Monday, July 28, 2014

Big News

Hey guys,

So, first of all, the word "chuffed". Yeah, it's a British thing. It basically means 'excited'. I don't have the British accent, but I do have the vocabulary! So, for my other news...I thought that they would have sent you the itinerary by now. I got the phone call nearly a month ago. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you but I wanted you guys to find out for yourselves. I guess they haven't sorted the flight details yet so they probably won't send you anything until they've got the flights booked and what not. Anyway, you guys better sit down for this one. I will go home....on....October 8, 2014!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT?!?! How crazy is that?! I nearly fell over when they told me! hahaha! So, there's the BIG news!

Now, on a more spiritual note. Thank you so much for that lovely scripture! I really like it! :) So, this morning in my personal study, I finished the Book of Mormon again (I don't know how many times I've read it now. I lost count). As a mission we were challenged to read it in 90 days. It comes out to roughly 6 pages per day, and I actually finished it a few days early! Once again, I was pretty chuffed about that!

Downend has been really great the past week and a bit! A lot is happening in this area! We are so busy, especially because the mission office called us the other day to tell us that they will be putting another set of missionaries into this ward next transfer so we have to find a flat! Our numbers have decreased a bit because we've spent a lot of time looking for flats, but it's not too bad. Also, a member, Joff, from Bracknell ward visited someone here in Downend yesterday and it was so cool to see him! He is awesome, and it's been so long but we still recognised each other. It was another thing to be chuffed about! lol. Anyway, that's it for this week. Fun stuff huh? Seriously though, please be safe guys! I do know that the Lord will keep His protecting hand over you. :)

I hope you guys have a great week! Stay safe! I miss you all and love you lots! :)

Love,
Sister Connery

Monday, July 21, 2014

Pretty Chuffed

Hey guys!

Downend is really great. It's also known as Bristol 1st Ward. Bristol is really great! It's a big city again, and I've really enjoyed being in the cities! This will most likely be my last area, since I only have 2 transfers left. But yeah, Bristol is great! I've only been here for like 4 days but it's been great so far! In the past four days that I've been here we've picked up two more baptismal dates, so we are pretty chuffed about that! We are the only missionaries in the ward, and it has been a long time (since the beginning of my mission) that I've had that, so it's interesting, but it means more DA's for us! :) haha! Yeah, so far everything is going really well! Just trying to work hard and be strong until the end!

My new companion is Sister Erasmus, and she is from Canada! She was born here in England, and her parents are English, but she has lived in Canada for most of her life. She is just one transfer behind me, and she is really funny. We get along really well already, and it has been a really good past four days. Anyway, life as a missionary is good! :)

It's good to know that you guys are all doing well and things are good. It sounds like you've all been having a lot of fun, and that's great! Summer break just got out for the kids in England. You guys are blessed that you get three months off school because in England they only get 6 weeks off! So, be grateful! Well, I hope you guys have another good, fun week! I miss you guys lots, and I love you all! :)

Love,
Sister Connery :)

Monday, July 14, 2014

Serve The Lord First

Hey guys,

Well, it's a sad day for us here in Eastbourne, as we have just received transfer calls and I am being moved again. This time I am being moved to Downend. Don't know where it is or anything, but I'm sure it will be great! I will really miss it here though, and miss Sister Smart. She is amazing, just like all of my companions have been! I am really bummed to have to leave Eastbourne though. It will be a very sad day. I'll miss the baptism, but that's okay. That will be a total of 4 baptisms that I have missed but have taught the people everything and then they get baptised after I leave. But hey, that's the life of a missionary. As long as the people get baptised, that is all that really matters. :) 200 investigators at sacrament meeting is a lot! For us anyway. Every mission is different, so 200 might not seem like a lot compared to missions in other parts of the world, but in Europe, that's A LOT! :)

Our weather has been really rubbish the past week. Today is the first day of sunshine that we have had in awhile. It's been raining for most of the week, which is annoying, but that's what you have to deal with sometimes. It is England, after all. The weather there sounds great, so soak up the sun for me! I wanted the lyrics for that song because we have some Elders in our district, Elder Cluff and Elder Reed and they both listen to country music and they asked me if I could remember the lyrics to it because as a missionary we have a "veil" that keeps us from remembering the worldly things. Anyway, so they couldn't remember it so they asked me and I couldn't remember either, so I asked you guys to help. Silly, but yeah. That's it. Oh, and thank you for telling Dr. Dredge that I would like to continue my course because I would really love that! I am so happy that they have started it up again! It was definitely right for me to serve a mission because if you remember, they cancelled it before I left, but now it is starting up again just before I come back! Heavenly Father really blesses us all, and I am very grateful for that blessing from Him. Serve the Lord first, and then things will work together for your good.


Anyway, things have been going well here in Eastbourne. The baptism is still going to go through this weekend so that will be great for the sisters. Last Monday we got to go visit the farm of one of the members here and that was so much fun! There were lots of little lambs and some giant pigs! My gosh! But it was loads of fun! We also got to attend a fireside up at the temple ( which was great!), and we are going back tomorrow with some investigators so that will be really nice! It's great to at least be on the grounds and feel the Spirit that is there. I miss the temple, but I will get to go soon again. :) 
 
So, last week was good, but I hope that this week will be good as well. It sounds like things have been good for you guys as well and I am happy for that. I hope that continues to be the case for this next week. And I will be sure to drink more water especially with the warm weather. Have a great week guys! I love you!!!
 
Love,
Sister Connery

Monday, July 7, 2014

The Power of the Priesthood

Hey!

You say that not much is going on at home, and there's not much going on here. We have another investigator with a baptismal date for the 19th of July, and that is going to go well, but we're a bit nervous because we have transfers again next week, so first of all, we don't know what will happen to us, if we stay or if one of us goes. We will have to wait and see, but that also means that you may not get an email from me on Monday, so just be aware of that. The mission is still attaining our goal of having over 200 investigators at sacrament meeting, and the Elders in our ward had a baptism on Saturday, so that was exciting.

Now, I don't want to worry you because everything is fine now, but I've been ill the past few days. I've had a bad headache and have nearly passed out at times, but I received a blessing yesterday and the power of the priesthood is an amazing, and I feel so much better now! :)

Not much else to report. All is going well, and things are good here in Eastbourne! :) I hope you guys have another good week and things continue to look positive. :) Love you and miss you all! Have a great week!

Love,
Sister Connery


Here's a picture of Elder Trowbridge, another American missionary, and I on July 4th!

 These pictures are all of Eastbourne