WEEK 90: Full Circle

I got transferred again! After only four weeks in Sheffield 3, I will be going to Sheffield 2 to serve with Elder Dromey who is my grandson! I trained the guy who trained him and I did it in the same flat we will be living in. It will be really cool to serve with both my son and grandson in the same flat about a year apart.

This week I was on exchanges with Elder Tuita (pictured above)! We had a lot of fun together and we got to try this thing called a fatayer. It's like a middle eastern calzone. We got it from this place called Santos in Dewsbury which is known all around the mission for its fatayer! It was so good. 

It was a great week and I will be sad to say goodbye to this ward and this area. We made a ton of really good friends in our short time here.

Have a Great Week,

Elder Pace 

The broadcast from President Nelson was great. We had struggles getting it to pull up all around the mission so we missed the beginning. It was great to hear from the prophet and to feel a witness that he is called of God. 

WEEK 89: Fun Exchanges

We were able to go on exchange with Elder Peck and Elder Kostrab! I love those guys. I got to spend Monday night with Elder Peck and it was so much fun being with him again (Note:  Elder Peck was Tyson's companion in the missionary training center and they went to England together and will leave England together!) I learn so much from his example and total dedication every time. Tuesday I was with Elder Kostrab and that was also way fun. We got to speak a lot of Slovak together and he was very patient with me as he helped correct my mistakes and teach me new things. He is already so confident and capable as a new missionary! They are great.

We met a bloke named Dwayne this week. He really hopes his life can be changed by believing in Christ. His faith is inspiring. It was cool to hear him open up about things that he has noticed in his own life and then express his willingness to follow Christ in the hopes that it will help him. He has done everything he said he would do and I hope he is feeling a difference already. I think the most rewarding part of this work is seeing the transformation in people as they take steps toward Christ and allow his power to strengthen them. It's amazing as they start feeling his love. 

I also got to go on exchange (this is a day swap of your colleague) with my "grandson", Elder Dromey. The guy who taught him how to be a missionary was Elder Campbell who is the guy that I got to teach. Although, Elder Campbell knew what he was doing from day 1 so I didn't do much teaching. It was a cool experience to be with Elder Dromey for a day. He is funny and I am glad to get to know him now. 

Love you all,

Elder Pace 

WEEK 88: Conference

This week was really great. We spent a lot of time with other missionaries since we had zone conference and general conference. General conference is when the leaders of our church speak to the whole church via broadcast. It happens once every six months and it is a great time to get answers to questions we have. As we come prepared to learn from the Lord's servants on the Earth, God is able to teach and answer us through them. That is what happened for me. I came with very specific questions and left the meetings with answers. I know that God has a prophet on the Earth today. He still leads his people in the same way as He has always done. At the same time God restored a prophet, he restored the priesthood power that brings greater peace and comfort into our lives.

I love serving a mission. It is the best thing ever.

Love you all,

Elder Pace

WEEK 87: Transfers

I am going back to Sheffield! I will be serving with Elder Eliassen in Sheffield 3rd ward. Don't have much time to write, but the Bradford ward was great. I loved it. I will be sad to leave them. Tracey is doing great and is pumped for her baptism.

Love you,
Elder Pace

NOTE:  Tyson is in the back with Elder Hardy (the son of the family that came to Arizona and came to visit)

I love how he has his chocolate milk on the top of his pile of stuff to take to his new apartment!

WEEK 86: England

I honestly don't know what a stand out moment from the week was. So I just called this England since I love being here. It's a great place with some funny people. I am wearing a flat cap and en English football top so I feel a lot of attachment to the country right now. 

This week I finally said goodbye to Elder Watson. I got to see him at one last meeting on Friday before he goes home in a week. It was sad. He is a great guy! 

We met a lad who plays for the u18 team of a local football club, Bradford City, and he came to play at our church football match we hold. He loved it and now might come to church with us. He is so cool! I hope things work out. Tracey is still doing well and is excited for baptism. She is making a lot of positive changes in her life. She is happier for sure.

