Spring Fever!

Hello all! It's been a beautiful SUNNY week over here in GB. Hopefully spring is coming. I'd love to never put on my winter coat again.     
Sister Buck and I have had a lovely week!🌞🌞   
 
Our friend Espoir was interviewed for baptism by Elder Hardman and he passed! He is very excited to be baptised and can't wait for Saturday! He asked for our wonderful Bishop, Bishop Branch to baptise him. The Whitefield Ward absolutely loves this family and we hope they will each join one by one.     
We also called by some friends we haven't see  in a while Valdemiro and Isa. They are a young couple from Cape Verde and they have a 2 year old and a newborn. When we knocked, they immediately let us in. They were having a family get together and they offered us some of the food and then we just started teaching them. They were all so nice and wanting to learn more. Definitely doesn't happen every day!   
   
Well that's pretty much all that's happened this week! I'm excited for the upcoming week ahead. A scripture I loved this week is found in Jacob 1:19 "And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day."   
I feel like this verse is all about having a sense of urgency in this work. It's up to us as missionaries and members to spread the gospel to to tell as many people about this gospel. It's such a privilege to be a representative of Christ for 18 months but it's important that we represent him ALL our life.   
   
I hope you all had a wonderful week! Love and miss you all!   
   
Sister Gilland   
England Manchester Mission

Victory McFlurries after Espoir's Baptismal Interview
Street display in the rain
Spring selfie
Found a cat

Dream Team

On Wednesday we all met at the Manchester stake centre to meet the new missionaries and be introduced to our new companions! I'm training Sister Buck from Nephi, Utah. She and I are so similar it's scary. We also have like 10 friends in common haha. She is so excited to be here and start strong. I literally want to extend my mission a transfer so I can finish training her. She's amazing. Dream Team for sure.

Literally prayed so hard that Sister Buck and I's first lesson together would run smoothly so that she could see how a lesson is supposed to go. We taught our friend Anthony and it was AMAZING. Neither of us had ever taught him and so we just got to know him and then shared the plan of Salvation with him. Our mission president invited us and our trainees to extend a baptismal invitation once a week and so I thought "why not now?". When we asked him, he said something like "Its funny you mention baptism because when I was reading the scripture you just asked me to read, I actually pictured myself being baptised." Amazing! We were absolutely thrilled. He's got a long way to go but I really feel like he will one day know that these things are true.
We also taught a couple other really strong lessons. Our friend Espoir is still on date for March 2nd and his interview is this week. We are so excited for him!

Something I read in my studies was the scripture Helaman 5:9 "O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world."
I've really tried this week to remember and reflect on the things I've learned over the last year and a bit and it's been amazing to see how coming to know our saviour really shapes and changes us into better people. It's been amazing to watch this change in people I've taught and also in myself.

Well I'm excited to FaceTime my fam for the last 6 Mondays of my mission! 😂 I can't believe how many things have changed in the church since I've been out. It's actually crazy to me. I wish I could FaceTime you all but I'll see you soon enough. Have a wonderful week everyone!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

Pics
Libby and Sean came and visited me in Whitefield!
Me and sister buck thought we'd match our first sunday.
Valentines Day😘
Another selfie with sista buck.

Temple, Two Baptisms, Transfers, & TRAINING!

Crazy week people! We got the call Saturday morning from President informing me that I'm training a new missionary. It's also my last transfer. This is exactly how I wanted to end my mission so I couldn't be happier! We had Train the Trainers Sunday night and I pick up my greenie tomorrow!

On Thursday we got to go to the temple with our recent convert Christine. So many miracles took place for this to happen. We were worried that Christine would get nothing out of the temple because she doesn't speak any English and her 9 year old daughter couldn't come help translate. When we got there, there was a man who spoke swahili! He explained everything and we just watched her face light up. It was so special.

Amina
Amina is the cutest and probably the smartest little 9 year old I know. She speaks perfect English and swahili and was the key to her mom, Christine's conversion. When we taught Christine, Amina would translate the lessons. As she did so, she started to realise herself that it was true. Her testimony started to grow. She absolutely loves primary and learning. She told us that one day she wants to be a missionary. She is amazing!

