WEEK 73: SNOW!

This week we had snow! I loved it. I want to make a snow angel and a snowman and snowballs. Elder Watson gets a kick out of watching how excited I am. He says he feels like he is watching a little kid. I feel like a little kid so that's fine. I'm so pumped. It might be my first white Christmas!

We spent a lot of time with other Elders around Leeds this week. It was so much fun. I learn so much from those guys. Everyone is excited for Christmas and we are all finding lots of success in sharing about the joy Christ brings us.

I met a guy this week that told me the Holy Spirit visited him and he was unconscious for 20 days. He also prays with his hands spread wide to the heavens and ends it in ancient Hebrew. He is hilarious. He mentioned to us that he has read the Book of Mormon, but he read it after smoking a joint, so he didn't get the full effect. He is going to try it again without the drugs this time. I hope it goes well.

We had stake conference and Katie came and so did two friends of President Whitehead (he is the leader of the group of congregations in this area). They were super cool and got to meet Elder  Sabin (one of the leaders of the church as a whole). 

Anyways, as Christmas is coming there is no better time to turn more to our Saviour. I know that He gave his whole life and even his death for our benefit. He did everything to love and serve us. He lives again, He still reaches out to help and lift and encourage us all. Let's do what we can to learn and share more about our Saviour Jesus Christ this Christmas season.

Love you all,
Elder Pace

WEEK 72: Miracles

The Lord looked after us this week. We tried our very best to work hard and be diligent and obedient and serve others. He provided miracles. President Turvey promised that each set of missionaries could find someone who would be ready to accept the message of peace and hope and we could see them change their lives and be baptized by Christmas. That is an amazing promise and we have all been working hard to find the people that are out there. I had the privilege to work with a lot of the missionaries this week as we searched for the people who are ready. As we went out, we prayed long and hard about where we needed to be. Each time we met someone who was prepared to hear this message and take steps to follow it.

My favorite was when I was with Elder Peck and we were visiting my old area, Leeds 2. We prayed about where to go and discussed where we thought. We repeated this pattern for 30 minutes of planning until we all agreed on a small community. I had been there before and no one was interested and only one was friendly. I was apprehensive. On the first street we knocked, the very first door that opened was a nice lady from Nigeria. She used to be Muslim, but felt unfulfilled and has been looking for something more, she has a young family and as she opened the door, her husband arrived home from work so we could go inside. She is a surgeon who studied at Oxford University! She was so excited to hear about the Book of Mormon and how it has brought answers and peace to our own lives. I can't wait to see how the Lord continues to work with her.

So many instances like this helped me see that the Lord has people ready and He will guide us to help his children to find their answers. I love it. I have so much fun out here, learn so much, and I am strengthened every day by God. As it says in the Book of Mormon, his tender mercies are over all who keep his commandments.

Have a great week,
Elder Pace

WEEK 71: Feeling Grateful

The hills are a picture in Keighley.  We went on a Blitz with some missionaries over there.  It snowed!

So I just wanted to take a bit of time to share some things I am grateful for!  I'm grateful for my parents, who raised me to be happy and to be kind and to follow Christ. For the example they set of a good healthy marriage.  I'm grateful for my siblings, they support me in everything I do and help me to have fun.  I'm grateful for fish and chips, it's opened my eyes to a new world.  I'm grateful for this mission experience since I have met so many
great people and have felt a change in me to want to be closer to God because of it.  I'm grateful for the Book of Mormon, it has strengthened my knowledge of and love for my Saviour Jesus Christ. I have felt God's peace and comfort come into my life as I studied the inspired writings it contains.  I'm grateful for Jesus Christ. For his life, his suffering, his death, his teachings, his love, his power, his grace. He means everything. He has helped me out with so much and I can't imagine where I would be without Him.

This week was great. We had some fun times and met a few really cool people. One guy named Emeka just honestly wants to find truth. He feels like truth has been changed and lost over time and he wants to know if it is anywhere on earth. He is on holiday now, but I am excited for him to find the truth that has been restored to the earth to end his search. He will be pumped! Zone Conference helped inspire me to be a better person, to reach out to the individual more and to care. It helped me want to turn more to God with my decisions. I'm excited for these next few weeks.

Love you all,
Elder Pace

WEEK 70: New Companion

Elder Watson is my new companion. It was a legendary week. We accidentally stole luggage, returned it, found the cheapest takeaway in England, bought tracksuits, and had a good time.

We are now teaching Katie again. She came back to church and loved it.  She is working through some family concerns. Charlotte is still going strong after her baptism as is Nikolas. We met a Russian guy this week! His name is Sam and when we told him a bit how the Book of Mormon could help him, he replied, "If that's true, that book is magic!" I know that the Book is true, but it's not magic, it's the word of God. A study of that book and an application of its principles brings His approval and His power to our lives. It helps in school, in sports, in relationships, whatever. God knows our needs and He wants to help us.

Love you all,
Elder Pace

WEEK 69: Temple Trip

(The individual he is pictured with is Jack and is from Essex.  Tyson says he is the first Suns fan he has met in England and he loves Steve Nash for the same reasons he does.  The last picture is of Charlotte and Josh who introduced her to the Church, Elder Palmer and Tyson)

So two big things happened this week. I went to the temple, and we had transfers. My companion is leaving and he is going to York. I will be serving with Elder Watson! He is such a homie. I served around him in Sheffield. I am so excited for this next transfer. Lots of the missionaries here are changing and we will have a new dynamic in the zone.

The temple was amazing. We went with Naomi and Mark Lippert and Charlotte and Josh and Katie. They are all members here in Bradford except Katie, who is in Skipton. We drove down there and spent a few hours at the temple. It was so great to be there again. I love how peaceful it feels and the quiet that surrounds us. We can take a break from the problems we have outside and feel closer to God.

This week as I read in the book of Mormon I was touched as I realized how important humility is in our lives. As long as we are humble in trusting the Lord, things will improve. We don't need to worry about things going wrong in our lives now. As we continue to obey, the Lord is bound to bless us. The people of Alma in the book of Mormon were in a tough spot. They were being persecuted for believing in God. Because they believed, they would be attacked and belittled. They chose to trust God and believe that better things would come. Even though some people still didn't like them, they were blessed with everything they needed and more. They then chose to follow God and share what they had and we're filled with joy. As long as we follow God, we don't have to worry about any up or down in our life

Love you all,
Elder Pace

WEEK 68: Temple

No letter this week as they went to the temple for their PDAY

WEEK 67: Bradley Foster

We had a meeting with a general authority (leader in our church) this week and it was so cool to meet him. He shared a lot of things that really helped me out and gave me some guidance. I realized that there are many ways for me to improve.

We had two Baptisms in our ward this week. One was a man named Jamie who the other missionaries worked with and the other was Nikolas who is a Slovak lad. They are both super cool. Jamie showed up to his baptism in a Lakers jersey and it cracked me up. His personality is hilarious.

One quote that has really stuck out to me this week was "I have wept in the night for the shortness of sight that to somebody's need made me blind, but I have never yet felt a tinge of regret for being a little too kind". I think that those words will always keep us in line.

Have a great week! Happy Halloween!
Elder Pace