Concert Crashers

Hello everyone! This week was great! We did lots of finding and not a lot of teaching but exams will be over soon and I'm pumped! Also, we already have transfer calls this coming Saturday/Sunday. I can't believe it. Everyone pray I stay in YSA!

On Tuesday we had the wonderful opportunity to go to a concert! There's a band called the Nashville Tribute that was visiting England because one of the band members served their mission here. So they offered us and our investigators a free concert. Only 3 zones in the mission were able to attend and I felt super lucky to get to go. It was really good and really spiritual. We took Diego and he loved it and at the end, President McReynolds came over and roasted him for still not being baptised. Oh! One of the band member's wives was actually a Springville Red Devil so of course we took a pic. #RDP

Also Ed Sheeran performed at Man United Stadium 10 min away from my flat but unfortunately we weren't able to crash that concert :(

Update on Paul with the lucky number "444" yall may remember, I mentioned him in my last email. He ran into the elders! He asked them "Hey do you two know a 'Loren'?" (lol we're on that first name basis thanks to Facebook) but he read page 444 in the book of Mormon and loved it and wants to meet with us!
We had someone unexpectedly come to church. Mauricio, a man from Mexico. We met him on the street and invited him to church last week and he came last week and yesterday! And he's started reading in the book of mormon. We set up a time to meet him this week.
We've spent the past few weeks doing loads of finding and it's starting to pay off! We have a couple people that are really interested and we will meet with them this week.

On a less happy note, Friday, we received a call from the elders serving in my previous area. They informed me that my recent convert, Pat is in the hospital with a brain tumor and undergoing a 7-hour surgery. It's been difficult to stay in touch with Pat. She doesn't have Facebook or even email. But the members have told me that she hasn't missed a Sunday and they are giving her lots of love and support. We got an update Sunday and she's doing well and recovering in a hospital in Liverpool.

That was my week:) love you all!


Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

Pics:
1- Bridge Pic
2- Nashville Tribute band lighting the cultural hall on fire
3-Red Devil Pride lol #Classof2006 #Classof2017

Two Missionaries Walk into a Pub........+ A Royal Wedding

What a week! Zone conference, some crazy stories and the royal wedding! In case any of yall were wondering, unfortunately nobody in Manchester cares about the royal wedding at all. I was really disappointed. Also this week marks 1 year since the Manchester bombing at the Ariana Grande Concert. Needless to say it was a crazy week.

Let me first explain the title of this email. So last Monday night, we were out finding in Piccadilly. As we walked, a man stopped us telling us he was a member! He was smoking a cigarette so we were a bit confused but but then he told us a bit of his story. Then he says, "I want to speak to you both some more. Can I buy you an orange juice or something?" so we thought that was innocent and that we'd go to like a McDonald's but NOPE. He led us into a straight up Pub. And there were so many people going nuts because of a football game on TV. He ordered us orange juice and then ordered himself a pint of beer! Not kidding! Well we talk to him more and found out he was baptised in France when he was 20. He got married in the temple and had 3 kids but lost it all because of drugs and alcohol. It was really sad. He was definitely drunk the entire time. It was one if the weirdest experiences on my mission so I had to take a photo. So yeah, good start to the week!

Tuesday we had Zone Conference and it was as usual really uplifting and edifying! Lots of trainings on finding and teaching. I had another embarrassing mission moment when I stood up to leave zone conference, the brand new smart phone on my lap fell to the floor. Zone leaders, Tech Elders, and several missionaries witnessed this and I got sooooo much crap for it. Lol the phone is fine tho. It only fell like a foot. On carpet. All is well.