This week I focused a lot on the Book of Mormon. I realised just how much my life has changed as I studied that book. It has shared with me more knowledge about Christ and has had powerful sermons inviting me to make changes to follow him and have more happiness in life. As I have devoted time to a study of God's word contained in It, He has been more present in my life. He has helped me in school and He has orchestrated situations in my life to let me meet people who became my closest friends and whose influence I really needed. I know beyond a doubt that this book has brought me closer to God than any other. It has helped me to feel peace and joy and every other desirable emotion. God is real and He has given us ways to find out for ourselves. This is one of them

Have a great week,

Elder Pace 

WEEK 85: Snow

It snowed a ton this week! At our interviews it was the coldest President Turvey has ever seen in the UK. They told us all to take our weekly planning session (a 2-3 hour deal) that day and avoid spending time outside. But after interviews we had a snowball fight with Sister Turvey and made a snowman of sorts. It was really fun.

This week I got to go with Elder Tuita (a friend also from Peoria, AZ)! It took awhile, but we finally got to serve together even if it was just 8 hours or so.

This week I learned that everything happens for a reason and the Lord is very aware of our needs even if we aren't. He has a great master plan to give us every chance to hear his joyful message and to invite us to change. I am so grateful He cares for me and I know He cares for each of his children. Even if we feel He is hidden, His love is still reaching for us. Sister Turvey always reminds us that the sun is always shining even when the clouds hide it. The same is true for God. He is always there even if we simply can't see him.

Have a great week

Elder Pace 

WEEK 84: Being Trimmed Down

We got to participate in ward football this week! I love it so much. They are making it every other week now rather than once a month so it should be good. I have been in the Leeds zone for longer than I was in Sheffield which blows my mind.

This week we had a lot of challenges in our work. People stopped answering our calls and are avoiding us, people that were meant to be baptised bailed out at the last minute, another friend of ours told us that she was done meeting with us because she felt that this religion asks to much. It was difficult to see it all. Monday is when most of the bad news hit us. So it was a long week, but I feel like I learned a lot. I learned more of how to trust God and more of how to be humble. I learned about finding things to be grateful for even when it would be so easy to see only the failures. Overall, we needed this week so I'm glad it happened. The Lord sometimes needs to trim us down before we can grow to be what He sees in us

Have a great week,

Elder Pace 

Answers to my questions:

1.  How was your week?  The week was pretty good. We had a few bumps as always throughout the zone but nothing too major. We enjoyed ourselves and saw some miracles.

2.  What was your highlight?  The highlight of the week was probably our friend Jordan came to church. He is an alcoholic and struggles to keep this commitment. He walked an hour into town and stopped cars asking for directions. Some guy found out he was going to church and paid for his taxi to get there so he didn't have to walk another 30 minutes. He enjoyed his first experience there and said he would come back next week.

3.  What is the weather like now?  It is snowing today but it is sunny more often than before as well. Weather changes a lot over here.

4.  Who are you teaching?  Does it look promising?  We are teaching Tracey, Jordan, Sebastian and this Polish family. Tracey looked really promising but is having doubts because some commandments are hard for her. Jordan just needs help to overcome his addiction but is progressing. Seb is not answering his phone :( and the polish family could be good. We just met them.

5.  How often do you drive?  Have you adjusted to driving on the other side of the road?  I drive usually once a week. I enjoy having a break from driving and try to plan things out that we need to do while Elder Barber drives. On Monday, he writes emails while I drive. I am pretty used to driving on the left side now.

6.  What was your favorite meal this week?  We made a good cheesy pasta this week :)

7.  Do you wash your own clothes?  Do you have a washing machine/dryer in your apartment?  We have a washer and a dryer yes

8.  What is the hardest mission rule to be strictly obedient to in your opinion?  They aren't difficult. I sometimes am super tired, but getting up on time is still an easy choice. That is the hardest one to deal with just cause I am tired through the day sometimes

9.  I know you loved your trek parents.  What advice can you give us based on your experience?   I don't know. It wasn't anything that they specifically did so much as who they are. They honestly cared about us and we just had a load of fun together and they were friends to us.

10.  Is there a scripture or scripture story that you turn to over and over again?  Not really. I tend to just continue reading from wherever I am