Week 2 in Stafford

Well hello friends and family!!! 

This has been quite an exciting week!! First of all... I'm definitley not in Wigan anymore! It's still so weird to me that I have gone! I miss the people there. I made so many memories and I grew so much! I will never forget Debora or Vejas but I am so excited to start this new adventure in Stafford!

We had some pretty amazing lessons! My first day here we had a lesson with the sweetest woman named Gail. He was so cute and she could scarily remember parts of the introduction that I didn't even know. She knew the exact date of when Joseph Smith saw the angel Moroni! 

There was one day where we had lots of lessons to go to and every one of them fell through... it sounds sad but Sister Ryser and I didn't feel sad at all! I mean of course we would have been happier having the lessons but we just took it as it came. We got some crepes in a Little Dessert shop in Wigan and it was absolutely delicious. 

This Sunday, Vejas was able to share his testimony at a fireside. I wasn't able to attend but the entire day I was just thinking about how grateful I am that the Lord has placed me where I have been to meet the people that I have. It's amazing people like Vejas that truly show me that the Lord is preparing people and motivates me to tell everyone that there is somebody that loves them. :)

We also had stake conference this week and it was different... because it was in a hotel!!! I've never had stake conference in a hotel before! A seventy spoke at it, his name was Elder Gilmore. He said this absolutely incredible story! He talked about a 5 year old boy who growing up he always loved going to church because he LOVED hearing the organist play. It was this young man and he just could play the organ like nobody he had heard before. The young man had a wife and a young child at the time. One day the young boy was playing at a friend's home and his mother called him back. He said that that was the last time he saw his mother walk without aid. Recently, a young child at their small branch had died from polio and his parents were afraid that his mother was showing similar symptoms. They immediately rushed her to the hospital. She was in critical condition and at one point they considered putting her in the iron lung to help her breath. Since polio was so contagious, people were scared to visit her. But the young organist would visit her everyday for the 4 months she was in the hospital. The organist was Russell M. Nelson. Im only reciting this story off of memory so it isn't perfect. But, it truly showed me that wow... He really is a prophet! He was foreordained to lead this current dispensation. He truly shows us what a disciple of Christ should look like and I love and sustain him. Whenever I share my testimony to those I teach, I just feel the spirit testifying to me that this man really is a prophet of God! 

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

Sister Sever

1.  Krispy kreams... literally just cause😂

2.  Sister Ryser and I 

3.  Near to where our flat is, canal next to it basically

4 & 5.  Little dessert place 

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.)

Week 30 in Wigan

Hola friends and family!!

This week has been absolutely amazing!! The weather has been nice and perfect for miracles. First and foremost... Vejas is now a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!!! His service was wonderful and he kept on telling us how grateful he was that we taught him about the church. It is just amazing to see the change that happens to these people over the course of just a couple months! Only Christ can change people so fast and significantly. Next step... THE TEMPLE!!! 

Then, we also taught Sebastian again this week. We taught him the plan of salvation. Sister Brown(the bishop’s wife) was there again and you can just see how she looks forward to teaching him. She actually invited him to a ward activity we didn’t even know about! He came as well! So, he got to know a lot of ward members there.

Then.... transfers are now here!!! And all of you have probably guessed what is happening especially since I have been in Wigan for so long.... IM STAYIN!!! Woo!! I am getting a new companion but I don’t really know who it is until tomorrow so you will just have to find out next week! She is a new missionary!! But, I am so glad that I have had the chance to serve with Sister Robertson. Even though it was but for a short 3 weeks. 

In Train the Trainers, the assistants mentioned 2 Nephi 2:11 in a different way that I didn’t realise before. They said the same applies in our mission lives as well. Without those days where our lessons fell through and we couldn’t find anyone I couldn’t appreciate days like seeing Vejas get baptised. But since I know those days, I have to say seeing the fruits of our labours just makes the fruit of the tree of life a lot sweeter. I do know there is opposition in all things for a reason and I am grateful for that. Without that opposition, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. 

I love you all!!

Sister Sever

Week 29 in Wigan

Hello friends and family!!!

So... I haven’t sent this in a while!!! My email hasn’t been working well but I have been working great! I didn’t have an update last week. But here are the highlights!!! 

So, we had a miracle last week where we met this man named Andrew. It was right before we were going to go in for the night and we introduced ourselves to him. He asked us if we could walk with him for a little bit so he could talk with us a bit more. We talked about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon and he kept on asking us,”So... Is it true?” And we kept on saying,”Yes! It is true!” Then we met with him again and by the end of us teaching the Restoration he said, “IT HAS TO BE TRUE!!” He was talking about how far the Book has come and probably a lot of people have tried to destroy it and make it less than it is. But now he is meeting with missionaries and learning more about that same book. 

We also met with Paul!!! He is so good! He just has such amazing insight. He has now read through the entire Book of Mormon. And... he bought himself a quad!!! He loves quoting scriptures to us and he has such an amazing testimony of the Book of Mormon. We are planning on giving him a chapel tour soon. 