Libby
I'm sure you all know about the famous Libby but if not, I'll catch you up. Libby is a direct result of following a simple prompting. I first saw Libby whilst we were having a lesson with our friend in McDonald's and she was working a shift there. She caught my eye for some reason so I went up and talked to her for a couple of seconds. I felt prompted to leave a note with our name and number on the table when we left. She ended up texting us that very night. For that day forward, we cultivated an amazing friendship. We watched the light of the gospel touch Libby's life and saw and incredible change in her. She began reading the scriptures and praying seeking to get her answer. It took a few months but as she continued studying and learning and reflecting on the little coincidences that occured, she realised that God was with her all along. He never left her and he never will. The boiler in St Helen's was broken so they held the baptism in a neighboring town called Warrington. When they got there, the boiler was also broken in Warrington. The chapel was so cold, you could see your breath so you can imagine how cold the font was. But despite that, it was amazing to watch and the spirit was just incredible.

I've been reading in 2 Nephi and chapter has become one of my favourites. In verse 41 and 47 we are reminded how crucial our Saviour is in this plan and how desperately we need him.
"41 O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name.
47 But behold, my brethren, is it expedient that I should awake you to an awful reality of these things? Would I harrow up your souls if your minds were pure? Would I be plain unto you according to the plainness of the truth if ye were freed from sin?"
We are all imperfect people. But because of Christ, we all have the potential to arrive to our Heavenly Father but we must utilise the keeper of that gate, Jesus Christ. There is no other way.

When we were at the temple, myself and my companion did baptisms and we of course weren't wearing our badges on our jump suits. When I introduced myself to others, I kept pointing to where my badge would normally be. I felt so empty without it. I've gotten too used to having a badge and I never want to take it off. I can't believe how fast the time is going. I really hope things slow down. I can't wait to see what this transfer brings.

I love you all.

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

We'll Sing and We'll Shout

Well it's been absolutely freezing here. England doesn't know what to do with snow because they never get any so when it does come, nobody shovels or plows or anything (because they don't have shovels or plows or anything) so everything just gets super slippery and ice doesn't really help the uncoordinated so I've slipped twice so far. So hoping it warms up soon!

It's been an insanely quick week. We had District Council Tuesday and afterwards we had Amina's baptismal interview... She passed! Also Libby back in St Helen's passed as well so they're both good to go! Amina turned 9 on Saturday so we got her a little gift and made some cake, it was lots of fun. She's looking forward to this Saturday, as are we! Should be a crazy upcoming week.

We've been calling up people in the area book lately and seeing if they would be able to meet up for a lesson and most have said yes so we've just been meeting and teaching all sorts of new people. We taught Liam again on Thursday about the Plan of Salvation and he liked it. He's very philosophically minded so he entertains most beliefs and considers everything. Also our friend Waleed from Sudan is amazing! He is literally so prepared and just wants to know more and more. We gave him a book of Mormon in Arabic and his face just lit up. He read Moroni's promise and said "So what this says is if I read it, and ask God if it's true, with a sincere heart, he will answer me?" and we told him yes and he was like "I can't wait to find out for myself and become a better person along the way". He's so precious I love teaching him so much!
On Sunday, we got to attend a new member fireside with Espoir. It was an especially good one. Some amazing stories were shared and the spirit was so strong. The closing hymn was "the Spirit of God" and when we all sang, it was like electric. The spirit was so intense you just couldn't deny it!

Well over the last week or so, I was challenged to write/draw what the Plan of Salvation means to me on one page. This was an amazing activity and I really loved studying about God's plan for me and all his children. I'm grateful for this plan and grateful I get to share it with those around me!
Hebrews 5:9 And being made perfect, he [Jesus Christ] became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.

Love you all! Have a good week!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

Best Week of my Mission (Until Week of February 9)

Well one of the most amazing weeks of my mission for sure folks! We had exchanges and some really good lessons and a surprise Baptism!!

