Week 1 in Stafford

Well friends and family....

Transfers are here!! You probably weren't expecting this at all... But I am now leaving Wigan! I actually was quite convinced I was staying because I love Wigan. But, usually when I guess something the opposite happens. Either that or I joke around that it will happen and it actually happens. It's one or the other. But, I am leaving Wigan and heading to..... STAFFORD!!! I am going to the South! I have never been in the South of my mission boundaries. But, now I am heading near to Newcastle. I don't know much about Stafford but I do know it is beautiful and my companion is Sister Ryser.

I have been in Wigan for around 8-9 months now. I have lost count. I have had so many absolutely amazing memories here. It truly is the blessed land. I had some more amazing memories this week as well. So, a couple weeks ago, we were just walking along the street when Sister Hawkins felt prompted to go back to talk to a man on a bench that she saw. His name is Craig. We talked a little bit and he accepted a Book of Mormon straight off the bat and said he would like to meet. We arranged for a time in the library and last week we went to meet him. We had another lesson before his with a man named Gareth. We were waiting for him when Gareth texted us saying he couldn't make it to the lesson. A bit disappointing we were going to daily contact when BAM we saw Craig! He walked up to us and said he completely forgot about his lesson but he just ended up coming to the library anyways. We had a lesson with him this week and the same exact thing happened. Heavenly intervention! 

We also had something called First Five Weeks. Sister Hawkins is only in her first transfer and so we had to go to the mission home in Altrincham for a training for all the new missionaries. So, first mistake... I was navigating that day. I ended up putting in the wrong postcode and we ended up in the town over. I was navigating to the mission office not the mission home. Luckily, there were senior couple missionaries who lived close by that were so kind to give us a ride to the mission home. Before they came, I was confidently walking through this forest path that didn't seem to be an actual path and I got mud all over my tights. Then, the assistants to the president called and we figured out I was a 20 minute drive to the mission home from where I was...

Not too long ago, I was reading in Nephi 18. Jesus Christ is ministering to the Nephites and asks them to pray. In verse 16 he talks about that as he has prayed among us even must we pray. It made me realize how important prayer truly is. I thought of 2 Nephi 31 when it says that if Jesus Christ has a need to be baptise and he was perfect, how much more need do we have to be baptised as we make mistakes. I think I is the same in this verse, Jesus Christ was a perfect resurrected being when he was talking to the Nephites and he was praying with them and for them. If he prays, we should as well. As a missionary we do pray... a lot. But, I have seen how my life has changed because of it. Prayer gives us added strength and comfort and it holds power. We are talking to the Being who loves us more than we can imagine! That is why we invite so many people to pray because that is the only way they can get the answers they need and recognize the Lord's hand in our lives. He wants to speak to us but we are the only ones who can open that communication.

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

Sister Sever

Week 33 & 34 in Wigan

HAPPY EASTER friends and family!!! 🐇🐇🐣🐣

We had a miracle this week!!!! So, we were just heading to service when we bumped into a man named Ike! We had a good talk and he said he believed in God and would love to meet with us sometime. We got his number and then went on to our service. Afterwards, we were heading home for lunch and at the same place we meet Ike again! He said,”this is divine intervention.” So he took us out to eat at the Chinese Buffet and he bore his testimony to us. We taught him the Restoration on Thursday and afterwards he said that he NEEDS to read the Book of Mormon! He has already read the introduction and chapter 1 of 1 Nephi. We were supposed to have his lesson on Friday but we changed it to Thursday. He said he was going to pray about it the day before but he will definitely do it before he meets with us next. 

We taught someone the word of Wisdom and said that if they quit vaping, tea, and coffee for a week, We would quit chocolate for a week. So guess who wasn’t having chocolate on Easter!!!

We had a miracle where we were waiting for a lesson with someone and it fell through. At the same time, we had another lesson an hour later at the same place with a man named Craig and he showed up! He said that he actually forgot about our lesson and so it was really convenient we were there at that time. 

It’s Easter time!!! What a special time of year! Aren’t we so lucky that we not only have one holiday to think of our Saviour but two!!! Of course, we should be thinking of him not only on these days but all throughout the year! But I am so grateful that we have these holidays so even people who don’t believe or don’t have God in their lives have this chance to think of Him. Jesus Christ has done so much for us. He has lived for us and He has died for us. He has set an example for us so we know exactly how we can be happy and live with Heavenly Father for eternity. He has suffered for our sins and trials. He has loved the Father and He has loved us. I know He lives and because He does we will live as well. I know that if we turn to Him, our lives will eternally change:)

I love you all!!!

Sister Sever

Week 31 & 32

Hello friends and family!!!

So last week I was lame and I didn’t send an email.... but I have a new companion!!!! Her name is Sister Hawkins and she is from....(drumroll) UTAH!!! She is so amazing! She is hilarious and has such a Drive for missionary work!! Which I love! Oh yeah!!! And I am still in Wigan! I’ve been here quite a while now and the members are joking around that I should just move my records to Wigan because I’m going to live there for the rest of my life

But seeing as I have 2 weeks to make up for I have lots of stories! So first of all,despite the fact I have been in Wigan for over 7 months now... I still managed to get lost! So, it was Sister Hawkins’ first day and around a week ago we had asked this family when they would like us to come around and suggested the day Sister Hawkins came. This family was quite intense, they are a pastor and his wife and are very passionate about what they do. The day of.... they texted back and said they would like to meet. Then, we got lost on the way and took the wrong bus(well right number it just went the opposite way. So when Sister Hawkins came to the area that was her first lesson! They really are such a nice family but it was quite an intimidating introduction to Wigan

We also had quite a miracle! At 5 am in the morning one night the fire alarm went off! We couldn’t smell any smoke but being obedient we made our way outside. It was a very loud alarm but Sister Hawkins still had to shake me awake. We waited outside for a fire truck and nobody else was outside except us and people going to work except for one man! We went over to him to ask what was going on and he immediately recognised us as missionaries and said he wanted to come to church!

We also had a lesson with a boy named Sebastian and he wants to be baptised! He is so nice and he loved coming to church and participating during classes.

Well I love you all and hope you have an amazing week.

(Pictures below are of the missionary training conference and getting to the new companions.)