Tyson's Homecoming

Tyson shared his homecoming talk on the same day as Pearce Nally gave his farewell talk.  It was an amazing sacrament meeting.  Tyson shared a beautiful testimony of the Savior.  He shared a couple of  experiences he had with people in England but the feeling of love he had for the Savior and the growth of his testimony is what I remember feeling.  He did not go with what he had written down so I can't share his talk here but the Spirit was powerful from both he and Pearce that day.

We made an attempt to make Yorkshire pudding to have with a roast for his dinner and then we had a dessert bar on hand for some of his friends who came to visit with him that evening.

Elena, Nichole, Grandma, Nichole's kids (minus Ethan) and Rachel's boys all came to support Tyson along with McKay and McKell McIntyre.  It was a wonderful day.

Not sure if I posted the airport picture with the Turvey's but just in case....

Post Mission Joy

Elder Omoruyi, Tyson's last companion, (the tall missionary on the right) posted this picture of Fahad on his baptism day.  Tyson loved Fahad and he got to Skype in and be a part of his baptism long distance.

WELCOME HOME!

Tyson came home July 18, 2018.  He was scheduled to arrive at 4:00 p.m. but his flight from Salt Lake to Phoenix was delayed over two hours!  Thankfully we knew he was traveling that part with high school buddy, Cameron Taylor, so he wouldn't be hanging out alone.

It was absolutely wonderful to have him come home.  Hugs were not quite comfortable for him but President Turvey's council to not hug at the airport was ringing in his ears.

We ate at a quick Mexican restaurant and then met President Hinton for his release.  President had just flown in himself and had two others to release so he only talked with Tyson.

WEEK 103/104: Depressing Week

Shout out to the lads with the three lions. England has made it to the semi-finals of the world cup and will be playing against Croatia on Wednesday.

I honestly don't have much to say. I have been thinking about it for a little while and I still don't have anything. We got dropped by about four people this week. Other than that, nothing out of the ordinary happened. 

Have a great week,

Elder Pace

Not sure what these pictures are other than it looks like a soccer ball.  Sadly England lost to Croatia on Wednesday in overtime.  

WEEK 102/104: A Missionary's Greatest Joy

Happy 4th of July! We bought some rootbeer to celebrate. We are also going to make cookies and just go hard. We might even get 5 guys pizza which is super expensive over here. I love America

This week was my final fast and testimony meeting in England. Once a month, we fast (don't eat or drink for 24 hours) and the church service we have that day is called fast and testimony meeting. During that meeting, people have the opportunity to go to the stand and share their thoughts and feelings of how they have found or built their faith in Christ and to declare things that they know to be true. This is often a great chance to be strengthened in our own faith as we hear about how others feel the same way as us. 

This week was that meeting and it was really touching to me. Our friend Fahad came again. He is only 12 and is the only one of his family who comes to church. The rest of his family is either not religious or is of a different faith and they sometimes give him a hard time about going to church and believing this. Yesterday he unexpectedly got up in front of a congregation of roughly 110 people and told us he wanted to share how he has felt learning about this message. He briefly recounted his story of meeting the missionaries and told us how grateful he was that he can know about this. As members of the church that have these meetings monthly, we often fall into a routine of saying very similar things out of habit. Fahad doesn't have any of these preconceptions of what to say and his comments were totally based off his feeling. He spoke in the clearest way he could about how this gospel has changed his life and outlook and how it has brought a "giant ball of happiness" into his life. He talked about how much it is meant that he can be here now even though he is on his own. He shared about how as he keeps learning, he has felt more and more faith and has gotten his own relationship with God. Hearing him speak about how this changed him touched me and really got to me. If I spent 2 years here and did nothing except for this, it was worth it. Realizing how much Fahad will be changed by having found truth was a precious moment. No matter how tough some weeks were, I would never ever stop that knowing that it will mean this much to even one person. It was one of the happiest times of my mission.

Love you all,

Elder Pace

I never answered your questions from this last week. We have a few people that we teach. We teach a lad called Fahad who is 12. He is so cool and is a really great friend. We also teach a man called Danny. He is English and has been doing great. We have known him for about a month. He likes snowboarding and Japanese. We also are teaching two lads who are about our age called Chris and Hadrian. We just met them this week. Another person We are teaching is an older lady called Maurine. She is probably the most open old person I have met. Most of them are too set in what they have been doing for their lives to change. 

