In Jed's June 6th email to his Mom he shared a few miracles. I would like to share this paragraph here: "We so had a miracle earlier in the week as well! On Monday, our car got locked in the shop (long story), and so we were stranded in town center (which isn't in our area), which was really frustrating for both of us, so we ended up standing on the corner of the street playing our harmonicas (we both have one), until we ended up talking to this Chinese kid, and he happened to live in our area! First miracle! He said that he wanted to know if God was there, and he was keen to try reading the Book of Mormon and praying, so we were able to get his number and set up a return appointment with him for Wednesday. It TOTALLY changed both of our outlooks on the day, and then, one of our awesome, awesome members asked us to come over to theirs for dinner (miracle 2, 3, and 4)! Then, we met with him on Wednesday, and committed him to come to church, and meet with him before, and he came! And we met with him, and extended a date for the 9th of July (miracle 5)! Then, he told us that that wouldn't work because he worked on Saturdays, so he wanted to get baptised on the Sunday, the 10th. Another miracle! He's so, so cool. So that was a miracle. Many of them. One of the many."
In Elder Murri's June 14th email, we found that he has moved from Northampton! In his words, "Hey, sorry that I didn't email yesterday, it was transfers!!
This is actually the weirdest transfers that I've had. Ever, I think. I'll give you the run down:
I felt that I was moving, it was one of those things that you just feel, you know? It was just a little inclination that that gnawed at the back of my mind for a couple weeks before we got the call, and even though I didn't pay much heed to it, it turned out to be right. I'm moving areas. But here's the catch -- I'M GOING BACK TO WATFORD. :) I served there for my first transfer as a zone leader ... now I get to go back there and have another go! I'm really, really sad to move -- this has been the best ward and stake that I've been in -- but the move was good. It was needed. I'm glad that I can get out and start a new thing. It's so refreshing to be able to do that! So I'll be back in Watford tomorrow!
My new companion's name is Elder Mthombeni, he's from South Africa, so he'll be able to teach me Xhosa and Afrikaans and everything. I'm looking forward to it. ". I also served in the same area twice (serving in the North Shore of Oahu two Christmas seasons in a row). It is an awesome experience.
Before he left he was given a proper birthday party ... and it seems that he is not content to just live and serve in that area of the world ... but wants to move there. Not sure how Scotland fits in, but " ... So, the members in our ward gave us the best birthday party in the world. And tons of chocolate, and tons of chilli jam. Also I'm going to buy land in Scotland so that I can be a certified and authenticated Lord. Hip hip cheerio! "
Elder Murri told us that he has found a new perspective of missionary work, gained from listening to an Apostle of Jesus Christ. He says, "I'm not sure if I told you, but this last week we were able to listen to Elder Oaks TWICE. He came to Northampton Stake and then to the mission, and he changed my perception of how missionary work should be, and that's really helped me. D&C 16:6 says that the thing that's the most worth unto us (as missionaries and members) is to declare repentance unto this people. Everything else in missionary work -- baptisms, people going to the temple, converts -- they all come as a result of you teaching repentance. Teach repentance and baptise converts -- that's our charge -- but teaching repentance stands independent from baptising converts. An added result of understanding that concept is that as you focus on teaching repentance, you become more converted. It's an upward spiral. One that can negate even the most perilous downward ones; that's the beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ in action. As you lose yourself in teaching others how to repent, you are healed as a result (Luke 9:23-25). I'm still learning how to do that. It sounds great on paper. It feels even better. It just feels good to know that Heavenly Father doesn't look down His nose at you as you press forward. He's right with you, by your side. On your side. Pressing with you. What a glorious, exciting, enabling feeling!" He continues with a description of his work (prior to being transferred) ... "...The work is going well. I love Alma's description to his son of "miracles". He says in Alma 37:40 that they were wrought by the power of God before the Nephites "day by day". That scripture can be taken literally, I think. We can see miracles every day, we just have to be mindful of where they are.".
We were given this photo with the tagline: This is June's MLC (Mission Leadership Conference)
Lastly ... we received a letter from the Mission Home yesterday that gave us Jed's official release date - Oct 19th. Seems very soon.
In Elder Murri's June 14th email, we found that he has moved from Northampton! In his words, "Hey, sorry that I didn't email yesterday, it was transfers!!
This is actually the weirdest transfers that I've had. Ever, I think. I'll give you the run down:
I felt that I was moving, it was one of those things that you just feel, you know? It was just a little inclination that that gnawed at the back of my mind for a couple weeks before we got the call, and even though I didn't pay much heed to it, it turned out to be right. I'm moving areas. But here's the catch -- I'M GOING BACK TO WATFORD. :) I served there for my first transfer as a zone leader ... now I get to go back there and have another go! I'm really, really sad to move -- this has been the best ward and stake that I've been in -- but the move was good. It was needed. I'm glad that I can get out and start a new thing. It's so refreshing to be able to do that! So I'll be back in Watford tomorrow!
My new companion's name is Elder Mthombeni, he's from South Africa, so he'll be able to teach me Xhosa and Afrikaans and everything. I'm looking forward to it. ". I also served in the same area twice (serving in the North Shore of Oahu two Christmas seasons in a row). It is an awesome experience.
Before he left he was given a proper birthday party ... and it seems that he is not content to just live and serve in that area of the world ... but wants to move there. Not sure how Scotland fits in, but " ... So, the members in our ward gave us the best birthday party in the world. And tons of chocolate, and tons of chilli jam. Also I'm going to buy land in Scotland so that I can be a certified and authenticated Lord. Hip hip cheerio! "
Elder Murri told us that he has found a new perspective of missionary work, gained from listening to an Apostle of Jesus Christ. He says, "I'm not sure if I told you, but this last week we were able to listen to Elder Oaks TWICE. He came to Northampton Stake and then to the mission, and he changed my perception of how missionary work should be, and that's really helped me. D&C 16:6 says that the thing that's the most worth unto us (as missionaries and members) is to declare repentance unto this people. Everything else in missionary work -- baptisms, people going to the temple, converts -- they all come as a result of you teaching repentance. Teach repentance and baptise converts -- that's our charge -- but teaching repentance stands independent from baptising converts. An added result of understanding that concept is that as you focus on teaching repentance, you become more converted. It's an upward spiral. One that can negate even the most perilous downward ones; that's the beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ in action. As you lose yourself in teaching others how to repent, you are healed as a result (Luke 9:23-25). I'm still learning how to do that. It sounds great on paper. It feels even better. It just feels good to know that Heavenly Father doesn't look down His nose at you as you press forward. He's right with you, by your side. On your side. Pressing with you. What a glorious, exciting, enabling feeling!" He continues with a description of his work (prior to being transferred) ... "...The work is going well. I love Alma's description to his son of "miracles". He says in Alma 37:40 that they were wrought by the power of God before the Nephites "day by day". That scripture can be taken literally, I think. We can see miracles every day, we just have to be mindful of where they are.".
We were given this photo with the tagline: This is June's MLC (Mission Leadership Conference)
Lastly ... we received a letter from the Mission Home yesterday that gave us Jed's official release date - Oct 19th. Seems very soon.