Dead Year DONE. Happy 2019

Hello everyone! Happy New Year! It's been a fantastic time serving as a missionary for all of 2018!

Well this week, we managed to stay pretty busy but nothing super exciting happened. The week felt extremely short with last pday being on a Wednesday. So not a lot to share haha! On Tuesday, we will get our transfer news so next week I may or may not be in a new area!

I finished the Book of Mormon this week. I'm so grateful for the challenge President Nelson gave us! Im just so grateful for the Book of Mormon and my testimony seems to increase every day. A scripture that stuck out to me particularly was Ether 12:41 "And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever. Amen."
I'm sure many of you took on the challenge President Nelson gave us but I invite you all to" seek this Jesus" in the coming New Year. Set goals for yourselves for how many times you want to read the Book of Mormon. I have no doubt 2019 is going to be a good one.

Try not to party too hard this New Year's without me! Love you all!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission 🇬🇧

Pictures: we got to climb 140 steps up a narrow spiral staircase to the top of a Church of England Cathedral. The man who took us was nice but definitely bashed us so here's a Pic of me getting bashed. Nice views tho!

A December to Remember

What a week, what a month and what an amazing Christmas! This whole month, the mission has been trying to make it a "December to Remember" using #LightTheWorld and doing all we can to progress our friends and serve the people around us. This week Sister McKinnon and I really tried to end the month with a bang. We did so many Family Home Evenings, service projects, and caroling.

🎄Tuesday we had district council in Wigan and did a street display there afterwards.
🎄On Wednesday, we got a a surprise call that we were having interviews with President McReynolds! Those went well even tho it was chaotic getting there.
🎄On Friday/Saturday, we went on exchanges with the Liverpool Sisters. I got to go with Sister Takata from Japan! She's like 4 feet tall and I love her with all my heart. We had such a fun time together. We also worked a lot together as a district and zone doing street displays in Liverpool. 
🎄On Sunday, we had the Special Sunday Service. Church was only one hour long and then we had the Primary do a Nativity Presentation--precious hahah they sang the song "If I were A Shepherd" and Sister McKinnon and I couldn't hold it together and were in tears at the end. Everyone go look it up.
🎄On Christmas Eve we had a district Council and then lunch together and then a street display promoting #LightTheWorld!. After that, we had a Carol Concert. I'm so blessed to have had TWO amazing Carol Concerts. It's just a big presentation the choir puts together and we all sing Christmas carols. It's an English tradition but not every ward in the mission does them but the two I've been at for Christmas do! #blessed
🎄On Christmas Day, we opened our one million presents from the sweet saints of Saint Helen's and then we went to Libby's in the afternoon and a member family, the Brownbills in the evening. It was also wonderful to see my fam on Skype! Crazy to think next time I see them, it will be in person!
🎄Today (Boxing Day) we did some shopping and are headed to the James family for dinner and games!

Also something fun, my mission started a new tradition called the "EMM-athon". As Companionships, we all ran on the the 24th, 25th, and 26th to make sure we stay fit this Christmas season (lol) and we will count up all the miles ran and see if the missionaries in the years to come will beat it!

It was an insane week and I truly believe I'll never forget this Christmas. There's really no place I'd rather be than on a mission in England at Christmas time. Such a wonderful feeling to be a representative of Christ at this special time of year! Transfer calls are next Monday and I'm so nervous because I've been here 3 transfers and I've yet to be in an area longer than that so I'm afraid my times up here... I don't know tho! We'll see!

I love you all! I hope your Christmas was as amazing as mine! Merry Christmas, Happy Boxing Day, and Happy New Year!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission 🇬🇧

An EMM Christmas Part 2

Well this week we were still ill so we were pretty slowed down but we continued to work hard. It's also been upper windy and cold and wet! So great combination huh?!
On Tuesday, we got to do some service in the Town Hall and make Christmas Packages for Care Leavers and their children. We were wrapping loads of presents and jammin to Christmas music so we basically felt like elves.

