Hiya From St. Helen's

Hiya from St Helen's everyone! Week 1 in this blessed area has been amazing. The work here is BOOMING. I didn't know missionary work like this even existed in England!

Here's a couple of things I'm loving about my area:
-People are SO FRIENDLY (well in British standards). Never in my mission have I been somewhere where people are so nice. Like normally I'm used to saying "hiya" or "good morning" and getting a response like "sorry love not interested" or nothing at all but HERE, people talk to ME!!
-ONE WARD, as much as I loved Chorley wards 3 and 4, it's so much easier to just be in one. It was weird not having 6 hours of church!
-"Tara' Love" is a common phrase in my first area (Birkenhead) and I totally forgot about it and they say it all the time here and I just Iove it. It just means Goodbye.
-SO BUSY ALL THE TIME, its like I'm back in Manchester! The field is white and ready to harvest!
-It's a proper city and has quite a few people, also the scouse accent has become a favourite of mine.

My Companion
I absolutely love Sister Escalon. She's the first companion I've had that's younger than me. She's 19, what a baby! She's also teaching me Spanish and it's coming along very well. We are both so similar and I just love her to death. There's a chance she might be crazy tho because day one of our companionship, she comes up to me and says, "Will you cut my hair?" WHAT. So I went at her with our kitchen scissors and cut off a proper 6 inches. If that isn't trust, I don't know what is.

We are working with loads of people including a man who's been investigating since my dad was a missionary here so I'm convinced they crossed paths lol. I am still learning names and figuring everything out so a better update on our people will come later.

On Sunday, I was able to meet the ward. Bishop so graciously volunteered me to start off testimony meeting introducing myself. After church we got to go to the fireside with our friend Stephen! It was in Liverpool just down the road! It was so good and Stephen really loved the atmosphere of the place!

Just to close, I was reading in a talk called "Born of God" - Ezra Taft Benson Oct 1985. This is such a good one and I encourage you all to give it a read. But this quote really stuck out to me: "The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature."

I just love that because I've seen time and time again, Christ's hand in "taking the slums out of people". Including myself. As long as we are willing to humble ourselves and let him change us, we can become true diciples of Him. I'm eternally grateful to experience what Alma called, "a mighty change of heart".

Tara' Loves

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission 🇬🇧

Limited pics this week cuz we were so busy!
Here's me and my comp and the chapel!

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 😓

British Church History Tour

Hey hey!

Well the past week was also amazing! We had a lesson with Josh and turns out, he's already following the Word of Wisdom! Hes also been reading from the Book of Mormon every day! He came to YSA Sports night on Friday and on Saturday he came to a baptism for a girl the elders taught. All that AND, he came to 3 hours of church! He's so good! Still not dated, but we're hoping this week!

So I've got a brilliant excuse for why my email is a day late. Yesterday the north half of the mission got together and went on a church history tour. Some of the sights we saw included:
-Preston Town Centre where the first missionaries arrived and saw a banner which read "Truth Will Prevail" which is our mission motto still this day!
-The flat Gordon B Hinckley received his father's famous letter instructing him to "forget himself and go to work".
-The flat the first missionaries lived in and were attacked by evil spirits on the morning of the baptism of the first British saints.
-The River Ribble where the first baptisms of the British saints were held.
-The oak tree where Elder Holland pondered at during his mission, "Holland Oak".

There were some more but thats all I can recall. I cannot even begin to describe the incredible spirit that was with us this day. This month marks 181 years since the first British saints were baptised. Since then, 7 prophets and numerous apostles have shared the gospel in this beautiful country. I feel blessed every day to walk in the footsteps of so many amazing missionaries (that includes you, Dad!).

I've also been so happy to hear Sister AnnaClaire Smith and Hermana Aubrey Conrad's farewell talks and hearing the stories of their relatives leaving their lives in England to emigrate to America for the sake of the Church. In this tour, we saw a tiny glimpse of what those early saints went through.  I am so grateful to be serving somewhere with so much history.  I just can't put into words how much I love my mission!