We also had the chance to go to a fireside. There was a testimony I really liked. It was the first speaker and he was completely atheist before he met with missionaries. The missionaries asked him to pray before he read the Book of Mormon and then he did! He said when he was reading it he just felt this amazing feeling that the book was true! Ever since then he has not doubted it and now he is baptised! 

So that was last week!! This week was quite exciting! So first and foremost..... VEJAS IS DEFINITELY GETTING BAPTISED!!! MARCH 23!!! We met with him actually today! He is excited that he is being baptised and yeah he is the best! I am so excited for his baptism! I can’t believe that from when I first saw him talking to Elder Wagner in a street display that he would be preparing for his baptism next week! It is just amazing being a part in this amazing work:)

Also!!! So, a new sister came in midtransfer and so our mission President took the liberty of switching out a few companionship’s! So now I am with Sister Robertson! She is amazing and I am so excited to serve with her! Even though it might only be for a few weeks. Sister Rasmussen has gone to Barrow with Sister Dunlavy. Reunited at last!

We also had another miracle this week! We were going to a tea appointment and we had a bit of time so we tracted a street. Nothing. So we started to knock another street and the first door we knocked a man immediately opened the door. He said he saw us from his window and didn’t think we were going to knock but we did! He met with a missionaries a year ago and he really liked what they had to say but then they disappeared and never contacted him again. He thought they were really nice people. He actually made a return appointment for the day after and we planned on talking to him about the Restoration. But then, literally all of his questions followed every principle of the plan of salvation. After he learned it, he said that he found such great comfort from it and it just felt right. MIRACLES!!

This week on Sunday a member gave a talk about revelation. He mentioned the sentence Russell M. Nelson gave about how in the coming days we will need to be led and guided by the spirit,and receive revelation EVERY DAY in order to survive spiritually. He then made the point that what did Russell M. Nelson mean by the coming days? Is it in a few years? Few months? Then he said, he thinks he meant the last 12 months since he gave that talk! That really got me thinking! These truly are the last days! The coming days are now and revelation is key. There is a quote by Lorenzo Snow that says “It is our right to receive revelation EVERY DAY.” We need only ask from Heavenly Father. He is so willing to give us inspiration and we just ask him he will not give us anything contrary to it if it of righteous desire:) I love you all!!!

Sister Sever

Week 28 in Wigan

Hello friends and family!!!

This week has been super good! We have had a couple lessons with Vejas and are planning to have a couple more! He is doing so well! He is really dedicated, he comes to church despite having no sleep due to work. But he still does!!! He now has been really thinking about the Rome temple and he wants to go inside it! Already thinking ahead:)

We also had a first lesson with a boy name Sebastian! We had first met him on Sunday and he actually looked up the church on his own and requested the missionaries to come. And so we did! We taught him the Restoration and he said he really wants to come on Sunday! 

We also had exchanges in Liverpool and it was super neat because 2 exchanges ago I was with Sister Takata and we found a man named Andrew. This exchange, I was again with Sister Takata and we met with Andrew for a lesson! It’s so amazing seeing the people we have found still be taught in the future! He not only is being taught but also his mother as well! It was such a good lesson as well. You never know what his happening with the seeds you plant and how they might grow. I have heard of so many stories of people who were not interested but took a card and time passes and they find the card and decide how was the right time. Then they are baptised! We have these fireside where people say how they are found and I think there is one of those almost every single time. It gives me hope and motivation to make sure I am doing my best to share the word of God! Because even if they are not interested then, we never know what the future may hold!

This week, I read a talk by Jeffrey R. Holland and I thought it was just amazing! It was called Lord I Believe. It talked to those who were young in age, young in membership of the church, and young in faith. He said a story that I really liked. It said, “A 14-year-old boy recently said to me a little hesitantly, “Brother Holland, I can’t say yet that I know the Church is true, but I believe it is.” I hugged that boy until his eyes bulged out. I told him with all the fervor of my soul that belief is a precious word, an even more precious act, and he need never apologize for “only believing.” I told him that Christ Himself said, “Be not afraid, only believe,” a phrase which, by the way, carried young Gordon B. Hinckley into the mission field. I told this boy that belief was always the first step toward conviction and that the definitive articles of our collective faith forcefully reiterate the phrase “We believe.”And I told him how very proud I was of him for the honesty of his quest.” He talks also in this how it doesn’t matter how much faith you have to work miracles in your life, that’s why the Lord said if you have faith as small as a mustard seed you can move mountains. Believe is a strong word. It doesn’t seem like it is but when a man came to Jesus Christ asking for him to heal his son, he said!”Lord I Believe.” And his son was healed through his faith even though he but only believed. So many people I have taught have only believed and the Lord has worked miracles in their lives. It has led them to baptism and through that their belief has grown. As I have also grown in my belief, I can say that I do know. Even though I say I know now but tomorrow I will say it with more conviction. Because it is an ever growing process as I learn more of what Heavenly Father has in store for us and feel of the redeeming love of Jesus Christ. I know this gospel to be true. I love you all!

Sister Sever