October 26th, 2016

This week was full of new things. I forgot how overwhelming going to a new ward is and learning a hundred people's names in 3 hours. It's nice though because I don't have to figure out the area. The ward seems really nice but people in this side of country are so busy because it's so expensive. Someone who lives in the M25 would pay 200 thousand for a flat the size of our kitchen. The area here is about an hour away from the temple and about an hour away from Central London so it has a ton of people. It's not like inner city but because it's so close to London there's a lot of people and the neighbourhoods are super rich. There are so many posh people and I've never seen so many super cars just casually driving around. Something really cool that we can do in the eastern zones is bring people to the temple to the visitors centre. I got super lucky and on Thursday we got to take an investigator named Paul to the temple. The Spirit of the Temple is so strong and tangible and he definitely felt it. We sat in front of the Christus and talked about the Saviour and what He has done for us. We then asked him what his next step would be to come closer to Christ and he said Baptism!! We set a date for the 19th! God is so good. The last two days was pretty long as a lot of our appointments flogged so we went finding all day both days and got no new investigators or lessons, so that was a bit rough. 

The good thing is me and Elder Persicke are like brothers. We fight and argue but love each other and have so much fun. We both came to the conclusion that we are both usually the leaders of our companionships so it's going to be hard for us not to argue about things. But we both know when we are wrong and we admit it. And we never hold grudges. We are so similar though so we fight a lot.

We had a guy almost call the cops on us. We were knocking and it was getting a bit late and we knocked on a door and the guy was a bit mad and said we shouldn't be doing this and we told him we are just missionaries. He then said he didn't care and we need to stop because it's dark and we could be burglars. So we just walked over to the next and he chased us down and started shouting at us. Me and Persicke both just started laughing and told him it's not illegal we have talked to cops and then he shouted that he didn't care and spew should leave. Anyways after about 2 minutes of us getting shouted out and threatened to get the cops called on us we decided we should just leave and not cause a fuss.
I read a super cool talk in studies today called "willing to submit" by Neal a Maxwell. It was so good. If you get some spare time check it out. Of not here's a sweet quote "For the faithful, what finally emerges is an understanding of “things as they really are” (Jacob 4:13), such as the reassuring realization that we are in the Lord’s hands! But, brothers and sisters, we were never really anywhere else! Demonstrating this great attitude is our beloved and submissive brother, Bruce R. McConkie.  “Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God?” (Morm 5:23) Likewise, “all flesh” (D&C 101:16, Moses 6:32) and “the heavens and the earth” (D&C 67:2)! Perhaps the realization of being in God’s hands comes fully only as we ponder the significance of the prints in the hands of our submissive Savior. (See 3 Ne. 11:14–15.) Some will have to ask what those wounds are, having been estranged. (See D&C 45:51–52.) These are they who “regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands.” (2 Ne. 15:12)   The more we study, pray, and ponder the awesome Atonement, the more we are willing to acknowledge that we are in His and the Father’s hands. Let us ponder, therefore, these final things."
I love that and love knowing that He has me. Even though things suck sometimes and we may lose faith and not feel his hands or at least recognize them, He has us. I love it!

My first haircut on my mission from someone that's not me haha super cool member here

their sweet dog