We spent most of the week finding on good Ole Oxford road. It's crazy to think that 1/4 of my mission has been spent on one street! I love it tho! I started talking to this man named Paul. Paul unfortunately lives in Leeds but we had an amazing 30 min conversation about how there's no such thing as coincidence and God is in the details. He thinks the world has lost sight of what's really important. He said he has a luck number "444" and whilst we talked, he pointed out that a car drove by with the license plate "444". OK I know this sounds kinda crazy but he said he had a Book of Mormon at home and I invited him to open it and read page 444 and he said he would when he returned home! Now I had no idea what's on page 444 of the book of Mormon but the spirit told me to say it. As soon as he left I turned to page 444 in the book of Mormon and read for myself. It was 3 Nephi 18 and 19 when Christ ministers to the people and the disciples and teaches them to take the Sacrament and to always remember Him and then He ascends into heaven. It actually really fit with what we were talking about. I have no idea if I'll ever see Paul again but it was a really good experience that I'll never forget.

Well I hope you're all doing well! Have a good week! Email me! :)

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

1-Local underground pub called 'the Temple'. nice.
2-Me and my companion and the less active in the pub.
3-Zone Conference

Stealing Investigators + Smartphones + Happy Mother's Day

Hey yall! This week was really good! We were super busy so it totally flew by.

So like 2 months ago, I stopped a man named Matthew from Mauritius (lil country next to Madagascar). He is a Christian and was super nice and said he'd come to our church. He showed up to his lesson (which never happens) and then proceeded to tell us that he's actually been taught the first two lessons! He met with the Elders here in March and then went on Easter break and totally forgot about them and then coincidentally ran into me on the street days after! Isn't it great when God just places people in our path? Haha sorry elders... We taught him again on Friday the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it went really well and he wants to continue to learn.

We went on exchanges with our Sister Training Leaders and I went with Sister Liu from China. She's great and we found 3 investigators in an hour which was such a blessing. Sister Liu has been in YSA for 9 transfers so she knows her stuff. I learned lots!

THE EMM GOT SMARTPHONES! Ok, they've been saying we were getting smart phones for months but President McReynolds didn't think we were spiritually prepared enough til now haha! I was starting to think we would never get them! Only my zone has them right now and the rest of the zones will get them in a couple weeks #suckers. I couldn't care less about using internet or Facebook, I'm just sick of using T9 to text people. Surprisingly the phones are super posh. Galaxy A5, not bad.

Well on Thursday, we got to go to Institute because we had an investigator with us and it was so good. We talked about Moroni and the hard life he lived. He really went though a lot. He wandered by himself for decades trying to stay alive.  He watched all his friends get killed. If there was anyone that had the right to feel sorry for himself, it was him. But he still had hope and determination to write down his father, Mormon's record and his own. Before his famous promise to us, he instructs us to REMEMBER how merciful our lord is. How can HE of all people be saying that? His life has been so hard, yet he still has so much faith. My challenge to you (and to myself) is to have hope and stay positive even when things get hard!

Well I love yall! It was good to FaceTime the fam on Mother's Day. They haven't changed at all haha. As you can tell in the picture, they kept messing with the filters. Miss them every day! Have a good week everyone!

Xx

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

Pictures:
1 New phone who dis
2 Casually blending in with a bush
3 Mi Companga
4 Mother's Day ft fam

The Gospel Has the Power to Heal

We got transfer calls and....I'M STAYING IN YSA! So happy about that! Looking forward to transfer number 3 in the best area of the mission!

We had a Chinese New Member Fireside and it was a lot of work but a lot of fun! We spent the whole week preparing for it doing street displays and inviting everyone! Also, our mission as a whole had 19 people baptised this week. I know it's not all about numbers but this never happens in the EMM!

OK, When I got called to England a year ago, I had no idea I would be teaching Chinese people. I have come to love the Chinese so much. They were raised in an atheist country and when they feel the Spirit, they want it so badly. In light of her baptism on Thursday, I want to share Chuyun's story with y'all.

