August 8th Letter

Dear Family and Friends,

How are you all? I love you!

Things are going really well in Gillingham. This week was crazy, but really awesome. Because moves were supposed to be on Wednesday, but ended up on Tuesday, our schedule was shattered. But Elder Campbell and I recorded the second highest (hours) week of my mission! It ended up being a really good week. We had 9 investigators at Sacrament Meeting, and a ton that couldn't make it. Its so wonderful! I love having people to teach. Gillingham is Exploding with people! I love it. 

Martin is getting baptised next Saturday, and he is so excited. Man, Martin is so awesome. Geoff finally quit smoking and he's getting baptised on the 27th! I'm so happy! It's finally going to happen! And he seems really excited for his date. Austin came to church, and seems to be progressing towards getting baptised, probably on the 27th as well. Matthew and Anna, a couple we met, are also going to get baptised after they get married. Man, its so wonderful. The Lord really puts people in our path who are ready and have been prepared to make changes. :) Last week, I met a guy named Matthew. He said the night before he prayed that Jesus would come into his life. He's been having so many problems in his life, but felt that it was really strange that he met us. Hah, its not that strange. :) When we are dilligent in serving the Lord, He will use us to find those people that He has prepared. I also heard a quote this week that has helped me, "Discipline is the bridge between goals and success." And the key is to keep being disciplined when success starts coming. We cannot let up one bit, be any less obedient, diligent, or passionate about this work. And we also have to remember that our success has nothing to do with us, but everything to do with our commitment.

One thing that I'm learning a lot about is having fun and working hard at the same time. Sometimes I get too serious, stressed out, and worked up. I started getting a fever and exhaustion. It is important that we don't run faster than we are able. Be diligent, but don't try to go above the mark. When its time to wind down, its time to wind down. Its been a good thing for me. Haha, Elder Campbell said that I need to calm down. :) He's been good for me. 

Today was a good day. We had zone meeting, and had some good trainings. We're starting a new In-Field Training Program for missionaries with the Preach My Gospel DVD's. So we all get portable DVD players (just for Church produced videos, unfortunately). We're the first mission in the world to go through it, probably because our groups were the first ones to go to the new MTC program. So this is going to be really exciting. Our zone (Canterbury) and the Romford Zone are also implementing a finding approach called the 30 second step in, where we teach a lesson to people on the street. So we're being guniea pigs all over the place. But it's really fun.

Last week on Moves day, we played some football/soccer and I pulled my hamstring. It has been doing ok. Today we played football in the gym, and I pulled it again, but much worse this time. :) I'm going to have to be very careful for the next few weeks. It's quite painful. 

Hey, I know this is God's work. This is His Gospel, and these are His Children. Jesus Christ died for us. Everytime I think of how happy the Gospel makes me, I realise that that is what God wants for these people. The Gospel is not for us to keep to ourselves, but to give to everyone. I want them to have the same happiness that I have! I would that ye would consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments! For we are free to choose liberty and eternal life!

Well, I hope everything goes well. I love you! Have a good time at band camp!

Love,

Elder Flores

July 25th

Hello Family and Friends,

 

It has been a good week. Lots of good things are happening, and so much work is being done. We're having a hard time keeping track of all the people we are meeting!

We had Tiyah Amusa's baptism on Saturday and it was wonderful. Elder Johnston (the ZL, and the missionary that baptised Tiyah's family) baptised her, and another RM confirmed her, but Elder Glancy and I got to stand in. We had dinner with them last night. Such an awesome family. :) Martin and Geoff were also able to come to the baptism. Martin said that when we laid our hands on Tiyah's head to confirm her and give her the Holy Ghost, he said his heart got so warm- like heartburn but without the pain. Thats what its all about. :) He is so solid, and I'm excited for him to progress towards baptism. His life has really changed a lot lately, and he is such a great guy.

Stanley is also doing great! He is so excited to be learning more about Christ's Gospel and his enthusiasm is contagious! But, he lives in a share home with a bunch of other guys going to uni, and they are all hard core Christian. So apparently Saturday night, they got super mad at Stanley for having us over and there was a big fight. But we haven't gotten a hold of Stanley in a while and we are kind of worried. It has become so apparent that the harder people try to change their lives and come unto Christ, the harder Satan tries to confound their efforts. I just hope Stanley can keep progressing. He's so good.

We've also found that people who are prepared to receive the Gospel, are PREPARED! It has nothing to do with us, and everything to do with Him. We are only the ones to be His hands as you might say. There are people who are ready, and the Spirit will lead them. It is so apparent those who are ready and those who are not. We just have to find them, or hunt them. Ha, Danielle often says to us as we leave, "Happy Hunting!".

