation. She took to it really well and i invited her to be baptized! It wad so cute. When I asked her, her reply was, "wow I wanna do that! How do I do it!" She is getting baptized on March 17 hopefully. It really was amazing because this past Sunday, somebody from the ward passed away that she knew, and she told us that all she could think about was what we taught her! Oh and I almost forgot that she invited her own member to the lesson! And it was the bishops wife! As I said she is just amazing and so prepared. 

In other news... today I decided to travel around town and see what was in the charity shops. There is a picture down below of a sign that I found that is what British people think true happiness is haha.

I had zone conference this week! I had to wake up at like 4:30 in order to get there on time since it was in Chorley. Which really isn't that far away, but by bus it takes a fair amount of time. I really liked it! I saw one person from my old district in Lehi! It was super fun and it was where I found out that there is in fact a subway in England. Which I was doubtful of because they didn't even have taco bell. I really like President McReynold`s talk on personal revelation and how we can get it by searching, pondering, and then asking the lord for the answer. It's like the scripture that you must first seek my word then will your tongue be loosed...or something or other. 

Anyways I love you all and wish you the best!

Sister Sever

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Week 2 in Rossendale

Hello! 

So this week has been amazing! Our investigator came to church! This was the first time were ever met her and she seems super solid. She had only had one lesson but has been to church 4 times. We are teaching her for the first time this week. We have been tracting a lot and getting to know the area. I absolutely live the scenery. Zone conference is next week so that's exciting! 

We had a baptism this week but it wasn't ours, it was the elders in our area. I was only allowed to go because I played the piano. It was honestly a very good session for the ward. Around 35 people came and there are only 60 people in the ward so it was pretty good. He even invited his teachers and do we talked to them about the baptism. 

I also had the chance to go to the old folks home in lavender hills in Stubbins again. People there are so sweet, I'm pretty sure half of them were asleep but they said we were really good haha. 

Also in the past two weeks week have been visiting a lot of less actives and done of them came our first Sunday. They heard sister limb and I bear our testimonies and invited us over for tea. When we told the elders they told us that they have never invited the missionaries over before. We had tea and they told us that they had to invite us over again and one of the daughters who served a mission in Michigan said if we ever needed to have a member for a lesson to call her up. They showed up for church this Sunday as well. So that was pretty uplifting.

Sister Limb is absolutely great. I love her so much. She is just so patient. I was a bit sick this week and she just was so caring. This transfer do far has not been so hard and especially going in to the mission field has been easier because of her example. England is going well as usual.

Cheers!

Sister Sever

(mom note:  Found this photo below from a post by Sister McReynolds, the mission president's wife)

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Week 1 in Rossendale

Hello! A lot has happened this past week. My companion is Sister Limb and she is from Utah...so close.  I am stationed in Rossendale and we are completely whitewashed...so I'm not the only one that is clueless -my companion is as well. (definition of whitewash in the mission field-- to open a new area, with a brand new companionship to top it off...can be difficult to build new relationships/history)  But this area is gorgeous! The weather is extremely bipolar. It's on a constant cycle of rain, hail, snow, and sunshine. But the people here are super nice. The field is so different from the MTC but its a good difference. We have mostly been meeting with members since we don't know anyone in Rossendale. The elders have been a huge help since even though there is only one ward of 60-70 active members. 

Sister Limb has been incredible. She and I have had so much fun together. She has been very patient, especially since she has had to whitewash and train me at the same time. But I have been learning so much from her and the members. We have investigators but we just haven't met them yet.... they are always either busy or sick. But we have been door knocking quite a bit.  I actually enjoy door knocking.  People are really polite and say at least a no thank you as they close the door- haha. The thing is that my area is so small that everybody has already met with the missionaries or had them knock at their door.  But sometimes they have no problem talking. Like the Jehovah's witnesses are so nice here. They are basically trying to convert us. We exchanged cards with them. 

Even though we haven't necessarily taught any investigators, I love teaching the members. The members are just so friendly and LOVE missionary work. One family literally has a missionary album of past missionaries that have come to their ward and their wedding invitations. It is so nice teaching actual people and just getting to know all the members.

Mom, you asked if I've yet had an opportunity to play piano or sing...YES! haha, right when I arrived to the mission home I had to play the piano and when they sent me to my ward the organist had a stroke so I came just in time. I also have already played and sang for a nursing home (which was the most gorgeous place, if I were to live in a nursing home, I want to go to that one). 