Chuyun was born and raised in China. She is an only child and has played piano since she was 6 years old. She is extremely gifted, very smart and so sensitive to the spirit. She is studying at the Royal College of music.  She met missionaries (specifically-my trainer Sister Menlove) a year ago and wasn't interested. In February, she called us and told me on the phone that she was scared and looking for a place of refuge. She had been struggling with some mental health issues and started coming and just talking to us because it was the only place she felt safe. She was having hallucinations and hearing voices and was so afraid. It broke my heart how she was struggling so much. She finally got diagnosed with psychosis and was given medicine which helped her so much but it made her hands shake and she couldn’t move them properly. She couldn't play piano for school and was going to have to go home back to China. I asked if she wanted a blessing and Elder Quinn gave her one. I watched her whole body relax and almost transform during that blessing. Two days later, she told us she wanted to be baptised. Her hands are now functioning and she has stabilized on her medicine. She was baptised and confirmed on Thursday April 26. She performed a musical number on the piano. I was humbled she asked me to speak at her baptism about the Holy Ghost. On Sunday, she spoke and did another musical number in the Chinese New Member Fireside in front of loads of people.

It's been an absolute privilege watching the Gospel of Jesus Christ change this incredible young woman. She is no longer paranoid or afraid. Her anxiety is gone. Her happiness has increased and her outlook on life is so much better. That's what having the knowledge of a loving Heavenly Father and a Saviour does for someone.

Oh sweet the joy this sentences gives, "I know that my Redeemer lives!"
I love my Heavenly Father and my Saviour. I love England. I love this gospel. I love this work.
"For me, [the gospel] is all about love." - Elder Massimo DeFeo

.. & I love yall lots! Have a good week!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

Pictures:
1-Quote of the day, "I'm so white, the camera can't even focus on me" - Hannah Tarr #same
2-Sister Westover on Skype for Chuyun's Baptism
3-Chuyun's baptism
4- Rip Manchester Zone (like half of us got transferred)
5- In England there's kebab shops everywhere. Kebabs are kinda like sandwiches so we got them as a district. I've been Kebaptised.

Sunburned in England

OK from here on out in my emails, when I spell things slightly different (honour, baptise, favourite, etc) it's because my tablet auto corrects to 'England English' rather than American and I can't be bothered to fix it. Sorry not sorry. Also, it's been a whole year since I opened my mission call. It's so crazy this time last year, I was wondering about where I'd be for the next 18 months and here I am a year later, serving in the heart of my dream mission!

There was sunshine in our souls this week. It was beautiful outside. It was like 70 degrees so basically a total heatwave. We were out finding and I didn't think to wear sunscreen and I came home and looked in the mirror and got fried. My body was not prepared for that level of sun at all. Also I'm actually pretty grateful I'm not serving somewhere hot because  I think I would die.

We've finished all the lessons with chuyun! She passed her Baptismal Interview and is getting baptised THIS WEEK on Thursday. Also a girl found by the other sisters, named Shantel (from London) is getting baptised the same day so #DoubleBaptism. Everyone pray that Satan doesn't screw this up!!:')

Manchester Stake Conference was Sunday and it was so good. President McReynolds and his wife spoke, as well as the Stake President and Europe Area Seventy, Elder Johnson. We talked a lot about revelation and also how we can be better ministers.
The scripture Mosiah 23:18 was brought up in stake conference and I want to share it with yall.
"Therefore they did watch over their people, and did nourish them with things pertaining to righteousness."

I invite yall this week to pray for someone that you can help! I know the lord will answer you and you and the person you help will be blessed!

Have a good week everyone!

Pictures include us drinking hot chocolate with Chuyun (we're trying to get her to substitute tea--she hated it)
& me and my companion doing weekly planning on our balcony cuz the sun was shining!!

The Heavens are Open Folks

Hey hey! Well as some of you know, President Nelson and Elder Holland started the world tour in the greatest place in the world- the UK! I was totally gutted he didn't come to Manchester. After all, we are the 'cradle of the Restoration' (*cough cough* first overseas mission EVER!), but we watched it from our chapel and he gave us a shout out so that was fun. Elder Holland was emotional the whole time because of the memories he made and the person he became when he served in England as a young missionary in 1960. The talks were amazing. They went along with the conference theme of revelation. The heavens are open folks!

Chuyun is still progressing. We taught her tithing, fasting, and temples this week and she dumped her boyfriend so we were totally thrilled! Her baptismal interview is later today and then she's still golden for the 26th! We had 3 investigators at church this week so that was a huge blessing but it can sometimes be overwhelming when you and your companion are outnumbered. But Chuyun, Yohei, and Diego really enjoyed church! 