But just because the Lord does everything, that does not diminish our personal responsibility as missionaries. The Lord can only work through us as we are obedient, diligent, and worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost. While the work has nothing to do with me, it has everything to do with how I prepare myself, how I obey the commanments and mission rules, how I keep my covenants, and how I give my all to my Heavenly Father. Only then will I be an effective instrument (a Heckel) in his hands.

One important thing is to not get too comfortable. Yes, it is extremely important to get into the routine of things and accustomed to the missionary life, which has happened, but I can never become complacent with my finding, teaching, and baptising. That can never happen. The Lord requires not only that we keep His commandments, but that we come perfected through Him. And perfection takes a very long time. Line upon Line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little. That is how we progress as people, as the Lord's servants, and as disciples of Christ.

There are many things on the mission that are quite humerous. Sometimes the reasons people give for why they can't stop are hilarious.Oh, and this one old guy said he was going to call the police on us. He didn't, but it would have been funny. People are so different. We meet all kinds of personalities and characters, and many crazy people. Tis great.

I'm going to send some pictures as well, some are from the MTC and some are from the field, but I hope you enjoy them.

I love you all and hope you are doing well. Please pray for all of the missionaries around the world. :) We need all the help we can get.

 

Love,

Elder Flores

 

ps. my Italian name is Elder Fiore

July 18th Letter

Well Hello Family and Friends!

 

Wow, I guess there is a lot that has happened! I can't believe its already been almost 4 weeks since we left the MTC!

Our area is great. Its absolutely huge and we don't have a car, which is quite unfortunate. I belive there are about 500,000 people in our area which includes Gillingham, Chatham, Rochester, and Strood... but we never get to Rochester and Strood except for dinner appointments because its so far away. And Chatham is ridiculously hilly. We are definitely going to try to get a car. :)

The work has been incredible! When I first got here, we were teaching (solidly) about 3 people. Geoff, this Englishmen who is a hoot. Frankie and Ruby, a Chinese couple with the cutest little boy in the world, Felix. But, we keep having to push Geoff's baptismal date back, and Frankie and Ruby have to get married first. But someday! We met a guy called Stanley, from India, on Friday, taught him on Saturday, invited him to be baptised, he came to church, and we're seeing him again this week. He is so Solid! I'm stoked for him. We call him Stanley the Manly. We have also been teaching this family, Martin (Dad) and Thomas (son), and they should be getting baptised soon as well. Along with a few more people we need to have return appointments with. Ah, its so awesome!

I only wish that I hadn't let myself get so worried in the MTC. It was such a waste of time and energy! I was so scared that I wouldn't be a successful missionary, and that I would be totally inadequate. And I was so scared to street contact! But, I'm fine. :) Our success as missionaries is determined by our Commitment and how much we become like Jesus Christ, who was the best missionary. And we are promised that as we are committed, success will come. And success has started to come. Oh, street contacting, or OYMing (Open Your Mouth), has become one of my favorite things to do! Ha, I get so happy talking to everyone, even when most of them don't even care. Its a blast! And the more energetic I am, the more fun it is and usually more people will listen! I'd probably say the biggest difference between now and the first week, is I now can get maybe a 10 second conversation in before they turn us down. :) just kidding. But really.

Actually, I have been surprised by how many people will actually listen and make a return appointment. (Actually being at their return appointment is a different story). But it becomes quite fun, and we meet people from EVERYWHERE! Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Nepal, Pakistan, India, Malaysia, China, Mongolia, Poland, Armenia, Lithuania, Czech, Slovakia (TONS), Latvia, the Carribean, and thats just off of the top of my head! Its crazy. And I hear that its even more diverse in London.

Our ward is pretty cool. Bishop Hawkins is a cool guy. He's a copier repair man, has 9 kids, his wife teaches the Gospel Principles class (so good!), and they have us over for dinner every other week. And she can cook! She makes about 5 HUGE plates of desserts every time. Ha, the first week I was totally unprepared. The ward mission leader, Bro. Charman, is really cool as well. He has a nice family too. Ha, and there are lots of other great people. The Amusa family is probably my favorite. Danielle, the Mom, and Codie (12 yr old girl) were baptised about a year ago, and Tiyah (8) will be baptised on Saturday. Warren (3) is so cute. The Dad's name is Gab, and he's from Nigeria. Super cool guy. We've kind of started teaching him, but he wants to wait till he's ready. But he will be soon. Ah, I love this family! And I'm really excited for Tiyah's baptism, because they're having a sushi bar! Woot woot!