I know that this is the lords work. A scripture I loved this week was found in section 112 of the D&C (This revelation was received on the day Elders Heber C. Kimball and Orson Hyde first preached the gospel in England)
Verse 28 "But purify your hearts before me; and then go ye into all the world, and preach my gospel unto every creature who has not received it;"

Every second I'm here, I feel so much that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. I love this gospel and I love this chance I have to share it in a country so close to my heart.

Love you all!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

District Pics in the beautiful land of Downham, Half the mission in a chapel, cute sister Dunlavy (beastie from the MTC). I love my mission family!

Make England Green Again!

Hello everyone! It's been a doozy week but we made it through! We finally got some rain! However, I think the gloomy weather put all the Brits in a bad mood unfortunately haha. But we definetly need the rain. The green grass is back! It was starting to feel like I was back in west Texas. Also I heard Trump was in England last week so that's where the title of my email came from (clever I know).

We are buzzin about our investigator Josh. He's 17 and he is so ready! He just gets it. He comes to church and agrees with everything and has so many intelligent comments and views. He gets along so well with the ysa members and everyone already treats him like family. We taught him the Gospel of Jesus Christ on Friday and invited him to be baptised. He's not committed to a date but he is sincerely praying to know what date the Lord wants him to get baptised. He was telling us that he wants to be baptised in the River Ribble which is where the first saints of Great Britain were baptised (just about 10 minutes away from me). So keep him in yalls prayers!

Sunday was kinda a struggle. The member scheduled to take Josh to church flaked and we weren't aware until second hour because we have Relief Society first (because 4 wards in 1 chapel). Other than that, my companion and I were both asked to speak in one of the wards and I spoke on how personal prayer can give us strength.

This week was really hard, finding wise. Nobody seemed to want listen to us. I talked to this man at a street display for about 30 minutes and he just bashed me which normally just rolls off my shoulders but for some reason, it really put me in a sad mood the rest of the day. He just kept insisting that faith was all rubbish and not logical and the feelings that I get from the spirit can all be explained by science. He was super pleased with the fact that Europe is becoming extremely atheist he just wouldn't let me get a word in. The longer I've been on a mission, the more I've come to appreciate the gospel and I just wish so badly people would listen to us. A scripture I found in my study this week in 1 Nephi 22: (the whole chapter is a 10/10 go read it!)
11 Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to make bare his arm in the eyes of all the nations, in bringing about his covenants and his gospel unto those who are of the house of Israel.
12 Wherefore, he will bring them again out of captivity, and they shall be gathered together to the lands of their inheritance; and they shall be brought out of obscurity and out of darkness; and they shall know that the Lord is their Saviour and their Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel.

We live in a dark and obscure time. I'm so grateful for this promise that one day, everyone across the world will come to know Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ, as I have. I'm grateful to be able to share my testimony with people here in England even when they're too stubborn to listen ;) I know that they're not rejecting me, they're rejecting who I represented and He already paid the price for that rejection.

I love my Saviour and I love you all! Happy Pioneer Day tomorrow to all my Utah friends!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

My birthday pictures took precedence over last week's photos so these are like two weeks old sorry.

This Nineteenth Year Did Pass Away (3 Nephi 4:15)

Hello everyone! This week was so crazy I don't even know where to begin! Well to start off, thanks for all the birthday wishes! I thought it was super funny when I read that scripture in 3 Nephi 4 #relatable. As gutted as I am not to be a teenager anymore, I'm grateful that I was able to celebrate it here in what has become my second home. I always worried what a birthday on the mission would be like, but in all honesty, there's really no other way I would've liked to spend it. My birthday fell on the Sabbath day so we did our usual 9-5 church routine and I got loads of sweets and birthday wishes. The Zone Leaders even surprised me with pancakes at church and put candles on them lol. We celebrated after church with some YSA Recent Converts whom I have come to love, Emma, Georgina, and Jess. They made me a gorgeous cake and we had really good pizza. What could've made this better!! 