Wednesday, we had the mission party. I've been looking forward to this since last year's. It was a blast. We played bingo, ate roasted pig and had a variety show. I did manage to make two appearances in the variety show. Both of which were absolute train wrecks (two skits). We ended on a spiritual note hearing the testimonies of the departing missionaries and some remarks from President and Sister McReynolds. It was a really good day!
Saturday we had the Ward Christmas Party. We had food and games and some of the members acted out the nativity. A lady in the ward literally just had a baby Wednesday so we had the perfect Mary and baby Jesus. It was a good night! Libby came with us and it was super fun!

Also, happy news... My friend Josh in Chorley baptized his two little sisters on Saturday! I only saw a picture but I was so excited for them!

Well it being Christmas and all, I read chapter 8 of Jesus the Christ. It talks all about the birth of Jesus Christ. I've had the opportunity to read a lot of Jesus the Christ on my mission and I'm hoping to finish before my times up. The part that stuck out to me was "The trustful and unsophisticated keepers of sheep had not asked for sign or confirmation; their faith was in unison with the heavenly communication; nevertheless the angel had given them what he called a sign, to guide them in their search. They waited not, but went in haste, for in their hearts they believed, yea, more than believed, they knew, and this was the tenor of their resolve: “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.”
May we all have the faith as that of the Shepherds this Christmas as we truly believe in the Son of God and exercise our faith continually in Him!

My next email will be Wednesday the 26th of December (aka Boxing Day!). I love you all dearly and hope you have an amazing Christ-Centered Christmas! I'm looking forward to Skyping my family on the 25th! It truly is the most magical time of year to be a missionary!

Merry Christmas!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission 🇬🇧

When It Rains, It Pours!

So in England it tends to rain... When I got my call to England, I thought it would rain every day of my mission. But it hasn't! It definitely rains a lot but not every day and I've actually been surprised by how much it doesn't rain. However, this week it rained ALL DAY EVERY DAY. So it's been fun.

It's been another good week. The days just seem to fly, not very much happened this week but it still felt like such a quick week. Sister McKinnon and I both got a cold at the same time #companionshipunity. We weren't sick enough to stay in the flat but it definitely slowed us down. Our investigators are all kind of at a stand still to be honest. Just trying to get them to progress!

We had one day this week where 4 of our lessons fell through, it was pouring rain, freezing cold and we were both super ill. Nobody wants to listen to us in general, let alone in the rain so we weren't talking to many people. Just a rough day that sucks in the moment. I read a talk later that day that most of yall have probably read by Elder Holland in Oct 1999 called "An High Priest of Good Things To Come". If the title doesn't sound familiar this quote will. "Don’t give up. Don’t you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead. You keep your chin up. It will be all right in the end. Trust God and believe in good things to come.”. Sometimes I look around me and everyone just looks so sad and it just makes me want to shout this quote from the rooftops. Heavenly Father gives us these little hard moments to stretch us and and help us grow not to stunt our growth and make us miserable! So keep going and know that there really are good things to come.

I hope you're all doing well and getting ready for the Christmas season. We have the Mission Christmas Party on Wednesday. Still can't believe it's that time of year again. So grateful to have TWO Christmases on my mission! I love you all and miss you dearly. Have a good week!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission 🇬🇧

Frog I picked up
Just 2 sick missionaries

2 Birds With One Phone

OK so in England they call girls "birds" ??? Anyways our friend Libby made the joke that we were two birds with one phone and it sounds like "two birds with one stone" so we all laughed for like 20 minutes. My sense of humor is gone yall.

So if you've been reading my emails you'll know about how we've been teaching Libby and the big thing stopping her from baptism is that she feels like her prayers haven't really been answered. We encouraged her to keep a list of little spiritual "coincidences" she's had since she started meeting with us. She called us up on Tuesday night to tell us that she had been pondering and she really feels like God has heard her and that all these little things aren't just coincidences but divine answers from God! She also on her own read the talk, "To the Friends and Investigators of the Church (April 2017)". We didn't even tell her about it, she was just browsing gospel library! She's made so many changes in her life as she's learned the commandments and it's just amazing to watch! We invited her to fast with us on Sunday for her to get more answers/revelation from the Fireside that Sunday night. I think it worked cuz it was one of the best firesides I've been to!

On Tuesday this girl got on the bus and sat behind me and turned around and started talking to her and she sounded more American than me. Turns out she's from Lithuania and she watched a lot if American TV. Anyways her name is Juta (pronounced like "UTAH" ). She's so nice and she met with us the next day and asked so many good questions. She's 20 like us but seems so mature. We're looking forward to our next lesson!