ALSO BREAKING NEWS, some of yall may remember my BFF Libby! Well she came to Whitefield today and told me that she is getting BAPTISED. February 9th is the day, I can't believe it, when she told me I was bouncing off the walls. Ahhhh I'm so excited!!!

So we were calling and texting people in the phone to see if anyone was still interested in learning from us and we came across a man named Walled. He's from Sudan and he is probably the kindest, most genuine man I've ever met. We were able to meet with him in McDonald's and share the message of the Restoration with him. He loved it! We are seeing him again this week.

We had exchanges in Chorely this week so I got to go back to my ol stompin ground. I got to work with Sister Schulze (from Germany). I was reminded of how it was one of the most difficult times of my mission. Rough area, not a lot of people to teach, and I had a hard time loving the people around me. We would go and stand in Chorley Town Centre on numerous occasions trying to talk to people about the gospel. Someone I talked to one of those days was a Romanian man named Gavril. He was so prepared but not in our area so the zone leaders taught him. He was taught and came to church every week and when I saw him, I would stop and have a chat with him. I didn't tell him I got transferred because I didn't think he'd really care. Fast forward 5 months to my exchange this week. I was informed that Gavril would be getting baptised the following Saturday. He had gone back to Romania to marry his partner so he could get baptised. The zone leader also told me that Gavril asked if I would give a talk at his baptism. He remembered me! It was just a wonderful reminder that this really truly is the lords work and no effort is wasted. And even though things were so rough during that particular time on my mission, it was all worth it because Gavril was baptised. In my mission, you can't attend a baptism unless you have an investigator with ya (even if you're giving a talk lol). So we invited a family of 4 we are teaching and our bishop offered to drive us so we were able to go and it was amazing! They loved the baptism and we were able to show them around the temple afterwards as well.

Not much else happened this week, I got asked to speak in church 5 minutes before Sacrament meeting started. Totally winged a talk on temples. Lol missions are greatttt.

Apologies if I shared this before but one of my companions shared this with me and I just thought a lot about it this week. 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."
I've loved this scripture for some time now. It's just a promise to us that everything truly happens at exactly the right time. God really is in charge. He is in the details of our lives. He knows us perfectly. As a missionary, I've come to know that he knows the people we teach perfectly. I know this is his work and I'm grateful every day to be apart if it.

I feel so blessed! I love you all, have a good week!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

Gavrils baptism
Me n sis cook
Throwback with Libby n sis mcchicken

Hujamba Everyone!

Well we can add swahili to the list of languages I can say hello in. It's been an amazing week in good ole Whitefield. We saw SO MANY miracles.

We had Zone Conference on Tuesday in Chorley and it was super uplifting. The general themes were "Lord Increase Our Faith" and "Becoming A Consecrated Missionary" We were invited to change two things by the end of the week to help us become better, more faithful, consecrated missionaries and more fixed on our purpose.

Well one miracle came on Friday. We felt like we should go by this Recent Convert, Bill. Unfortunately, Bill didn't answer but on his street, we met someone from... take a guess... CONGO. He was so prepared, he met missionaries before that gave him a book of Mormon and he said he's been reading! So we are seeing him this week. After meeting him, we decided to go by a man named Sergio in the area. When we got to his house, a man named Valdemiro answered and said he was Sergio step son but he let us in!! And we met his cute wife and baby. They're from Cape Verde but speak really good English. It was honestly like they were just waiting for us. We talked about the Book of Mormon and he said he had one and he'd read it. His wife is pregnant and actually due today! So we will go and visit in a week or so.

So we have been teaching Christina's children. Her daughter Amina is on date for February 9th and we were able to put her son Espoir on date on Thursday! We taught him the restoration and he really felt like it could be true. He asks such good questions. Honestly it's the highlight of my week teaching that family. So Espoir feels like he will be ready by March 2nd. We're so excited!

Well that was pretty much my week! One of the things we talked about in zone conference was a parable of the unprofitable servant in Luke 17:7-10
7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

This totally went over my head when I first read it. But upon studying it further, I actually learned a lot. Sometimes I feel like the servant. I might well feel that after a day’s work in the field I'm entitled to rest but when I get home at the end of a long day, I see that there's still lots I have to do. As a missionary, the master (Christ) has a right to my time and attention. Just like the apostles, who had given themselves entirely up to their Master’s service could not hesitate whatever the effort or sacrifice required. And at the end of the day, the best they could do would be no more than their duty required.