Well other than that, I went on exchanges with my Sister Training Leader, Sister Mueller. She's from Pocatello, Idaho and we get along super well, she's so fun.

During the week, I heard a lot of talk about revelation and its been on my mind a lot. When I think about it, personal revelation has guided my life thus far. It's led my family to move to Utah, it's led me to go on a mission, it's confirmed to me personally that the book of Mormon is true and that Joseph smith restored this gospel. But it doesn't stop there. We can receive personal revelation at any point in our lives on any matter. Sometimes the answers don't come right away, but God's promised us that they do come. In the UK broadcast, President Nelson's wife shared that her husband keeps a yellow pad of paper next to his bed and writes down any revelation he receives every night. Ahhhh can you imagine? I've taken the challenge to do the same thing. Say a prayer with a pen and paper in hand, ask a question, listen, and take notes! I invite you all to give this a try!

Alma 26:22 "Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance."

Well I love you all. Go get some revelation! Have a good week!!!

Pics 1-Saw familiar bumper sticker on this car parked outside our flat.

2&3- Me slipping in the rain and landing flat on my bum. Gotta love England! 

4-BFF Chuyun 

   

Sister Gilland 

England Manchester Mission

The Best Fellowshipper is the Mission President

Hello everyone! Its starting to warm up (kinda) over here! England's weird in that, the morning is warm and then it gets colder in the afternoon. I don't understand it but I am just awaiting the first day of my mission that I don't have to wear a coat.

Well we had Zone Conference Tuesday and it was really good. We learned about improving our teaching skills and asking inspired questions through the power if the spirit. It's amazing in a lesson when you genuinely teach by the spirit. Right after Zone Conference, President McReynolds stayed after to hold interviews and I asked him previously if he would come teach Diego with us (fellowship) . For those of you who don't remember good ole Diego,  he's the lad who has been dated for baptism 3 times and canceled his most recent baptism two days before. I still love him and I'm still determined to get him baptized. Anyways after sitting in a lesson with President, I'm pretty sure he could convert the Pope. It was so amazing and the spirit was so incredibly strong. Though Diego still hasn't changed his mind (yet) I know his heart was softened that day.

Other than that, Chuyun is continuing to progress. We taught her some of the commandments and she was already following them so that was a huge blessing. Still dated for April 26! All our other investigators are still out of town, Easter break will be the death of me.

Something super fun was our electricity went out for two days! Our flat's electric heating, stove, washing machine, refrigerator, water heater, lights were all gone. It was cold and dark. Practically outer darkness. I can cross off taking a freezing shower in pitch black off the missionary bucket list. Lol it's fine! We got it sorted in 2 days so all is well. My heart goes out to all you missionaries serving in places that don't have electricity.

Sunday was interesting because the entire YSA was at a YSA Convention including the bishopric. So our Sacrament meeting consisted of 10 missionaries, 3 members who did not attend the Convention, and 4 investigators. Lol it was pretty funny. Two elders conducted and we carried on with a testimony meeting and the spirit was still just as strong. Our investigators Chuyun and Diego actually really enjoyed it.

Well I've been reading in the old testament lately and a verse stuck out to me in Psalms 34: 8 "O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him."
I really love that. I know it can be hard for many of us to put our trust in others. It's hard to put our trust into something/someone we don't know a lot about. My invitation to you all is to heed the counsel of Elder Brian K Taylor in his conference talk and to come to know God by studying the word of God-the scriptures. I know that as I've done this on my mission, I've learned so much about Him and His plan for me.

Love yall lots!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

Here's a Zone Conference Pic. Manchester and Manchester South Zones:)

Today, Tomorrow, and Forever

Hello everyone! This week was so so busy. Even though it's Easter break and Oxford Rd was totally dead, we went finding in Piccadilly Gardens and all I can says is WOW. Lots of interesting folks.