We had a huge miracle on Wednesday. A girl we street contacted into about a month ago, Ny (from Ghana) , called us and left us a message (we were in a lesson). We called her back and texted her twice but she didn't respond. We tried again on Saturday night and she answered! She told us that she's been super busy but that she was having a really hard time when we street contacted into her a month ago. She wasn't going to her Anglican church anymore and she felt like she was going down the wrong path. She quit her job at a pub and was praying that God would help her that very night we met her. We are going to see her Wednesday and we can't wait. She is amazing!

On Friday we had Zone Conference in Liverpool. Definitely a rebuking session but hey that's how we improve right??

I was reading in Alma 26 and verse 3 stuck out to me.
"Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the Lamanites, were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work."
Sometimes I forget that as missionaries, we are literally God's instruments. More often, it seems like all we do is find or run around trying to share he gospel with people that won't listen. It's easy to get discouraged and feel like there's no more prepared people left in England! But occasionally we get to be an answer to someone like Ny's prayer. It's the most incredible, rewarding, amazing feeling in the world. It's such a wonderful pleasure being part of this work!

I love you all, have a great week!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission 🇬🇧

Teaching Libby how to make Mac and cheese
Drenched in the rain

I Am A Child Of God!

Hello everyone! Thanksgiving was fantastic! I've been blessed to have 2 amazing Thanksgivings on my mission. We went to the James family's and they made practically everything my mom normally makes and we all went around and said what we were thankful for. It was super good.

We had Stake Conference on Sunday and it was one of the best I've been to. I got to see the Kenny's and a couple other people my dad knew back in his day. President and Sister McReynolds gave some amazing talks. Libby came along and she said it was her favorite thing she's been to. Lately, she loves coming to church. It's so crazy to see the changes she's made in 2 months time. The power of the gospel is indescribable honestly. The whole theme of our lessons with her this week and stake conference was "I Am A Child of God" which was something she really liked. She finishes the Book of Mormon 21 Day Challenge today! We also read the baptismal interview questions. #subtle
In other news, we are teaching 4 people named Steven at the moment. Not even kidding. It's the most common name in England I'm convinced but yeah good stuff!

We are in Liverpool for pday again as per. We are shopping and playing spoons and it gets pretty rowdy. We have zone conference this week and a Christmas Fireside that we're bring Libby to so it should be a good week!

Just on the subject of  "I Am A Child of God" I just wanted to share a quote from a talk given in April 2018 by Elder Brian K. Taylor
"Coming to know our Father changes everything, especially our hearts, as His gentle Spirit confirms our true identity and great worth in His sight. God walks with us along the covenant path as we seek Him through prayerful pleadings, scriptural searchings, and obedient strivings."
I just know with all my heart that Heavenly Father walks with us. He loves us more than we can comprehend. His love will never waver. I've seen so many people completely foreign to the phrase " I Am A Child of God" experience so much more joy and peace as they come to know their true identity and Father in Heaven.

I love this work and I love you all!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission 🇬🇧

Christmas decor, car selfie, pumpkin pie, and running into the one and only Becki Kenny

Bagpipes @ A Baptism

Another Tuesday pday means.... Another transfer come and gone! I can't believe transfer #10 is over! Hats off to the remainder of you that still read my emails! Ok so,Transfers!! Sister McKinnon and I ARE STAYING! We're pretty pumped, we literally get all the holidays together! Plus who wouldn't wanna spend the Christmas season in the UK's #1 Most Suicidal City???

Well this week was amazing. I can't even express to you all my love for being a missionary. I'm not gonna lie, for a long time, it was really hard for me to find joy in the work but lately, life has just been so good. We went to Liverpool for exchanges. I went with Sister Smith from North Salt Lake City. She actually lived in Springville for a few years! She was trained by my MTC companion, Sister Mills. We had such a good exchange and taught two wonderful lessons together. We also got Gelato cuz why not.🍦🇮🇹

Thursday and Friday were pretty good. We met a girl named Tayla last week and shes Jewish but she had us over and we had a good chat whilst making muffins that ended up exploding (I'll include pics). We also were able to take libby to a baptism in Crosby! There's no doubt that Libby is elect. It was probably the most chaotic baptism I've ever been to. We missed the first 15 minutes, they had to dunk 'em 4 times and someone did a musical number on the bagpipes. So yeah, 10/10.