Elder Glancy is super great. We get along really well, and work well together. He's a really good teacher, which has helped me out a lot. The other Elders in our district and zone are awesome! Elder Day (Scotland) and Elder Giusti (Italy) are in Gillingham 2. Elder Lundahl (Sweden) and Elder Boysyuk (Ukraine) in Gravesend. Elder Boer (Italy) and Elder Johnston (Idaho) in Ashford. Sister Campbell (New Zealand) and Sister Freeman (USA) in Canterbury. (the cathedral there is sweet by the way). And Elder Hinckley (USA) and Elder Montgomery (Utah) in Deal (Dover). They are awesome. We went bowling today, and Geoff and Frankie and Ruby came. It was well fun. Oh my days, the missionaries are so cool! I love being with them!

I've been thinking often of two scriptures. The first is Alma 31:5. "The preaching of the Word of God had a more powerful effect upon the people than did... [anything else]." It is so evident when we see lives changed because of the Gospel. Also in my own life, when I am immersed in the gospel, I feel different. And the other scripture is John 7:17: "If any man will do his will, he will know of the doctrine." We come to know the truth of the Gospel by living it. Not by thinking about it, not by even studying it, but by Living it. By applying it to every aspect of our lives and giving our all to Him. THEN, we will know its truth and how essential it is that we follow His will for us. Only when we truly loose ourselves, do we find ourselves.

Well, I must go now. I love you all, and wish you a very nice week.

Oh, and I missed celebrating the 4th of July. Happy Independence Day. :)

 

Love,

Elder Flores

July 4th Letter

Dearest Darlingist Momsy and Popsicle,

Hello! Well, we're into the second week! \

Wow, there's so much going on! Right now I'm in the Apple Store in Bluewater, which is one of the biggest shopping malls I've ever seen! Its P day, and the District and Zone Leaders are all in London for training so the rest of our zone went to a little wildlife place, and now we're here. It's been great, but I haven't had an opportunity to do the normal P day things. Like, you know, get some groceries. aka, we have nothing to eat... but its ok. Thats one of the things I've learned the most-- you can make do without a lot of things. The missionary schedule is so intense that you really have to prioritise. It's been really good. 

My companion is the District Leader, Elder Glancy, and he's from Santa Clarita, CA. He's a great guy and a good example of quiet dignity.  We've got a few people we're teaching, and one guy is super close to being baptised. We've also been doing TONS of finding. I guess you could say its not as scary any more. :) I like it now, and realise that it was unfortunate that I got so worried and worked up about things in the MTC. But its ok, you live and you learn.

Probably the best experience I've had so far was the work-over on Friday with the Zone Leader, Elder Boer, from Italy. He is an AMAZING missionary! So powerful, so passionate, and so dedicated. He really taught me a lot and set me on fire. He's developed this thing called the 30 second step in and it works so well. Before friday we had 1 step in, and then on Saturday and Sunday Elder Glancy and I had 12! It works! It also bumped up out new investigators a ton! Elder Boer also taught me a lot about what it means to be diligent. I've been doing alright with not getting distracted, but it needs to be raised to a whole level. I must eat, drink, sleep, breathe, and BE Missionary! I loved it! When we have the opportunity to give our ALL to Heavenly Father and do something for our Brothers and Sisters that they absolutely need, how can you not do your best? This mission must be everything to me. And I think its becoming that way. 

Another thing that I think is so cool is how tight we are as missionaries. I only see some of these guys maybe once a week and it seems like we're already best friends. Its terrific. I don't remember if I told you this experience, but when we got dropped off at the mission home in London, all of us Greenies went into a room and waited for our trainers. But before that, all of the guys who were going home came in and sat down. They were on FIRE! The Spirit was so strong, and I felt a great sense of comfort that I can be like them someday. Ah, it was SO COOL! And then we sang "Called to Serve" and on the second verse our trainers came in. That was cool too. 

Though we haven't had much success yet, the thing that keeps me going is the promise given by Preach My Gospel and many Apostles, that success is measured by commitment. So the more I commit myself, the more success we will have. And the Lord doesn't lie. :) Most people will never listen to us, but those who are prepared and ready will. And those are the people we are called to find. 

Now the reason for the title. :) The only music we're allowed to listen to is music with the church label. And... because each missionary gets to see a musical (or an EPL match), either Wicked or Lion King, we can listen to the music from those two shows. So... we listen to Wicked a lot. A whole lot. Its fine. 

Well, I hope you are all doing well. I love you! Happy Birthday Grandma! 

Love,

Elder Flores