October 19, 2015
As we say in Scotland, hiya! How was everyone’s week? Mine was action packed!
On Tuesday we had Zone Interview Training where every missionary in the zone receives training from the Zone Leaders and also has an interview with the mission President! I learned so much about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and obedience. We truly have the best missionaries in the Scotland/Ireland mission in the Edinburgh zone.
On Thursday we knocked on this deaf lady’s door and she started yelling at us! Hahaha she said “I’m deaf so show me what you want! (shows Book of Mormon) Oh no I’m Catholic! Bye!”
Thursday was the best day of my mission so far! We “blitzed” the Edinburgh zone leaders, which basically means that instead of one of us going to Edinburgh, we both go! We finded all day, which is usually dreaded when you are a missionary. You want to teach people! We did this thing called Street Boarding. We got this big white board and wrote “What makes you HAPPY?” on it and put it up in the park and asked people to write on the board! We talked to SO many people. There were a lot of college students and a lot of Americans! It was so fun. I don’t have a picture, but I will get one of another missionary next week! We went to 5 Guys and it made me super homesick. Sharing the gospel with people makes me so happy! It is hard to describe. I have been able to have a knowledge of this gospel for 18 years and these people haven’t even heard of Mormons!
Saturday and Sunday were great as well! We started the Stop Smoking Program with Elizabeth! She is so grateful for the opportunity to stop smoking. She came to church and brought her 4 year old daughter Bethany! She loved it so much. We had a quick lesson with her at the church and she said she could really feel the Spirit there. All of the members were so good to her and she loves them! Elder Stevens and I got to take care of Bethany the whole time! She loves us and wants to come to church every week!
We got a call from President Donaldson today and Elder Stevens is going to the Lieth area in Edinburgh to be a District Leader! Tommorow! It was a big shock because we are in the middle of a transfer. I am so sad that he is leaving early. I have learned so much from him in the short 2 months we have been together. I really am going to miss him, but he is going to do great things as a district leader! And I get a new companion tomorrow! I will let you know how he is next week!
I found my new favorite scripture this week! Alma 13:27- And now, my brethren, I wish from the inmost part of my heart, yea, with great anxiety even unto pain, that ye would hearken unto my words, and cast off your sins, and not procrastinate the day of your repentance; I feel like this as a missionary towards some of my investigators. I have developed a real love for the people we are teaching and with that love comes a feeling of responsibility. I want to help them feel clean and bring to them the knowledge of the gospel! I love being a missionary. Good luck until next week!
Elder Swenson
Scottish word of the week:
galaikit=foolish
—
Elder Paul Swenson 