Lookout Liverpool!

Forgot to mention, pday is on Tuesday this week because transfers mess everything up. So for the transfer news.... We got the call yesterday! I'M GOING TO LIVERPOOL. Well sorta... It's in Liverpool stake! My area is called St. Helen's and I've heard wonderful things! I am so gutted my time in Chorley was so short but on to a new chapter! My new companion is Hermana Escalon from MEXICO! 🇲🇽 The only mexican in the mission so I'm pumped. She just got done training so she's been on her mission for just 3 months! I leave Chorley tomorrow 😓.

Well because of the transfer news, it's hard to think of what happened the rest of the week! We made a baptismal calendar for Josh who is dated for the 22nd of September (a week before he heads to Uni). He made a Facebook event for it (lol isn't that our job?). But hes so solid. We've taught most of the lessons. We are just finishing up the commandments with him. We taught him on Friday and my good friend, Chantal (Manchester YSA) was visiting Chorley so she fellowshipped! It was so good to see her. We pretty much spent the day with her so that was so fun because I've missed her so much!

One of my favourite things about England at the moment is the billions of blackberries everywhere! Seriously every street has at least a row of bushes. And everyone's allowed to pick them! We've been making ourself sick eating so many! It's honestly the best!

Well my heart hurts a bit because I just don't feel ready to leave this area. Chorley will forever hold a place in my heart. I have grown and learned so much in these 3 months. But I sustain President McReynolds and I know that St Helen's is where I need to be now! Ugh. Missions are so bitter sweet! This is the scripture I found this week in my studies.

Mosiah 26:18 Yea, blessed is this people who are willing to bear my name; for in my name shall they be called; and they are mine.
20 Thou art my servant; and I covenant with thee that thou shalt have eternal life; and thou shalt serve me and go forth in my name, and shalt gather together my sheep.

I'm so grateful to be called of the lord to gather his sheep. I've been blessed to do that in 3 amazing area and now Im on to my 4th. Its been an emotion 24 hours and I know it's going to be such a hard day leaving tomorrow but my calling doesn't change and my responsibilities are the same. I know without a doubt this is the lords work. The miracles I've seen in the short 12 weeks I've been here are my proof.

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

Pictures probably not in this order....
-pretty rainbow at a pretty park
-Chav pic with josh
-this horrible watch is a Chorley tradition! Every true Chorley missionary is gifted one by a member! Thanks Jack!
-picture with our cute 80 year old investigator, Stella!
-Chantal wearing my badge!
-Chantal pt 2
-I'll sure miss Sister read!

How Bout A Baptism

What an amazing week it's been here in Chorely. It totally slipped my mind that school was back in session. Happy first week of school to you all! I'm sure glad I'm in England spreading the good news of the gospel instead of being stuck in a classroom lolll. 

So Josh has officially been investigating for two months now. We met with him twice this week and really decided to focus our lessons on baptism (subtle right?). The lessons went so well and he turned up at a baptism outside of our zone in Southport on his own to watch a friend of his get baptised. That sealed the deal for him. On Sunday after church, he told Sister Hawkins and I that he wanted to be baptised before he heads to Uni in October. We told him to pray for a date and and he said he's thinking two weeks from now. His best friend in the church and recent convert of 4 months, Jacob is going to baptise him! This was the best news! Everyone pray for Josh cuz Satan's gonna do all he can to ruin this! 

Well it's that time again! Transfer calls are this Sunday! Lol I'm not gonna lie this has been the longest transfer of my mission for a number of reasons and one of the hardest as well. But if my mission has taught me anything, it's seeing the good in every situation. At the end of the day, (or transfer) you can absolutely find little miracles here and there. I'm grateful for all the things I learned in the last 6 weeks! 

For the month of September, Europe is doing a 21 day Book of Mormon challenge! We just got materials and I couldn't be more excited! Similar to #LightTheWorld, there will be a calendar with chapters to read and challenges to complete! I'll send pics of the banner!

Something that really helped me this transfer was this scripture found in Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

I can think of countless times when I feel like I'm doing my best but yet encountering curveball after curveball. It goes to show that no one is except from trials. Even our Saviour Jesus Christ-a perfect being- had to suffer the most of all. I truly believe that as long as we trust in the lord and follow him, we will be able to overcome whatever life throws at us! I'm so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father!

