"Hello My Beautiful Little Angels..."

A fun little quirk of England is the extreme kind homeless men on the street they never let's us pass by without saying something sweet like, "Hello my beautiful little angels" or "you can make money in my country" ya barf is all I have to say haha. Just something to make you smile:) 

Anyways!!! HI HI HI!!!

So many things to say because missions are just amazing but the most important item of business this week is that I have been a missionary for a SOLID 2 MONTHS!! SAY WHAT?!?! Yes mum you heard that right, you get to hug me and talk to me longer than an hour in 16 months yaya!! All I can say about the last 2 months is that it's been the hardest but most joyful months of my life. Missionary work is so special and you can't truly understand that statement until you are one. My cheeks have never been so sore at the end of the day from smiling ear to ear from 10-9pm as we give our all to the Lord! It really is the greatest work on earth, and I can't even start to exclaim how grateful I am to be here!

This week was great! We had so many moments. So many moments where I was reaffirmed that I'm suppose to be here. I have started to see a trend of the Lord rewarding our efforts at the end of the week. I really think he waits to see if he can trust us enough to bless us with these amazing miracles! And man does he trust us!

Here are the 2 experiences that hit me super hard this week!

The miracle of sweet Maria!

Saturdays have been a day where we see a trend of our friends canceling their lessons with us. So this week during weekly planning we decided to devote all of saturday to finding. I WAS SO EXCITED! I have loved finding more and more as the weeks of being a missionary go on. It's a time where I can really try and listen to the promptings of the spirit but also I get to meet so many amazing people. As I find I feel like I'm able to grow a greater love for god children here in england! Maria was the miracle of our finding efforts! We headed to Wilmslow where we haven't ever done finding, it's a very posh area which at times can be harder to get people to listen but we didn't let that stop us! As we were heading back to the car with not much success I saw this lady in a green coat with her hood on. I instantly felt like we needed to stop her. But I kept ignoring the prompting. After some time the promptings just kept getting stronger and stronger so I decided to suck up my pride and go. Me and Sister Phelan had to run to this lady as she walked pretty fast and was a ways away. As we approached her I said hello and asked her if we could ask her a question. She was a bit hesitant but stopped so I asked, "What makes you happy?" She said uhhh that's a hard questions. So I asked her again, "Seriously what makes you happy?" She said her family but she explained how she hasn't been able to afford to see them because they are all living in the Philippines. With excitment we said that there are actually missionaries just like us here that are from the Philippines, she got super excited and at that moment stopped to truly listen to us! The moment came for me to testify to why we stopped her but I was speechless. I had no idea what to say. But after a little bit of an awkward silence my mouth started to move. I don't even remember but I said in the moment but after, I stopped and asked if we could get her contact information. She said of course and proceeded to give me the biggest hug and expressed her gratitude with a humble thank you.

Moments like this show me why I am needed as a missionary. If I didn't listen to that prompting I would've missed this moment that I will remember forever. It's also a moment that Maria will remember forever. I needed Maria that day just as much as she needed me! The spirit works. He works well. Each day I'm amazed at his power and feel blessed that I get to use it to help change peoples lives! As the Brits would say, the spirit is BRILLANT! 

The 5/5 miracle!

This week during weekly planning we set a goal to get 5 friends to church! We felt great about the goal but knew it was going to push us because it was stake conference this week. We didn't let it stop us. Throughout the week during our lessons we really tried pushing our friends to come and join us. We also set up rides for all of them that were willing the come. All I can say is the lord rewarded our efforts. 5/5 friends made it. As we stood for the hymn during the conference my eyes began to swell with tears as I looked down the pew and saw all our friend standing singing the hymn together. This is what true joy feels like. In that moment I really saw them through God's eyes. I was so proud. But also so grateful for the faith of these friends to come. They acted because something in them is telling them to keep going. It's a beautiful thing I got to witness yesterday and will be a moment from my mission that I will never forget. That feeling of God's love for his children is a feeling I never want to go away. This work is special. I would have 1000 bad days to get one day like today.

I love this gospel. I love my savior. I love Gods children in England! 

Spiritual thought! 

This week I have really been thinking about my spiritual preparation.

The story of the 10 virgins come to mind when thinking of the concept. 

Matthew 25:1-13

1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 

2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 

4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 

5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 

6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 

8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 

9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 

10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 

11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 

12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 

13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

This week I want all of you consider which virgin you are... are you one that has a lamp full of oil? Or is your lamp empty? 

When the virgins with the empty lamps knocked on the door of the lord he opened and said, "I know you not." 

That statement hit me super hard. 

I want the lord to know me. 

I can't express how important it is that we are ready for the Savior. More than ever before it is so important that we are filling our lamps to fullest capacity so when the Savior sees us he opens his door and says "Come and join me my faithful servant!" 

Please take this invitation!! I can promise that as we fill our lamps that our lives will be blessed in ways would could never explain! I don't know about you but I want to join the Lord party!! SO COME!! 

I love you all! I pray for you always! I love hearing from you!

Email me how you're going to fill your lamps with oil this week!! 

Also eat all the delicious Thanksgiving food for me!! 

Xx,

Sister B.