We still see libby every day. Us three are like best friends and she thinks God answered her prayer by not transferring us so YAY. She's is bit by bit slowly but surely progressing. But I've been so happy to see her change and become happier in the 2 months I've known her.

Well happy Thanksgiving this week. They don't celebrate it here (obvs) but I got us an appointment with one of my fav families and they are making pumpkin pie so it's like I never left home! I'm so grateful for, my family and friends! Especially grateful for this time I get to be serving my mission. I love being a missionary! I'm grateful for this gospel that I get to shout from the rooftops!

Love you all!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission 🇬🇧

Making muffins with an investigator, St Helen's Christmas Lights, got to hold one of 5 2 week old puppies, Gelato with Sister Smith, Liverpool Roman Catholic Cathedral

Lest We Forget

This week was so good. Like INCREDIBLE. Our STLs gave us the challenge this week to talk to at least 1 person on every bus we get on and to have at least 10 good conversations with people per day. Normally yall, I hate numbers! But this was actually such a good experience. On day one of this challenge, the first person I talked to became a new friend and idk just so many miracles came from this. I forgot how much fun it is to talk to people.

On Friday we had interviews with President and his wife which is always so helpful. He gives the best advice. As a mission we're all getting super excited for the upcoming #LightTheWorld campaign. BTW the website is up and running. ALSO, as of this week, my mission no longer uses Facebook, I'm not too bothered to be honest. As great of a tool, we didn't really use it all that much.

On Sunday, we celebrated "Rememberence Sunday". Basically veterans day. We had one hour of church. Libby came and unexpectedly brought her brother Sean! We taught him the restoration and he came to the fireside last week. They loved church. Sean even wanted to have a lesson that same day. We taught him and Libby the plan of Salvation. Sean had some deep and more difficult questions but he was so open to learning more and agreed to finish the Book of Mormon in 2 weeks??! He also said the closing prayer of the lesson and Libby told us later that evening he prayed on his own for the first time in years.

After church, we all went to town hall to honor the veterans. There was a flag ceremony and dozens of different churches represented. It was a neat experience to kind of come together. There's a nice tradition they do here in England. At the end of world war 1, England was pretty destroyed and the only bit of hope was hundreds of bright red poppies in bloom. So this time of year everyone wears a red poppy pin to honor those who served. The phrase "Lest We Forget" is written everywhere as well as another reminder to remember.

While reading the other day, this scripture jumped out at me,
Mosiah 2:41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.
There have been so many times in my life when I've felt that "blessed and happy state" by doing my best to keep the commandments. I also know the other side of the spectrum all too well. There is a clear and distinct contrast between the two and I just know how much blessed and happier we have the ability to feel if we do our best to stay on the covenant path.

Love you all!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission 🇬🇧

Sisters Before Misters

Hello November! Well this week was good. As you all know it was Halloween which as I said last week, doesn't get celebrated too much in this country. But the 30th of October is known as Mischief Night. Basically all of the teenage thugs (British call them "Chavs") come out and cause problems (egging, robbing, damaging property, etc) . Luckily we weren't affected!

Libby is doing well! We get made fun of by her coworkers every time we set foot in McDonald's. But it's fine. She's kinda dating a kid she works with and he's actually a former investigator lol! And he's been kinda bugged that she's spending more time with us than him so she told him "Sisters Before Misters"  and I couldn't have said it better myself. We went to a fireside with her and her brother Sean and they loved it! It was amazing because Josh from Chorley spoke and he did so well and it was so good to see him! It took me back to when we were at a fireside with him months ago in Manchester and he said "I can't wait to share my testimony up there in front of everyone!". He killed it.

So on Saturday we went to a Roman Catholic Mass with our friend Steven. We told him we'd go to his church if he came to ours. He's coming next week. Let me tell yall, it was an experience. I've been to a Muslim and  Church of England church and this one was quite different. Lots of sitting, standing, and  kneeling. It was a good experience for sure but very different from what I'm used to.