TRANSFER NEWS! We got transfer calls Monday morning and Sister Hawkins and I are both staying in Chorley! Which is good because we have such work to do!

Josh came to church Sunday! He is absolutely amazing. We found out his Nan (Grandma) and Dad are actually members! Anyways on Friday, we taught him the Plan of Salvation on the temple grounds and explained to him the purpose of temples. He is really open minded and comes to all our activities. He loves church! We are hoping to put him on date this week. He's more than ready!
 
Some funny things that happened this week:
-ENGLAND MADE IT TO THE SEMIS! We weren't allowed to be out of the flat past 6pm on Wednesday because the England Croatia game. But the afternoon before the game we went into a pub to use their bathroom and then started low key teaching the first lesson to people at the pub. Unfortunately we lost:(
-Many British people are really scared of number 13 so on most streets there no #13. You can imagine how serious people take Friday the13th.
-On Friday the 13th, I locked the keys in the flat and a senior office missionary had to drive up our spare key from the mission office! Oops!

D&C 31:3 "Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come; and your tongue shall be loosed, and you shall declare glad tidings of great joy unto this generation."
I'm so happy to be doing the Lord's work. 10 months has flown by out here and I can't even begin to tell yall how much I love it. It makes me so excited to see friends and relatives getting their mission calls! I know this is the Lords work!

Love you all! Thanks for all the birthday wishes!!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

Birthday Celebration! Pancakes provided by the Zone Leaders, Elder Adams and Casadibari, a gorgeous cake from Emma, Georgina, and Jess, (Chorley YSA memebers) , and a beautiful drawing of the Chorley Temple done by my sweet companion!

Happy Birthday to America, the Original "Brextremists"

So apparently the only thing the brits celebrate in regards to the 4th of July is the fact that they got rid of us 'Arrogant Americans' ! I've never felt so loved!! This week went pretty well. The heat wave is still happening. Yall it's only rained ONE TIME in the past 2 months. I feel like I'm in Midland Texas. I really miss the rain. Most the British people are starting to hate it as well.

Well we are nearing the end of another transfer. I really hope to stay in Chorley! We get calls next Monday. By the way my pday will be Tuesday next week so yall get an extra day to send me a heartfelt Happy Birthday Email!!

This week we had Bishop meet with Cassandra and her husband Gavin! They both want to be rebaptised soon and Bishop says they're ready! Other than that, not much to tell. We have a lot of investigators. We just can't quite get them to progress.

We had an AMAZING New Member Fireside yesterday and Chorley hosted it! This is a night when members and missionaries throughout the mission get together and Recent Converts prepare to share their conversion story. We are only allowed to go if we bring an investigator. We had THREE! I got to see some members from my last two areas! And of course all the missionaries. It was great and our investigators loved it!

This week I testify that the Holy Ghost speaks to us. On Thursday whilst walking in a park, I felt an extreme prompting to run up this hill and talk to a man. It was almost like my body listened to the holy ghost before my heart and mind did. The man probably thought I was a loon but sure enough I ran up this hill panting like a dog and had an amazing conversation him. His name is Gareth and he was so nice and wants to meet with us again and come to church this week. I could tell in his eyes that he was looking for something!
I know that each of us are given the opportunity to act on a prompting more than we think. May we all be in tune with the spirit and act on those promptings the second we get them! My challenge to you all this week is to pray to be prompted! And when you're prompted... Act on it!