Elder Omoruyi is my companion. He is really funny and is a nice guy. He does really well at helping people see what they do good. He highlights their best skills and traits which is so good. We find by street contacting and knocking. Nothing too crazy. Members here have done great at being friends to the people we teach. They are welcoming and helpful in relating to them and strengthening them. They don't do too much finding. I think it is extremely hard to get a ward excited to find people to teach. Every so often It happens but in my experience it isn't that common

WEEK 101/104: Charity

This week we had to do a deep clean and we spent a solid 5 hours cleaning the flat. It was brutal. Our flat wasn't even that dirty. It just is sparkling now.

Also this week, we got to do some service. That was really fun.  We spent a few hours helping people sort out their front gardens. And can't send this email without giving England a shout out! They won their world cup match 6-1 and are looking good going to their upcoming match with Belgium.

This week at church we had ward conference and they taught us about charity. The point was made in our lesson that charity is more a state of being rather than what you do. When you have charity, you have become more like Christ. It is your character. It is something that shows itself in how we think and act. And it comes through earnest prayer in behalf of others. It comes through consistently choosing to give our attention to others especially when we have needs of our own. That is something we all need to develop. I think if we try our best this week to recognise when we are thinking of ourselves and choose to help someone around us who could use a boost, we will all move more toward becoming charitable and making the world better.

Love you all,

Elder Pace 

WEEK 100: Peak District

We went to the peak district which is a huge area of hiking basically. It has some nice views. We went as a district and got some good pictures so I can send those in. It has taken me an entire year of being in the Sheffield Zone for me to get there.

This week was zone conference and it was good. We had fun and got to see a bunch of the lads. I learned a lot but the biggest thing was about repentance. We talked of ways that we can repent ourselves. 

To repent essentially means to change ourselves with the help of Christ to become more like Him. It is a rewarding process. As we talked about how we can repent and change ourselves through sincere and earnest personal prayer and consistent effort, it made me realize how much that can mean in our lives. Sometimes we feel stuck in a corner. Sometimes we feel like we just aren't moving forward. Other times we may not think that we have the strength to make new better habits. But through it all Christ patiently waits until we are ready to turn to Him. He is perfect at changing people. He never fails. He always opens doors and fills lives with hope. No matter what our life is like or who we are, we can all repent. We simply recognize something that should change to bring us closer to Christ and allow our remorse to lead us to ask for forgiveness. We also ask for strength to never go back. I know each of us can feel greater hope and become a better person this week as we willingly choose to repent.

Love you all,

Elder Pace 

Side note from his letter to me:

Yes We do have Fathers Day here. It's the same day as well. It was a nice service on Sunday except that Fahad brought his dog which we had to manage out in the foyer! That was a bit of excitement.

WEEK 99: Another New Companion

Pictures:  a FHE with a family in the ward; saying good-bye to Elder Pearse; a lad called Elliot (he keeps saying "called" instead of "named" so that must be an English way?)


Even though I just got with Elder Pearse a few weeks ago, we had transfers this week and he has left. (Pictured with Elder Pearse) My new companion is also English. This one is from London and he is called Elder Omoruyi. He is about 6’4” and I look tiny next to him!

This week was full of miracles to be completely honest! Fahad came to church again and loved it! He is excited to work towards baptism and he has recognized that God truly exists and that God hears and answers his prayers. He cracks me up and we love spending time with him. 

We found another guy this week called Danny. Danny just wants to make a change in his life and he is ready to receive the gospel! He has loved reading from the Book of Mormon. This week I realized just how large of an impact the Book of Mormon makes in my own life. As I read from it, I come to know Christ more and more, I feel peace, I feel strengthened, I find peace and answers to my questions. I have more of a desire to be kind to those around me. It truly testifies of Christ and invites us to become like He is. It is a book of God.

I love so many of the people in this ward. English people are so kind and funny. I love getting to know them and serving them!

Love you all,
Elder Pace

Tyson said this is his last transfer.  They had a meeting about how to use their mission to spring into their next phase of life.  He said it was fun to see everyone but sad that it is at this point of his mission.  He said the two years has gone by way too fast.  

WEEK 96/98: God Does Not Force

Tyson returns in 6 weeks not 8 so somewhere along the way I messed up on my numbering system!  So, this letter is now WEEK 98/104!:)

This week we had an exchange with Elder Tuita and Elder Campbell. They are so much fun and we had some good times together! Fahad went through a rollercoaster of telling us that he had gotten an answer that this church is true and then two days later told us he had lost his faith in God completely. He still is trying to find out and he had a great experience at church.

I also had a great experience at church. This week going into church I was feeling just a bit down and I really tried to prepare for the sacrament. I spent some time reflecting on my week and what I was doing and what I could change. We met a lady who shared with us her belief in Christ and how much He meant to her. It was very powerful and helped me to want a deeper connection with him and a deeper sense of conviction to follow Him. I'm grateful for her beliefs and her willingness to share because it helped me feel greater peace at church the next day. 