Today is Bonfire Night/Guy Fawks Day/ made up holiday celebrating anarchy. Basically someone called Guy Fawks attempted to kill a member of parliament and he failed and the whole country celebrates his failure with fireworks and getting wasted! So missionaries have to be home at 6. Haha not complaining ;)

Well this week I studied the talk by Joy D Jones. She shared this quote that y'all might remember, "If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight. Build anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough. Give the world the best you’ve got anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God … anyway.”

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission 🇬🇧

Pictures are from pday last week. We went to a petting zoo with libby and it was the best £4 I ever spent and I paid an additional £2 to have meerkats crawl on my head.

The Most Haunted Country on Earth

So somebody once told me that England is labeled the 'Most Haunted County On Earth' which I fully agree 100% because this place can get so spooky! Especially at night. At most churches, there's a graveyard to the side of it and we walked by and there was legit fog hovering over the graves and I felt like I was in a movie. But unfortunately, this country hardly celebrates Halloween! I'm pretty sure it's an American holiday anyway right? Like we see kids in costumes and the occasional decorations but nobody really goes trick or treating its so sad.

This week was pretty good. Well we taught Ash on Thursday a lesson around 1Nephi 8 the Iron Rod. We tried to teach as plainly and simply as possible but unfortunately he made it all complicated. That's been the hardest thing with Ash. The gospel isn't complicated but he makes it that way haha so we are just trying to work through that.
We also taught Libby a couple times. We've been doing our best to address all her concerns and answer her questions. On Saturday we were able to take her to the temple. Sister McKinnon and I fasted on the Friday before and prayed and role played so much. The plan was to date her for baptism at the temple. Unfortunately that didn't happen but on a positive note, she wants to keep learning and said she would get baptised if she felt it was all true. So we will press forward and continue teaching her. She came to church, she's reading the scriptures, and praying she's even giving up coffee!
We went finding on Wednesday and I talked to this 15 year old boy named Alen. He was really nice, he's from india originally, he's Roman catholic and he was in a rush so I just gave him a card. We got a text from him the next day asking if we could meet and he brought his friend and we taught the Restoration and a bit of the Plan of Salvation! They were so nice and willing to listen. They knew a lot about their own faith as well (which doesn't often happen!). But hopefully we see them again.

That was pretty much my week. I gave a talk in Sacrament meeting about the Book of Mormon. I've really just come to love feasting on the words of Christ. I honestly never thought that could happen. I've taken the challenge given by President Nelson (and I invite you all to as well) to read the Book of Mormon before the start of 2019! Read it, gain a testimony of it, and use it as a shield. I know that it's true and I love reading and learning from it each and every day!

Love you all! Have a good week!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission 🇬🇧

Pictures are from our Zone Pday last week in Liverpool. We saw two giant cathedrals and went to the Beetles museum. So much fun. Also including pics from the temple trip with libby! Also sat by these cute little girls on the bus and gave them my orange.

Tardiness Never Was Happiness

Hello all, it's getting absolutely stunning here in the UK. Grateful I get two autumns:)

Well we had Zone Conference this week and so we had to leave our flat about 7:30 to get to the conference about 45 minutes before the conference started (which is ideal so we can spiritually prepare), so we left and arrived at the train station only to watch our train pulling away EARLY??? So the next train came an hour later and would still get us there on time but not early so we waited and then once our train came IT BROKE. The electricity went out and the train wouldn't even turn on. We sat there for an hour and I was having a proper freak out staring at my watch. Zone conference literally started in 10 minutes and we were still in St Helen's train station #anxiety. They ended up kicking everyone off the train. We then saw two other missionaries, Elder Prudencio (from the Phillipines) and Elder Murphy (from England) get off the same train which brought us loads of comfort knowing that we weren't the only rubbish missionaries that would be arriving very late to zone conference. We called a member and luckily he was able to get us there and we were only an hour late 😂. Stress level 5000 y'all.

We met up with both Libby and Ash! It's crazy to me that I didn't even know these two people a month ago and now we see them multiple times a week! We took Libby to our ward Halloween party which was slightly cringy but we made the best of it! Also, we are going to the temple with her this week! Also, she even went and bought dresses to wear to church and she will be coming this week! We are so excited! Our other friend Ash is also doing well. We gave him a chapel tour and he's going to come to church this upcoming week hopefully!