Love you all, happy fourth, also... ENGLAND'S IN THE SEMI'S! LET'S GOOOO!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

Super proud of this pic

Oh Lord It's A Fire

Hey everyone! This week was good! It's getting so so hot right now. Since I've been here, the winter was unusually freezing and the summer has been unusually HOT. So I guess I'm just super lucky. Also I totally made fun of British people for complaining about the heat. But I've since repented and learned that a dry Texas or Utah heat is 10 times more bearable than a muggy humid England heat. Anything close to 80 degrees feels like death! Also something kinda scary is the amount of fires we've had the past week! It's insane. We haven't had a proper rain in a month! This isn't the England I imagined!

Well Cassandra, our friend who had her records removed years ago is getting baptised! We don't know when because the bishop wants to meet with her and evaluate but probably this month! I'm excited for her. We had a great lesson with her and shes so ready. Her and her husband came to church on Sunday! Well other than that, our lesson we were meant to have with Josh got cancelled but we hope to meet with him this week!

Little update on Pat, for those who remember, Pat is a recent convert who I taught in my first area. She recently has been diagnosed with brain cancer and the doctors gave her 6 months to live. As upsetting and as hard as it is, I take comfort in the fact that God has a plan. I know her faith will get her through the remainder of her mortal life. I love that crazy lady and I feel so blessed to have gotten to know her so well. Keep her in your prayers.

To close, I just want to share quote from our investigator Cassandra that I loved, "If you look in the past you get depressed. Look in the future, you get stressed. But if you look where you are right now, guess what... **cue British accent** It's just lovely!" I love that. So often I find myself dwelling on the past or fearing the future but it's rare for me to be happy in the now. My challenge to you all and to myself this week is to find happiness wherever you are at this very moment right now!

Love you all!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

Pics are from our Pday hiking the Darwin Watchtower and the chorley temple surrounded by the burning hill from behind.

There is a God- England's in the Quarters!

Hello all! It's been another great week in Chorley. Lots of finding, lots of miracles, and as always-lots of tea appointments. England is also doing better than expected in the World Cup which makes for some happy (and very drunk) Brits. 

This week we had Zone Conferences so Chorley and Ashton Zones got together with President and had a good day of learning how to help people make and keep commitments. I saw like my entire MTC group and it was good to be reunited with all them.

This week we had a miracle! On my first day in Chorley, we texted a woman whom we thought was less active but later find out that she had her records removed from the Church 8 years ago. Her name is Cassandra and she politely told us she was no longer a member and didn't want a visit from missionaries. Well on Thursday morning, 3 weeks later, she texted us asking if we could come over! We went over that afternoon and heard her whole life story and she expressed to us her desire to return. We are going back this week. She's amazing!

Another miracle that happened was on Sunday! The other Chorley Sisters gave us a referral of a kid named Josh. We messaged him and invited him to stake conference Sunday and sorted out a lift for him. It was a miracle he even made it. The member giving him a lift waited like 20 minutes for him and drove away but felt prompted to go back so he did and found him! It was super chaotic but luckily he made it to church! And he was even wearing a shirt and tie! He loved the meeting and we are teaching him the restoration this week! 

Even though we've been doing loads of finding and not a lot of teaching, I know the lord will bless our efforts soon enough. I've been on my mission long enough to plant MANY seeds and also to see the blessings of harvesting them. I just recently found out that a man I talked to on Oxford Rd (back in the days I was in Manchester YSA) is dated for baptism. I never thought a 10 minute conversation would lead to a miracle like that. I invite you all to plant a seed this week. 
D&C 6:33 Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward.

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

Pics

Hiking waterfalls/nearly dying
Selfie in the abandoned mine
Waterfall pic
#Views Can you spot the temple?? 
Ashton and Chorley Zone (I'm seated front row 2nd on far right)
Another Zone Conference Pic with the cute Sisters

Hay Fever and HALF WAY FOLKS

Nine months down and nine to go! Hello everyone and Happy Father's Day to my old man! This week went pretty great! I hit my halfway mark on Wednesday but unfortunately spent some of it in the flat with hay fever (allergies) and oh my heck it killed me! But I can't believe I'm halfway through such an incredible journey.

