"And The Lord Of The Vineyard Labored Also With Them"

Time is so special.

Things that at one time were so unfamiliar become familiar.

People who were once strangers become dear friends.

With time comes experience, lessons learned, good memories, and a bigger heart.

The last 6 months in stockport has been a time of my life that i will never forget. It's a time that has become a piece of my heart.

Stockport is my place. It holds some of the most significant and spiritual experiences i have ever had in my life.

Stockport is the place where i have come to know my saviour.

It took me being here for 6 months to finally understand why. Why here? Why me?

For him! Jesus Christ is why and he chose me!

I had a bittersweet week.

Walking up and down the streets i have walked for 6 months.

Walking down Kennerly Road to get the 192 to town centre for some of the final times.

Drinking hot chocolate from my favourite cafe with the workers i have grown to love and consider dear friends.

Going to Mollys Flower shop to get a £5 bouquet.

The countless lunch and tea appointments with my sweet ward family.

Teaching some of my dearest friends for the last time. Sharing my testimony of my Saviour with them for the last time.

Standing up in front of all of them on Sunday and giving the rest of my heart and love for the Saviour in words!

This is my home. It is all i have known as my time as missionary.

My hearts hurts seeing my time here come to an end.

But I'm ready to labour with the lord in a new part of his vineyard.

On friday morning I got a call from my Mission President's wife, Sister Tunnicliffe. She expressed to me that her and President Tunnicliffe wanted me to train a new missionary.

My eyes filled with tears. I was shocked. I didn’t even know what to say. But, in that very moment i knew that this is what the Lord needed me to do next. It was a moment i truly felt that trust and belief he has in me as his servant.

My heart is full of so much love for this new sister that is coming in. Never in my life have i felt so much love for someone i dont even know yet.

I know that she is who i need next. To teach me and to help me come closer to my saviour, jesus christ. I'm so excited to love her and help her grow a deep love for his work. To labour with her and the lord in his vineyard.

Along with training a new missionary I'm whitewashing an area called Ashton-under-Lyne, home of Manchester City Football! I'm so excited! It's so crazy how the lord works because right before I finished getting trained I went on an exchange here! I loved it. It was a place where my testimony grew a lot! It was a major inflection point for me in my mission!

Im excited to get to know a new place that i love so much already!

I know that the lord is aware of me. I know that this new point in my mission is going to be really hard. But, i also know that I'm not doing it alone.

I get to labour with him.

He is the Lord of my vineyard.

There have definitely been moments this week where i have felt like i am a weak tree that he is having to prune, and dig about, and nourish.

Never in my life have i had to rely on this care so much. I know that i am weak. My branches aren't strong enough to stand on their own.

But, i know my gardener.

He has taken care of me.

He is mending me.

He is making a way for me to produce good fruit.

With it being my final moments in stockport i really tried to savor the sweet moments that the lord was blessing us with!

There were so many moments that just made it the perfect week!

We got to go to the temple for the first time with Jemal! He was amazed at the beauty and was so excited that he was going to get to go inside. His jaw was dropped the whole night! I loved getting to be apart of this testimony building experience for him! He finished the night by saying, "Im so happy that i was able to bless my brothers and sisters tonight!" This is a moment ill never forget. Jemal is a miracle. I feel blessed that the lord allowed me to witness it.

We started teaching beautiful Ama this week. Ama is from Ghana and recently moved here from france. She has been seeking to find her jesus. We began teaching her and the spirit was so strong. All of the sudden this girl came up to our table and asked if she could join us. It was so beautiful. The courage and strength that these 2 beautiful daughters of god have is inspiring. Their stories have changed me. This lesson was one of the most spirit filled lesson ive ever been apart of. The spirit is truly the greatest teacher!

Every Saturday we have been serving a member in our ward, Jane. She suffers from severe anxiety and so it makes it super challenging to come to church. For the last 6 months i have tried so hard to build a relationship with her. Just a couple weeks ago she asked if we could help her clean her house once a week. This made my heart so happy!

Jane gave us 3 bags of toys that she needed us to take to a charity shop. As we were waiting for a bus this kind man waited there with us. We started talking to him and he explained that him and his family just moved here from Nigeria and its been really hard. I kept seeing him stare at these bags of toys. I then asked him if he would like to take some toys back for his kids. His eyes grew so big as he started filling up a bag full of toys. The humility of this man. It was the most tender thing watching him pick out toys that he thought his kids would enjoy.

Thinking about this experience brings tears to my eyes. He didnt care that they were used or broken all he cared about was the joy that this would bring his family. This changed me.

Sundays have become my favourite day on my mission. Theres something so special about getting to go to a place that you know you will feel the spirit. Its a time that youre able to just spend with you and the saviour. Its a time that you get to focus on yourself. A time to really ponder your offering to the lord!

The sacrament service was beautiful.

Ama asked us, "even though its my first time can i get up and share?" "Of course!"

She talked about how she met us. Her struggles. Her journey. How she felt when we talked about the gospel.

Theres something so special about our friends getting up and sharing what they know to be true. It gives me so much strength!

As they announced that i was leaving tears started streaming down my face. I never thought I would be having to leave. For a moment i remembered what it felt like when i was leaving Utah. Leaving a place that your heart loves so much. Full of so many memories!

The thought of jesus coming into the place he would finish his ministry came to mind.

He came in with a purpose and he fulfilled it.

He changed peoples lives.

He continued on even when it was really hard.

But he did it all because he loved his father so much.

I relate to him.

I came on my mission with a purpose.

Over the last 6 months in this place i have seen peoples lives change through the words of the gospel.

I have continued on even when it has been really hard.

And im doing it because i love him so much.

He is everything to me. Now its my time to go minister to his other sheep!

And i know it will all be okay because "the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them."