We had the Primary Program this week on Sunday and if you're wondering, Yes- British children singing and sharing testimonies is by far the cutest thing ever. The spirit was so strong and they did so well. Actually teared up whilst they sang "A Child's Prayer". It really got me thinking when they sang the phrase "Some say that heaven is far away, but I feel it close around me as I pray." I can testify that the Heavens are in fact open and we can access them through prayer. Some months ago, President Nelson's wife told us to envision the deceased ancestors of the people we teach. Think of how much they long for someone to do their work. I know that there are seen and unseen forces moving this work along.

Love you all have a good week! 🍁🍂

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission 🇬🇧

Picturessss
Zone conference & Sister McKinnon and I found PUMPKIN at the store (super rare in this country) and made cookies and pie!

Week 1 of Transfer 10

Hello everyone, it's been an exciting first week of the transfer! Navigating through this crazy town is next to impossible but luckily my comp Sister McKinnon is super patient. We work so well together and she is such a powerful missionary. We have lots of fun too. The work is just going so great! We picked her up on Wednesday and we've been so busy every day!

As for Libby (girl from McDonald's) we met with her TWICE this week and taught her the Restoration and Plan of Salvation. Her brother came to one of the lessons as well! We are trying to get her to church but she is so open minded about everything and she always does what we invite her to do. She is honesty the best! I can't wait to see what happens with her.

I didn't share this last week but as a mission, we did something called 'Miracle Monday'. We set a goal to find 2 new friends per companionship that day. We spent the entire day finding in the Town Centre and I stopped and talked to Ashley (male) and found out that some months ago he was on a flight to Seattle to live there for a few months. When he landed, they denied him entrance to the country because of an issue with his visa. They sent him home and on that flight, he met a woman from our church who gave him a Book of Mormon and testified of it! What a seed! He admitted to me that he hadn't read the book yet but he'd open it later that day. We met with him later that week and taught him the Plan of Salvation. He loved it and we are seeing him again tomorrow!

Well other than that, and just running around the area aimlessly, not much else happened this week! My companion shared with me a scripture that I just love found in D&C 123:17 "Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed."
Sometimes it's hard to feel like a successful missionary but this scripture promises that if we do our very best that the God will lend His hand. I know this is Lord's work. I know that each of us has a role to play and the Lord deserves our very best!

Sorry if this email was lame! Next week will be better!
Love you all! Have a good week!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission 🇬🇧

Pictures
For pday we got to go to COSTCO aka Disney World to a missionary. Also found a weird statue in St Helens called "the Dream"

Would You Rather Be Shot Or Jabbed???

Another busy week here in St Helen's! Time just seems to go faster and faster. We've ended another transfer and as for news.... I'M STAYING and saying adios to Sister Escalon! My new companion is Sister McKinnon from Park City, Utah! I've wanted to serve with her my WHOLE MISSION. We found each other on Instagram before we came out, she's one transfer ahead of me!
Well anyways, lengthy email ahead!! Lots happened this week, including one of the hardest days of my mission so get ready! :')

This week we had to get flu shots but the british call them "flu jabs" . If yall know anything about me, you probably know I'm terrified of shots. So I told the pharmacist "The word 'jab' just sounds so violent" and he was like "Well would you rather be shot or jabbed? " I thought that was a pretty good point. And then he jabbed me. Kinda fainted afterwards... I'll include pics.

Something heartbreaking happened on Tuesday. After district council in Wigan, we decided to do a street display. We set everything up. I had a grocery bag with some bananas, a water bottle, as well as my notebook and very worn copy of the Book of Mormon that have had my whole mission. I glanced several times to check on my bag but when I looked, it was gone. I immediately started scrambling looking in every direction but it was nowhere to be found. These items were so special to me and in an instant they were gone. I called the city council to see if I could check the cameras and to do so, I had to file a police report (lol you learn how to do loads on a mission!) but sadly, we never found my bag. It's times like these when I just look up at the sky and ask God "WHY ME?". It caused me to think of all the other trials I've had on my mission. All the "why me" moments. Why can't things just be easier? But it's these defining moments that I truly learn and grow the most. Just because these precious sentimental items are now gone, it doesn't mean my testimony is. Im not sure what good thing will come out of this, but perhaps the person who took it needed it more than me. 😓