So on Monday after pday, we went right into exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders which couldn't have come at a better time! I needed lots of tips on working in this area and working well with my companion. I got to go with Sister Pogisho (from Namibia) which was fantastic because I love her so much and she's dying (going home) this transfer. At the STLs flat I slept on the WORST mattress of my life and legit got 2 hours of sleep and felt completely wrecked with allergies the entire next day. I hit the sack at 9pm that night and woke up (on my half way mark) still feeling bad so I stayed in the flat for a couple of hours. But I absolutely hate being in the flat so we went out and worked. It made me think of when Gordon B Hinckley was serving his mission in Preston (which I live like 10 minutes away from btw) and he too was struggling with allergies and contemplating going home because he felt like he was wasting everyone's time and money. His father then wrote him the famous letter and instructed him to "Forget himself and go to work". I love the scripture in Mark 8:35 "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it". Now it's a lot easier said than done but lately I've really seen the blessings of losing myself in this amazing work.

I had my first regular Sunday and it was great! Got to introduce/bear my testimony twice to my two wards. Coming on a mission destroys any fear of public speaking my friends. We had church from 9 to 5 and I was exhausted afterwards.

Today we are going on a hike with the elders and one of the bishops and I'm so pumped to see all the rolling hills of beautiful Chorley!

Love you all, have a great week!


Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission


Last pday at the park feeding ducks and swans. Fun fact: Every swan in the UK is owned by the Queen!
Random mansion
What I missed out on - England MTC
Note card creds to @AnnaClaireSmith
The prettiest temple

Full Time Missionary, Part Time Temple Tour Guide

Hello everyone! My first week in my new area was amazing! Mom you'll be happy to know that I went from the most dangerous part of my mission to the safest! Nothing happens in Chorley! Also our chapel is right next to the Chorley Temple so good vibes all around. I absolutely LOVE this cute town! Any of you Gilmore girls fans out there, I feel like I'm in Stars Hallow. It's cute and quirky and exactly what you picture England to be like. Not gonna lie, a huge chunk of my heart is still in Manchester but it's kind of nice to have a break from the busy city. Also, I've had more Tea (dinner) appointments in the 6 days I've been in Chorley than I had in my 4 months in YSA. Pray yo girl doesn't get fat. My companion Sister Hawkins is a sweetheart! We get on great.The work is thriving here and I'm excited to be apart of it! We actually do a lot of temple grounds tours! So basically I'm a temple Square missionary! Lol jokes.

Tuesday was a hard day. Too many tearfilled goodbyes. I was mostly sad to leave Chuyun, Chantal (recent Converts) , and the senior missionary couple from Texas, the Quinns. I know it's not goodbye forever. The Quinns literally called me two days after I left lol. And Chantal and Chuyun message me all the time. But I got so close to them and I just hated saying goodbye! You get so used to the people you're around and then you get ripped apart from them. I'm pretty sure I cried more saying goodbye to them than when I said goodbye to everyone Springville! Missions are the worst! But also the best because I know I wouldn't have met these amazing people if I hadn't come on a mission!

The wards here are fantastic. I got to meet loads of members this week and On Sunday, we celebrated the 20 year anniversary of the Chorley Temple being dedicated so all 4 Chorley wards met together and it was amazing!

I'm hitting my half way mark on Wednesday. Let that sink in everyone!

Roman's 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;
I'm grateful to know the true gospel of Jesus christ and even more grateful for the privilege I have to share that message with everyone around me! I've been reading in the new testament in Mark and one of my favourite sentences popped up "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief". It makes me think of that Elder Holland talk when he talked about a young man saying "I don't know the church is true, but I believe it."
I can testify that belief is the first step to conversion and as we continue believing and having faith, our belief and our faith will become stronger!

Have a good week everyone!


Love,
Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

I'll send more pics next week but here's our adorable clock tower that rings every 15 minutes! Also knocking on a catholic church :)