Week 1 in Lancaster

Hiya!!!! 

This week was my first week in LANCASTER!!! It took me so long from rossendale to get here!! Some sisters actually took a couple sisters in a car and we actually basically took a mission tour. We went from rossendale to Ashton. Then to Liverpool(not gonna lie, I want to serve there, it seems super fun), to Lancaster. ALL the while being smashed by suitcases. But we finally made it. We left at 2:30 and got to Lancaster at 8:50.... It was a long journey. 

I do miss Rossendale. Nothing can replace those people in my heart, but my heart still has room for lancaster. My new companion is Sister Washburn and she is amazing! She is actually a fellow Californian!!!! You would think that 2 Californians would make the sun shine a bit brighter in Lancaster but it has been cloudy and rainy... 

This week has been really good!! I have been meeting as many members as I can and they all seem amazing! We have a friend that wants to be taught named Maria. I met her at church yesterday and she is sssssooooooo nice. She is from Barcelona, Spain. We are meeting up with her on Wednesday and I'm really looking forward to it. 

We also saw another girl named Sara. She has a little boy named... JAYDEN actually(my brothers name). She is AMAZING!!! When we first went to her house I legit thought she was a member. But she wasn't. She is seriously so nice and is striving so hard to make life better for her son despite all her troubles in her personal and work life.

I think a big lesson I have learned this week is being perfect in the little things. I have definitely learned that no matter any planning you do in the mornings, your day is just plain unpredictable and probably won't go to plan. But even though life us so unpredictable, I can make sure to do little things perfectly. I can make sure that I say prayers throughout the day and read my scriptures. They may seem little but sometimes they are the only things in the day that I can feel grounded knowing that I can control them. 

I love you all so much and hope you have an amazing week!!!

Sister Sever

1.  That's ocean right there!!

2.  I'd like you to meet Sister Washburn

3.  More evidence that an ocean is nearby

4.  Random statue

5.  Building

6.  Pretty view

Week 23 in Rossendale...and Transfer!!

Hello!!! 

Well here is the low down!!! So transfers are this week and I am afraid I am now on the move. To LANCASTER!!!! It has been hard saying good bye. I love the people of Rossendale so much!!!! But I am excited to see what is in store for Lancaster. 

This week was a bit of a rollercoaster. We met so many people! One time we tried stopping by a members house on Cope Road and we didn't realize how long up the road she was. We ended up walking 2 miles up the road while a scarecrow festival was going on. When we finally went to the house, we knocked and they weren't there... But it was meant to happen, because on the way back we met a man named Rob who invited us back over. He was so nice to us!! And the walk up that road was gorgeous as well. So it was worth it!! 

We also had Charlotte and Lynne come to church this week!!! Charlotte is 14 years old and she and her mom are investigating the  church right now. Lynne is back from vacation!!!! We also visited her this week since i needed to say goodbye. I am definitely leaving her in a good place. She was talking about baptism and how she was going to invite someone from the spiritualist church to have a discussion with us. SHE IS A NATURAL MISSIONARY!!!! I will leave happy.

But Rossendale has seriously taught me so much. I think the main lesson is how I can rely on  Christ. I really have learned that no matter how good I want to be on the mission, it is nothing without the spirit and relying on Christ's help and atonement. I just needed to realize that the Lord is my strength and he is always there for me. 

Sister Sever

Week 22 in Rossendale

I had a pretty low key 4th of July... haha!!  Sister Pymm and I wanted to at least show our patriotism by wearing red, white, and blue that day. We did that...except those are also Great Britain's colors as well, so it wasn't as patriotic as we thought it would be. It has been hot in England, and hasn't rained in forever.  It definitely isn't as hot as California, but it is in the 70s to 80s. It's not ideal for walking for hours but it sure does make England look pretty. 

Yesterday we had a pretty special sacrament meeting. Sister Pymm and elder Santos(who is going home in a week) gave talks, along with the relief society president, and I played a musical number. It was a rendition of love at home and I only played it for the first time the day before. To say the least I wasn't very confident playing it; I was SUPER exhausted. But I played through it just fine and I had many people come up to me later that said they cried. A less active member came to church for the first time in forever that Sunday and said it was his favourite hymn. So I definitely think Heavenly Father was helping me with that one. 

But anyways, I love you and everything will be fine as long as I continue to be as close to the spirit as I am now. I have definitely gained a testimony of how trials can build you up as long as you let them and rely on Jesus Christ. When Brigham Young was faced with the adversary the morning the were about to baptised like 200 people he spoke to Joseph Smith concerned that it was because he was unworthy. Joseph Smith said that it was not because he was unworthy but because he was doing splendid work. 

Love, Sister Sever

Week 21 in Rossendale

Hello friends and family!!!

So sorry I missed my weekly email last week!!! And so much happened this week it's just crazy!! I will just share a few experiences. 

So I don't know if I have spoken about Michelle... probably not because she was the elders investigator from the start of my mission... But let me tell you. She is one of my FAVORITE PEOPLE!!! They took the missionaries in our district to the lake district and she spoils the sisters. She is not a member but her boyfriend is. The elders just handed her to us this week to teach and she is just.... I have no words. Also she has 4 pugs! The first time we went to her house it was just getting to know her a bit better and discovered she already has a testimony of the church and knows it is true. So we then focused on the baptismal date. Her and John are actually getting married in August!!! It is so exciting!!! She wants to be baptized after that but we can't put a finger on an actual date...so this Sunday we decided to fast over it. Also this Thursday she decided to give me all the things I haven't had in England yet. It was a really weird combination. She gave us some scotch eggs (bread, meat paste, and egg), tripe (you don't want to know), and black pudding. She gave us some salad as well and some sushi just in case we didn't like it. Whatever you do... don't have tripe. It doesn't taste good at all😝 

Also this Sunday was an AMAZING testimony meeting. To start the bishop gave an amazing testimony which inspired like half the chapel to get up and bear theirs. John, Michelle's boyfriend, got up to bear his testimony after 20 years!!! Becca got up after him as well and shared her testimony of how the Lord has blessed her in her life. After church we broke the fast with a relief society afternoon tea. No boys allowed😂 

Lynne was gone on a vacation for quite a while and the traveling has left her exhausted. However she is now back and we did go by to see her!! She is doing amazing and she was so excited to see us😊😊 I am so excited to continue teaching her. 

I think this week I really have been focusing on how everyone is here on earth for the same purpose, which is to come closer to heavenly father. Life on earth is not supposed to be easy. In fact, it's good when it's hard. Hard circumstances are amazing learning experiences as long as we use our agency for good! The mission definitely is not all sunshine and rainbows but it is an amazing experience when focusing on the right things. I love England and it's people so much and I know that it will forever change me as long as I let it😊

I love you all and hope everything is well!!

Sister Sever

Picture key:

1.  Jeffrey Holland prayer tree

2.  Elder Godfrey with sheep

3.  Just because

4.  Companion pic

5.  Silly comp pic

6.  New English food we tried  (including black pudding, scotch eggs and tripe!!)