Also a memeber in our ward invited us to a "Faith Day" at a local high school. Basically us and a lot of other different religions set up displays and stand there and talk to the students about our faiths. There was us, some Jehovas Wittnesses, Muslims, and other Christianity sects. It was a really good turn out and we talked to loads of people. Afterwards there was a Question Panel and the memeber that brought us so kindly volunteered me to sit on the panel and answer questions in front of 100+ 16-18 year olds. We got asked so many crazy questions and I was shaking the whole time but it was super fun and I found a lot of common ground with the other religions sat beside me.
But ya my fabulous companion snapped a pic of me in action so ill include that lol.

Yall remember Libby from Mcdonald's last week?? Well we met her and she's amazing and me and her get along so well. We gave her a Book of Mormon and explained a bit about it and she said it all makes sense and she'd give it a read. We are seeing her this week too!

Saturday and Sunday of course was GENERAL CONFERENCE! And my LAST one as a missionary! I can't believe it. But wow it was much needed for me personally and I'm sure many of you as well. It's hard to talk about just one but I particularly loved Elder Rasbands talk on fear. He said something along the lines of "When we stand with the Lord, we are standing in Holy Places. When we stand in Holy Places, we feel Christ's love and Christ's love is perfect and perfect love casteth out all fear." I just love that promise. We need not fear!
I invite you all to go back and read those notes that I know you all diligently took this past conference and set goals for yourself to better align yourself on the covenant path. This Conference just reaffirmed to me that the Lord truly is hastening His work. How grateful I am to have a prophet to lead us back to our loving Heavenly Father.

Until next week,
Love you all!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission 🇬🇧

Pictures are from pday in Liverpool last week, Flu Jabs, Faith Day & Question Panel

How to Offend an Elderly Brit

This week was super busy and jam packed. So many things happened both good and bad! Transfer calls are next monday so hopefully I stay because I really don't want to pack :')

We had exchanges in Liverpool and I got to work with my old companion Sister Westover. We taught two lessons together and it was just like old times in Manchester YSA. It was also a blast being in Liverpool it's such a unique city! We also had interviews with President and it was as usual super good. President is the best because hes the definition of British humor (super dry lol) and I laugh so hard at him but he's so serious ah that man kills me.

Well something kinda lame happened. An old lady that we are teaching dropped us and it was definitely my fault. She's 74, her name is Gwen and on Saturday we went and taught her the Restoration. Bare in mind that she's been dropped by the missionaries 3 times because she wasn't progressing. So we started with the lesson and her TV was on and so loud and it's already hard enough to understand her scouse accent with her quiet voice and lack of teeth (lol England) so I asked if we could turn the TV off and got up to mute it and sat back down not really thinking anything of it. The lesson went pretty good,  we ended on such a spiritual note and felt good about it. Later that evening she called us and yelled at us on the phone "You don't come over here and turn off my tele, that's so rude, ignorant American, etc". Ya so after that I was actually proper upset about it and felt awful but to be honest she definitely might be crazy and there's a reason she's been dropped by missionaries in the past. Also, there's a very good chance she thought we were Jehovas Witnesses (typical lol).

On to a happier note, we had a miracle in maccys (what they call McDonald's). We planned on teaching our friend Steven on a bench in the town hall (like we normally do) but it started raining (shocker) so our backup plan was to teach him in maccys. So we were teaching him and Sister Escalon was doing most of the talking testifying so boldly and pouring out her heart like she always does and I was staring at one of the McDonald's workers cleaning the tables. She was standing by the bin and I walked up to her to toss some rubbish and saw amongst several tattoos, a tattoo of the state of Texas. I pointed to it and asked her about it and found out her name Is Libby and that she's never been to Texas but she's always wanted to! I told her that's where I was from and we talked a bit about why I'm here in St Helen's! She was so nice but we literally only talked for 30 seconds. As we continued our lesson, I got out a Pamphlet and wrote a little note and our number hoping she'd pick it up. Well about an hour later, we got a text from her and we scheduled to see her again! We've been texting her all weekend! I'll keep yall posted on Libby!