The missionary daily schedule really isn't that bad. I think the worst part is waking up in the morning but I got over it pretty fast. I forgot to mention that British shops are so cool here. They have the best things. And in our flat, which by the way is super nice, there's is one of those pillows that I am obsessed with; that you can move the sequins and on the other side it's a different color. But the boiler in our room is super annoying. We have to reset it almost twice everyday and Sister Limb and I keep on debating who goes first, since the one who goes last has to take a cold shower. 

The bus pass is super expensive but I get reimbursed. The most I spend my money on is chocolate. Remind me before I go home to fill my suitcase with kinder Buenos; they are heaven in a plastic wrapper!  Also, why don't we have kettles?  They are so handy.  Also, go to the store and get couscous...You will like it. It's like rice but better and you can have it with curry. You won't regret it. Anyways, I miss you guys and I will definitely pray for you. I love you and I am doing great. 

Sister sever

(mom note:  Bonus...the mother of Sidney's new companion/trainer made contact with me and shared her daughter's email for the week. So sweet to hear her description of Sidney!! Below is from Sister Limb:

"I was so nervous because I haven’t trained a new missionary before and when I met the new ones I had a feeling when I saw my trainee that it was her before they even announced it. So I am grateful to have her because she has been AMAZING I am so grateful for Gods decisions to give me something better than I could have imagined. Sister Sever is amazing and exactly what I needed. She has been patient with me while I have been figuring out how to train and to whitewash at the same time, but it’s been really good. She is the happiest person I have ever met. The amount of faith she has is amazing and she makes me want to be better everyday. I have tried harder to help her have a good start to her mission. She already has good teaching skills and finding skills, she isnt scared to say hi to people or Tract for a long time. I am so grateful for her and I have so much to learn. We have been laughing so much this week, seriously it’s been a long time since I have laughed this hard. We are good friends already:) i know I needed her influence before I go home in a couple months."

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Week 3 at MTC and transfers into MANCHESTER MISSION!!

      So, before you think I  disobeying the rules and what not, I have transfers this week, so they are allowing us to email today. So this week was amazing. I got to hear Brother Hunter sing and wow he is good.

     It wasn't too long ago that I emailed you last so not a lot has happened. I Skyped Preston and got to practice giving a lesson, which was super fun and got  to see most of my family. I got a flu shot in town! That's exciting.  Apparently I forgot to get one in California. Also, just want to say that I absolutely love my district. They are all so amazing and plus it helps that they are all going to my mission except for that sucker who is going to Hungary.  Haha!  Manchester mission is definitely getting a good bunch of missionaries this new transfer(me included).

     I'm super excited to finally get out to the field and meet my trainer and mission president. I can't wait. I'm already packing! 

     Oh! One of the seventy came to talk with us about charity. His name is elder Hearst and he had an amazing British(surprise surprise) accent and was super funny. He says that as missionaries we are called to love (not romantically) and I completely agree. Also, my teacher, sister Harkness said that I'm welcome at her house in Ireland anytime after my mission which was super cool. I love my teachers.

     A common theme that I have been noticing here is the topic of charity. And I just think that it's so important to really have the pure love of Christ. I truly believe that our church is actually centered around, of course, Christ, but more specific his love. Elder Hearst said something I really liked in his talk; that charity is the one thing that is stronger than faith. Since faith is knowing things that you can't see, in the life to come, faith won't be something we will use seeing as how it will be confirmed. But the pure love of Christ is something that is eternal and will last far beyond the grave. I know that charity never fails, and I see it with the people that I meet on the streets of Manchester, my district, my companion, and myself.  Everyone on this earth is also God's child and I know that they deserve the same love as everyone else. I love this church and I know it is true. I know that going on a mission was the right thing to do and was his plan for me. I also know that loving the people of England, even when they don't love you back, will truly grow, my testimony and the people I'm teaching.

     Oh also my "investigator" Connor is being baptized!!! Anyways I love you and hope to hear from you soon!

Sister Sever

P.S. This is just us with Brother Hunter. He gets married next week so we won't be able to see him on Monday before we leave.

(mom note:  I had asked her what is was like with the other money system there, and here is her response: )
 "I have found that it really depends on what you are buying. Contact solution probably costs around 25$ a bottle but candy only costs like $0.20 sometimes. You may think I'm joking but actually there are these chocolate cups that really cost only that much.


(mom note:  the following message was sent this morning, 2/6)
I still don't know my transfer assignment, but I am at the mission home right now and it's snowing!!! President McReynolds and his wife are super nice and supportive.  I can't wait to find out who my trainer is! I don't know if I can email you later, but anyways I love you and hope everything is going well. Hope to talk to you soon!