I invite yall to study this parable and to look for additional ways you can serve others around you! Christ deserves our very best!!

Love you all, have a wonderful week!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

Sweet 16! (Months)

I'm happy to announce now that after 16 months as a missionary, I am finally teaching A FAMILY! Christine (the girl who got baptised last week) has 5 kids age 7 to 19. The kids speak pretty good English. We've been seeing them multiple times a week teaching Christine her recent convert lessons. Amina (age 9) is getting baptised on the 9th of of February. The other ones, we are still working on and we are also teaching their cousins. Christine can't read or write in English or swahili so we use Google translate on the phone but the person sounds kinda robotic so I listen to the translator and then repeat it to Christine in swahili and she understands! The gift of tongues is REAL.

On Friday, we had a miracle! We went to call by this person the sisters met a few months ago. Turns out he had moved and the person living there wasn't interested so we were like "K now what?". Well I got this super strong feeling that we needed to stay and Tract on this street we were on. This never happens because I do not like tracting. But we followed the prompting and we met this man named Carl! He's our age and from the Philippines originally. He was super nice and we chatted a while and gave him a card and went on our way. About 15 minutes later, he called us asking if we could meet up with him the next day! Unfortunately... He stood us up! But we are still in contact with him and we are planning on seeing him this week.

Well for the spiritual thought this week, I thought I'd share
1 Nephi 13:37 "And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be."
I know that as we try to bring forth Zion and to do good to others, we will indeed have the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. Even though life is hard and gets harder every day, we are promised that in the last day, we will be lifted up. I'm so grateful for the gospel and that I've been able to see so many people change because of it.

Love you all! Have a good week!


Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission

The FIELD is WHITE

Well transfers happened and I've been booted out of St Helen's to the wonderful Whitefield Ward (Ashton zone) where the field is white and ready to harvest (&everyone that serves here makes that joke lollll). I will most likely finish my last two transfers here which is crazy to wrap my head around. Leaving St Helen's was incredibly difficult. I really feel like I grew a lot there and I'm so sad to leave it behind. The hardest bit was leaving Libby. It's crazy how close you can get to someone in such a short amount of time. There were lots of tears. Seems like every area gets more and more hard to leave from. On to more heart break!

I arrived to Whitefield on Thursday. My new companion is Sister Cook, from Moscow, Russia! Jk lol she's from Moscow, Idaho. She's been out for 8 months and she's been in Whitefield for 5 of them so she's teaching me lots. Every single missionary that has served here has said that they loved it and I can already see why. So far, I love it here!

We had a baptism on Saturday! So I got here just in time. Her name is Christine and she is from the Democratic Republic of Congo! I got to teach her twice before the big day. The rest of her family should be baptised in the next few weeks too so that's exciting! They all speak swahili. The kids speak a bit of English. The baptism started at 3 and we went to go pick up Christine and turns out 9 of her friends and family wanted to come as well. So we all got on a bus and got to church... Only 15 min late. Oops. It was an amazing day though!

Well I've re started Book of Mormon and I've made it a goal to summarize each chapter in my own words and write it in a journal. So this week has been great. I read about how Lehi made his whole family move and laman and lemuel were murmuring and I likened it to my current situation moving areas. My whole mission I've struggled with change and on a mission you experience a lot of it. It's uncomfortable, it's difficult, it's emotional. But I know it's all the lords plan. I know that transfers are inspired and even though it sucks now, God's purposes are revealed in time. I've seen that as I've moved from area to area. A scripture I read this morning was 1Nephi 7: 13 "And if it so be that we are faithful to him, we shall obtain the land of promise; and ye shall know at some future period that the word of the Lord shall be fulfilled..."

I'm grateful to be here and I know there are miracles coming soon! Love and miss you all!

Sister Gilland
England Manchester Mission 🇬🇧

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