On Friday and Saturday we did a massive street display for the Church's #AlwaysThere Easter initiative where we asked people to write on a sticky note a time when Jesus Christ was there for them. We had to bribe people with candy but it was a huge success. We had people from all over the world, and all different religions sign it. One Chinese man wrote in characters "Today, Tomorrow and Forever!" I love that.

We got to meet with Chuyun to discuss her baptism and she is so excited! April 26! Hopefully we can get her spiritually prepared. She's so amazing. Something I've had the best time watching the unbelievable change in her as she comes closer to Heavenly Father. Her attitude, her countenance, her outlook on life is so so different from when we first met her. It's been really amazing to witness.

Other than that it was CONFERENCE WEEKEND! I can't believe last conference, I was in the Provo MTC sitting in a room with 3,500 other missionaries. Conference on a mission is the best. I'm 7 hours ahead of you 'mericans so we watched the Saturday morning live at 5pm and then watch Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning on Sunday and we are watching Sunday afternoon today! It was fun to see Elders Wakolo and DeFeo at the pulpit because I've had the opportunity on my mission to meet both of them! I particularly enjoyed Elder Brian K Taylor's talk reminding us that we are all children of God as well as President Eyring's talk on receiving personal revelation. How amazing was it to stand as an entire church and sustain our new prophet! I could go on and on.

Today for pday, we got up at 4:30AM to go to the Preston England Temple. This is my first time at the Preston temple! I haven't been since the Provo MTC. There are 4 days a year that my mission is allowed to go to the temple so I'm taking every opportunity.

Well that was my week! I love you all! Congrats to all my friends getting their mission calls over the past couple weeks. I can testify that missions truly are life changing!

Cheers,

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

Pics:
1- Our Easter Street display
2- Preston England Temple (yes it was raining)
3-Mi companga (My Italian is on point)

#AlwaysThere

Hello everyone! This week was pretty good. I can't believe we are approaching April! So crazy.

On Tuesday I said goodbye to Sister Westover and basically bawled my eyes out. My new companion, Sister Mastroianni is super good. She's 22 and like 5 feet tall and so cute. She's from Napoles, Italy and has only been a member for 2 years! Her English is decent but she gives herself a hard time. Ive already learned so much from her.

Well this week has been tough because all the university students are going on Easter break so we couldn't really set up any appointments. It was also a bit stressful because I've had to be senior companion in an area I know so little about. We spent most of the week finding on Oxford road. This week especially there were so many people bashing us. It's funny to me how at the beginning of my mission, rejection and people bashing us used to make me so sad and discouraged but now it doesn't even phase me!

Huge miracle happened Sunday. We had no one scheduled to come to church cuz everyone's out of town. As soon as Sacrament started, a man me and Sister Westover met on the street a couple weeks ago came it! It was a man named Ken from Taiwan. Miracle!

Huge miracle pt 2 happened THIS  MORNING. On Friday, we met with an investigator, Chuyun and she was going through a lot and having a hard time so I mentioned receiving a priesthood blessing. She said the moment she got it, she felt strength. This morning we woke up to a message from her saying that she wanted to be baptized before she returns to China and to pray for a date for her. WHAT. Priesthood Power People!

The church has come out with an Easter Campaign called #AlwaysThere. I'm excited because as a district we have discussed ways we can use this for our street displays. I've been thinking a lot about the message of a Savior who really is 'always there' for us. I know the Savior has been there for me countless times in my life. I think since coming on my mission, I've been able to recognize his role as my Savior and Redeemer more clearly. In D&C 76:22 Joseph Smith says,
 “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!”

I know He lives. Love you all! Happy Easter/General Conference/April Fools  this week!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

Pic 1#Candid
Pic 2 Chuyun! (with my previous comp Sister westover #rip)
Pic 3 china town in Manchester
Pic 4 Found out the only taco bell in our mission is 10 minutes from our flat #BLESSED

Nicely Played Satan + Transfers

Hi all! I hope you're all doing well!  This week unfortunately was a bit discouraging but it got better in the end! Missions have loads of ups and downs!