As I sought for more, God was able to work with that. It was a very powerful moment for me. I know that God works in us when He knows we are ready. He will let us come to Him rather than force himself into our lives. I'm grateful because then I appreciate it more. I would invite you all to spend some time this week thinking about your relationship with Christ and how He has helped our could help in your life. Go to church with that in mind and I know your experience will be much more meaningful and fulfilling.

Love you all,

Elder Pace 

WEEK 95: Hearing from Elder Pace!

This week was a bit slower but still good. We went on exchange with the zone leaders and it was quite fun.

This week I got to receive a missionary letter from Elder Pace in Ghana! That was super cool and I can't wait to hear about his adventures. 

I've been rereading the Book of Mormon from the beginning and it has been amazing how much it applies to what I am concerned about. I have learned so much from Lehi and how he finds comfort through prayer and about how our Faith in God allows us to see miracles. I think that so many of us limit ourselves. God wants to bless us and sometimes we can't find it in ourselves to trust that He can provide. God is still involved in our lives.

Love you all,

Elder Pace

WEEK 94: Fahad

Our Saudi Arabian friend called Fahad came to church this week. He is 11 and loved it. He got lost on the way and accidentally attended a pentecostal service for a while.

We had interviews. It was great seeing President and Sister Turvey.  They are so cool and really make our day.

It was emphasised to me this week the importance of writing down spiritual experiences. It shows God we care and it really boosts us later. I reviewed some of mine this week and it was the best.

Love you all,
Elder Pace

WEEK 93: Mother's Day Call

My companion Elder Dromey is leaving and they are reinstating me as part of the p team. My new companion will be Elder Pearse. It has been about 6 months since I had a companion whose last name started with P. He is from England and is way funny. I know him a fair bit and I can't wait to serve with him. Elder Dromey is going to Sunderland in the very North of England. 

We got to Skype home this week and it was great to see my family! They are amazing. A special treat was saying goodbye to my brother Tanner who will be leaving on his mission on Wednesday! It will be a long four years of not seeing each other but I am so excited for him. He will be a great missionary and really do a lot of good with the people in Ghana.

The highlight of the week was having a Slovak family come to church with us. 17 people walked an hour and twenty minutes to get there with us! One son, Urban, really is not enjoying England so far. He wants to work and is qualified to run the heavy construction equipment but his English isn't good enough yet to get that sort of a job. It really makes me sad because he wants to change his lifestyle but is struggling. I can't wait for him to see how God can play a role in his learning the language and achieving his goals. He will be able to find so much more joy and live up to his potential.

Have a great week,

Elder Pace

WEEK 92: Positive Thinking

We are having the hottest bank holiday on record in the UK today! It's only about 86 degrees oral me thing like that. We played some good sport outside and even ran some 40yd dashes with one of our zone leaders who will be playing for the BYU football team when he goes home. I love the sun

This week we worked hard. Julia got baptised. She is 9 and her dad baptised her. She is so cool and it was a fun day for their family.  Her brother who is 8 got baptised with her.

Working on positivity at the moment, so we are trying to emphasise even more positive speech and thoughts among ourselves.

Love you all,
Elder Pace

WEEK 91: Stickers & Smiles

I love this ward so far. I have met a fair number of the members here and they all seem really nice and fun to be around. I have had a blast working here this week. I am super tired at the end of the day because me and Elder Dromey are giving it our all every day. Things are laying off and the work here in Sheffield 2 is moving forward. I think at least my mom will be happy to hear that Elder Dromey likes taking photos. He wants to make it a goal of ours that we take photos throughout the week. It’s been working so far.

One of our friends is named Kay and she has a 3 year old daughter called Charlotte. Charlotte was really quiet around us always and wouldn’t talk to us even though the missionaries have been coming over for a while. I made it my goal to become her friend. By the end of the week and after sharing a few stickers, I got her to talk to me and now she will come sit by us and smile when we see her. It made me feel really happy when she finally started smiling. It made me realise just how impactful the little acts of service can be in people’s lives.  Sometimes people just need a friend. We just had to share a sticker or two with her and it helped her out. For others, they might need a smile or a sincere thank you, we don’t know what they have happening in their lives, but we do know how to reach out. I know that God often chooses to love us through others. I hope we can all find a way to reach out this week to someone we normally wouldn’t. Whether it be someone who is alone, or someone who we don’t like, or whoever, I know the world will be a little happier as we all take a chance to share
God’s light in small but significant ways

Love you all, have a great week,
Elder Pace