I'm grateful for all the ups and downs on my mission because without them, it'd make for a boring ride. I read a scripture in Jacob 3:1 "But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction."
When you liken that scripture to yourself, it's such a wonderful promise that if we pray daily and exercise faith in him, the Lord has got our backs! He will be there for us in any moment because he never leaves us!

Whoohoo my last General Conference on my mission is THIS WEEK! I invite you all to prepare a question and earnestly seek it by listening to not only what the speakers tell you, but what the SPIRIT tells you! The heavens are open my friends!

Love and pray for you all!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission 🇬🇧

SORRY no pics this week, I'm the worst!

17 Miracles + A Baptism

Well this week was one I will always remember. Josh was baptised! So for my email, I just thought I'd share Josh's story with yall + the unbelievable miracles we experienced in order to get to this baptism. What a week!

Josh's Story
Joshua Collins found a copy of the book of Mormon whilst working part time at a bookshop. He took it home and read bits but didn't think much of it. He knew some about the church because his Dad is a less active member and his grandmother is very active. Josh studied philosophy and had come up with the conclusion that there was no God but religion always interested him. He was approached by two sister missionaries and agreed to meet with them later that week. He was then passed to myself and my companion and we began teaching him the lessons little by little. He kept all the commitments we gave him, he read, prayed, and asked God if everything was true and made so many changes in himself. Since he's been investigating, he's never missed a single hour of church. Josh would hitch a lift to church from a member family and would wear a suit underneath a hoodie and jeans (he didn't want his family to know he was investigating). He would walk an hour and a half to meet us in town for lessons. He attended several of our street displays to help invite others to learn about the restored gospel. After attending the baptism of a friend, Josh told us that he wanted to be baptised. On the 22 of September, in front of his parents, grandparents 4 younger sisters, and so many friends, Josh entered the waters of baptism and made his first covenant with the Lord . Just recently, Josh has told us that he wants to serve a mission and bring others the joy that the gospel brought him. In the span of 3 months, Josh went from an atheist to a member of the Restored Church of Jesus Christ and a future missionary! Josh is another testimony to me that the Lord actually does prepare the hearts of his children.

17 Miracles
To attend a baptism in my mission, you have to bring an investigator (much easier said than done my friends). I pretty much accepted the fact I wasn't going to be able to attend Josh's baptism. It's 45 minutes away, nobody would want to give up a Saturday night, and it was too short notice to organise everything. OR SO I THOUGHT.
We experienced 17 miracles this day (probs more but in reference to the movie title we will just stick with 17)

1. When I left Chorley, a recent convert, Jess offered to give us a lift to Josh's baptism. The offer still stood and she was willing if we paid petrol.
2.  Two days before the Baptism, we invited Anna and her mum and they said yes!
3. They didn't cancel!
4. We got the APs approval for us to leave the zone last minute :')
5. We got there safely and on time. NO TRAFFIC.
6. I was Reunited with the lovely Chorley members and missionaries.
7.We had time to look at the beautiful temple grounds with Anna and her mum.
8. I got to see my BFF Sister Dunlavy.
9. The best part... JOSH WAS BAPTISED!
10. Josh's less active dad and non member family and several friends were there to support him.
11.Josh gave such a powerful testimony.
12. Josh brought a spare pair of undies so he didn't have to "get dunked commando" (his words) . He also publicly thanked his nan (grandmother) from the pulpit for reminding him to do so:')
13. The ceremony was amazing. The spirit was so strong. Anna was so touched that she cried.
14. The Chorley sisters had someone familiar sitting next to them at the baptism. It was Al! A man Sister Hawkins and I tracted into weeks ago and his son! He came to church last week and he's taking the lessons!
15. There were custard donuts.
16. Anna agreed to come to church the next day.
17. The greatest miracle of all, perhaps is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and my sacred opportunity to watch it change the lives of people like Josh. I'm so grateful to have watched such a miraculous conversion take place.

Miracles have not ceased! I invite you all this week to look for those miracles!

There's not a soul on earth that could tell me that this isn't the Lords work:') I'm so grateful to be apart of it. Love you all. Have a good week!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission 🇬🇧

Pictures: Josh's baptism, a cute less actives puppy, me and sister Escalon before a massive storm, also a bat the elders found on the way to district council.