On Monday night as we finished making Diego's baptism program, we received a text from him explaining for various reasons that he didn't want to get baptized. As a missionary, of course, we develop a love for the people we teach and it's painful when they are so close to receiving the blessings we have -the blessings of baptism- and then just like that, Satan gets a hold of them and ruins everything. It got me thinking that this must be how God feels when he sees me or any of His children stumble on the path. The pain and disappointment I felt Monday night is something unfortunately most missionaries will go through. And God goes through it all the time! I can testify that Heavenly Father is our literal father who loves us and wants the best for us. Unfortunately that darn agency we have sometimes gets in the way. Luckily Diego still wants to continue reading scriptures, praying,  and coming to church. Anyways, nicely played Satan!

We had another lesson with our friend Lucy! She's learning and growing so much. Even though baptism isn't in the cards for her at the moment, I know one day it will happen. We had a lesson on tithing and temples this week and she really loved it. She's going out of town for a couple of weeks and we all had a feeling one of us would get transferred and so when she said her closing prayer, she said "Heavenly Father, please look after my missionaries." Ah she's amazing!

Transfers! I'm Staying in YSA & Sister Westover is headin' to Liverpool!
So even though we had a rocky start to the week, Sister Westover and I had an amazing last week together. I can't even begin to express how much I'm going to miss her. I could honestly serve my whole mission with her. I feel jipped that I only got one transfer with her. She has taught me so much and I'm so grateful for her. As much as I love her, I know she's missed speaking Chinese and so I'm excited for her to get back to that.
My new companion is Sister Mastroianni! She's a convert from Italy! I meet her tomorrow! I've heard good things. She's a transfer younger than me so I'm senior companion so that'll be crazy. But I'm really excited!

That's about all for the week! On Sunday we talked about how the gospel is our light in the darkness. As we feed that light and learn and grow in the gospel, it just gets brighter and brighter!
D&C 50:24 That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.

I'm grateful for the light and clarity the gospel brings in my life! And I'm grateful for all of you as well! I hope you're all doing well! Have a good week!


Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

Pics 1&2 : Sister W and I did a photoshoot in the beautiful city of Manchester
Pic 3: Posh Japanese restaurant a ysa recent convert owns
Pic 4: When we got transfer calls :(

6 Months! + Happy British Mother's Day!

Hiiiii everybody! This week was really good! Every day just seemed to get better. I love being a missionary! Also yesterday was Mother's Day in the UK. Unfortunately mom, I don't get to FaceTime you til American Mother's Day. But I thought of ya all day! Also tomorrow I hit my 6 month mark. I can't believe it. Just like that, a third of my mission GONE.

Well Thursday, the Elders had a Baptism for their friend, Luis from Ecuador. We were able to bring our two most progressing friends, Lucy and Diego. Lucy was really amazed by it and she said on her bus home, she was thinking about it so much that she actually missed her stop. How precious is that?! Diego also loved it and passed his baptismal interview and is getting baptized Thursday the 15th of March!  After the baptism, he said, "I'm ready to live a life trying to be like Jesus." He is so ready!

Update on my Chinese... I'm basically fluent now. Lol jk but I'm actually starting to pick up a couple of phrases. Hats off to all you missionaries who learned a language. I can barely teach the gospel in English.

Omg transfer calls are this week! Time needs to chill! I'm really hoping I'm granted another 6 weeks in YSA. I really love it here and I love my companion. I could honestly serve my whole mission with her. Hopefully nobody gets transferred!

Also yesterday while street contacting, I ran into a knee high cement post. Whose idea was it to put a knee high cement post in the middle of a side walk? Luckily I didn't roll into the street and get hit by a bus! :)

To end on a spiritual note....
Something that hit me this week is that the Lord truly puts people in the right place at the right time. Coming to England, I thought I'd only be teaching British people but boy was I wrong. Every day, I meet people from all over the world. Our current teaching pool consists of people from England, China, Japan, Columbia, and Ecuador.  I'm so grateful that the Lord has placed me here in Manchester at this exact moment so that I can meet such amazing and diverse people.
Mosiah 3: 20 "And moreover, I say unto you, that the time shall come when the knowledge of a Savior shall spread throughout every nation, kindred, tongue, and people."
I know that to be true! Love y'all lots! Xx

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

Picture: Sister Wood asked if this was Big Ben and we all made fun of her 

Blood Puddin Ain't Bad

HELLO! This week was super good! Oh my heck it was so cold! Nobody warned me England was this cold! Apparently it hasn't been this cold in Manchester in decades. I just want it to be spring!  We had lots of lessons and and our investigators are still continuing to progress. We had a hard time finding this week because it was so cold.