Love you all!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

Pics (probably not in this order) 

Sis Hawkins was straight buzzin about her pizza cone

Hannah Tarr (goodbye for real this time)

Book of Mormon challenge banner

S/o to my old ward Manchester YSA (featured on lds.org)

The Gospel Means Forever Fresh Starts

Well this week was extremely special because our dear friend Cassandra and her husband Gavin were baptised! If you don't remember my first day in Chorley, Cassandra and Gavin were labeled as investigators in our area book so we messaged them and they politely declined us. We later found out from Bishop that they were once members who had removed their records a few years ago. Well a week later, Cassandra invited us over and she told us that they wanted to come back. We, et with them several times and they started coming to church. On Wednesday, they were rebaptised. Sorry no pics included because they wanted it to be private. It was such a testimony to me that the gospel really means forever fresh starts for everyone. Even when we forsake God, he never forsake us. He has never left us and he never will. I'm grateful to have watched these two grow in the gospel!

Josh is still doing good, he was in Wales all week so not much to update but we still messaged every day! 

Miracle this week happened on Tuesday! We met this man called Gordon. He's older, and basically told us how alcohol has ruined his life and he'd lost all hope of ever giving it up. The spirit took over me and I just said, "Gordon, what if I promised you, that God could help you give up alcohol. I've watched this gospel change the lives of so many and I know it can do the same for you." He didn't really belive me am we just went on our way but the next day whilst tracting, we got a call from Gordon and he told us that he really had nothing to lose at this point and wanted to give it a shot.

We did exchanges this week, and I got to go with Sister Poussard from France🇨🇵! We bonded a lot because both our dads served here in England and she lives in the mission my brother in law served in (shout out to Miles). She so great and I learned a lot. We found 3 investigators together. Exchanges bring miracles!

Well that was pretty much my week! I love you all loads! My scripture this week is found in 2 Nephi 22:2 "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation."

I think the sooner we realise we can't do this life alone, the sooner we develop a relationship with God. My mission has helped my relationship with my Heavenly Father grow so much! I invite you all to pray to develop a relationship with God this week! 

Lots of love!

ister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

Pics are from last pday the Elders nearly setting the church on fire & a horse drawn carriage Casually parked outside a wedding! Went to the beach to celebrate my 11 month mark!

How Firm a Foundation

Hello friends and fam! How's everyone enjoying the heat? I hear Texas and Utah are boiling. Well it's been beautiful here. This week was kinda boring but really good!

Josh is still progressing but this week we thought we'd take a step back and teach him more about the Holy Ghost. I feel like he knows it's all true, he's just scared to commit right away but that's ok! He came to church and even fasted for 24 hours! We also had the amazing opportunity to go to another New Member Fireside. With Josh! This one was in Manchester, it felt so great to be back. The spirit in the fireside was unbelieveable! We think it got some wheels turning in Josh's head. He said he can't wait to share his story at a fireside one day.
We also had a lesson with a friend we met tracting (which never happens) called Al. Al is super great and very philosophical like Josh haha so he makes us think deep but we had some really good conversations.

We also had interviews with President which is always super uplifting and edifying. I'm so grateful for my Mission President. He just seems to know exactly what to say!

Something great about Chorley is we have tea appointments every day and when we don't have one, we can go to the England MTC whenever (it's literally next to our chapel)! It's the most convenient thing ever. We went twice this week lol.

President McReynolds shared the scripture Helaman 5:12 with us at the fireside and I saw it in a whole new light.
"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."
We then sang the song "How Firm A Foundation" and the spirit was just electric.

I can testify that if we build our foundation on Christ, we cannot and will not be dragged down. The whirlwinds may come and we might shake a little but we will never fall.

I love this gospel, I love England, and I love you all! Go build your foundation on Christ!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

Pics include the beautiful temple, & my BFF Becki Kenny (her grandpa was baptised by my dad), Also- England's got me obsessed with flowers, #selfie ft Hannah Tarr before she heads to Canada 😓