We had a really powerful lesson with our star investigator, Lucy. She told us she feels different when she comes to church. She loves the atmosphere and the YSA community.  She has a few concerns but she is so solid. We are hoping to get her on date this week.

Another investigator, Diego from Columbia is super solid and officially on date for baptism! He's investigated the church since October and he's finally decided that he wants to be baptized! On Sunday, we took him to our New Member Fireside in Liverpool and he loved it. He is amazing!

Something fun that happened this week was on Saturday, the YSA missionaries (all 10 of us) were invited to breakfast at the bishops house. We had a 'proper English breakfast' which consisted of eggs, bacon (ham), beans on toast, sausage, tomato, mushrooms, and blood pudding. Blood pudding is fried sheep's blood in a patty. It tasted like stuffing to be honest.
On the way home from breakfast, I was chatting with bishops wife and turns out, she and her family had my dad over for dinner back when he served here! It's crazy how many people I've run into that know Elder Gilland!

Well this week a scripture popped out to me found in Deuteronomy 4:29 "But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul."
This scripture was shown to me my sophomore year of high school in seminary. Back then, I really didn't have a huge understanding of this gospel. Now I'm not saying I know everything but I do know that there is a God who loves us all so much. That's the first thing I teach to people. It is most important. I challenge you all to seek the lord this week!

Sorry no pics this week! Love yall!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

Migraines and Miracles

Hey yall! Well it's been another great week in Manchester YSA.

Well last pday was a little crazy. My companion has been having headaches for like 6 weeks and we tried literally everything to relieve them and the British health care is so bad that we weren't able to get a doctors appointment until a couple weeks ago. The general physician didn't know what was wrong so he sent us to a neurologist but that appointment wasn't scheduled to happen until today. So last Monday it got really bad and our mission nurse and mission president were concerned a couple other weird symptoms she had and so they  told us to go to the hospital. So we spent 7 hours at the A&E (ER). She got a CT scan and luckily it came back normal. But we still had no answers. The neurologist today gave her the diagnosis of chronic migraines and git her some good meds so hopefully they work!

Despite that, Sister Westover and I are working super hard and have seen countless miracles.  The other day, we only had an hour to go finding and we found 4 new investigators #blessed! We also had a girl call us and tell us that she's met with missionaries in the past and she wanted to come meet with us that same day. We retaught her the first lesson and dated her for baptism March 15. So hopefully all goes well. She's so cute! She's from China but grew up in England. Her names Chuyen!

Another miracle was a member referred us to her friend Frank. We gave him a chapel tour and he asked lots of really good questions. One if them being "Why are Mormons always so happy?". We gladly answered that and he's agreed to meet with us next week.

Our final miracle is Lucy! A couple weeks ago she walked into the church and basically asked to be an investigator. Ahhhh I love her so much! We met with her and taught her the Plan of Salvation with our senior couple the Quinns'. It took 2 and a half hours but it was probably the best lesson I've been apart of. So many good questions and the spirit was so strong. She came to church her 3rd time. We are hoping to date her for baptism next week.

So we have definitely seen the Lords hand numerous times throughout this week.  With the chaos going on in the world around us, it's easy to wonder if there even is a God. I learned this week that only 4% of the people in England go to church. Which is crazy to me because there's SO MANY CHURCHES everywhere. But they're all empty. We're in a very lost and confused world. I encourage you all this week to look for the hand of God in your life. I promise ya, he's there:)
2 Nephi 2:14 And now, my sons, I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon.

Love yall! Cheers

Sister Gilland