Right now England is really cold. Luckily, we have a boiler in our flat so we should be fine as far as heating inside. Outside, I'm going to wear sweaters. We were out finding in the snow most of the day on Saturday. I wasn't going to mess around with it. I wore two jackets. I was still cold because the snow soaked through my Track 5 shoes after a couple hours, but that was going to happen no matter what shoes I wore I think. I can't remember when I’ve felt so physically and mentally exhausted. But we were blessed at the end of a hard day’s work to find someone new to teach, so all that work paid off. Our week wasn't too bad we had a meeting in York, so we got to take the train again to York. I feel good, just tired, but when do you not feel tired on a mission? We are working hard, looking for people.
It was transfers again; I'm still here with Elder DeShazer! Yeah! we've gotten quite used to each other, it's like we're brother's pretty much. We're two crazy polish speaking, American, pasta eating, street walking missionaries. I don't know how else to describe us.
It's funny I asked Elder Taylor, who's going home, how long he served in an area. He said seven and a half months. Then, Elder Griffiths turned to me and told me, “that's a long time...for a normal missionary.” I've been here nine months, it’s funny. We can hardly walk down the street without running into someone that we know or met previously. That's how we stop a lot of people now days. "Oh hey! I met you back in October!"
I know that Brendon will be in good hands. I don't know if I was more nervous or more curious as to what would happen with my mission call; I think I just wanted to know what was going to happen. I know that I'm protected here; I don't even worry really even when we go to "dodgy" areas. Truthfully I've been really protected and I know that. I don't think I ever told you about the time I almost got hit by a semi truck. I know that I’m protected.
To Brendon: It goes by like a dream so you need to make the most of it. Wherever you go, you'll love it; even if it's a crazy country, or a small farm town. I think that a mission is for building people I think Heavenly Father sends us on missions to make us better people. It doesn't change who you are, it just makes you a better you. I know that where ever you go, won't be easy, but it will be somewhere perfect for you. Heavenly Father knows who he wants you to be. Check out this link. Its good. http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages?lang=eng#the-will-of-god
Love you much,
Starszy Ressler
Hull - March 18, 2013
Not a bad week, a little slow, but not too slow. We're still searching for new people to teach and that's what's been going slow but we found two new Polish people this week and we're seeing them on Wednesday (sroda). I didn't even realize it was Saint Patrick's Day. I saw a girl wearing a green hat. But I didn't think anything of it till now.
The most rewarding thing on my mission so far is the feeling I get watching someone who's come a long way or even a short way finally be baptized. I could feel the spirit so strongly when David was baptized. The sacrifices that were made are worth it because I get to see a world I normally wouldn't see; I meet so many amazing people who I wouldn't have come to love otherwise. There are so many people here that I've come to love and want to be in God's kingdom with after this life. I learn a lot in study. I finished the Book of Mormon in Polish. I'm again in Nephi now, and I find that there is a lot that Nephi is willing to do. He's always trusting, and always searching for Heavenly Father's will. I love to study about faith, hope, and charity in Moroni 7 as well as in Corinthians 13.
We are all children of God. He loves all of his children, not just some. Sadly some of them don't want help or are confused. He wants every one of us to live with him again, but not everyone will, sadly, and the only reason they won't is because they choose not to. At least everyone should have the chance though. Sadly a missionary from another church was trying to bash with me earlier this week, and he talked about how only a certain number could be in Heavenly Father's kingdom. I don't believe that God would send all of us to earth only so that a certain number could make it back. Everyone can return if they choose to.
Elder DeShazer and I joke around a bit sometimes. I know that we are getting loads of new missionaries soon and that two Polish speaking elders are coming to England in May.
I finally got the Polish keyboard to work. teraz moge pisac w po poskul. There are a few weird letters now that I can write. weim ze ksiega Mormona jest prawdziwa, i ze kosciól Jezusa Chrystusa jest tez. wien ze Jezus jest Chrystusem, i zadoscucinil dla nas. mamy traboski, ale Bóg moge nas pomoc. Straszny jest kiedy zapomietalem wiele slow po engielsku. Jak jest Rodziny? hyba Brendon bedzie sluzyc w Idaho, albo hyba w Polca.
Kocham was
Starszy Ressler
The most rewarding thing on my mission so far is the feeling I get watching someone who's come a long way or even a short way finally be baptized. I could feel the spirit so strongly when David was baptized. The sacrifices that were made are worth it because I get to see a world I normally wouldn't see; I meet so many amazing people who I wouldn't have come to love otherwise. There are so many people here that I've come to love and want to be in God's kingdom with after this life. I learn a lot in study. I finished the Book of Mormon in Polish. I'm again in Nephi now, and I find that there is a lot that Nephi is willing to do. He's always trusting, and always searching for Heavenly Father's will. I love to study about faith, hope, and charity in Moroni 7 as well as in Corinthians 13.
We are all children of God. He loves all of his children, not just some. Sadly some of them don't want help or are confused. He wants every one of us to live with him again, but not everyone will, sadly, and the only reason they won't is because they choose not to. At least everyone should have the chance though. Sadly a missionary from another church was trying to bash with me earlier this week, and he talked about how only a certain number could be in Heavenly Father's kingdom. I don't believe that God would send all of us to earth only so that a certain number could make it back. Everyone can return if they choose to.
Elder DeShazer and I joke around a bit sometimes. I know that we are getting loads of new missionaries soon and that two Polish speaking elders are coming to England in May.
I finally got the Polish keyboard to work. teraz moge pisac w po poskul. There are a few weird letters now that I can write. weim ze ksiega Mormona jest prawdziwa, i ze kosciól Jezusa Chrystusa jest tez. wien ze Jezus jest Chrystusem, i zadoscucinil dla nas. mamy traboski, ale Bóg moge nas pomoc. Straszny jest kiedy zapomietalem wiele slow po engielsku. Jak jest Rodziny? hyba Brendon bedzie sluzyc w Idaho, albo hyba w Polca.
Kocham was
Starszy Ressler
Hull - March 11, 2013
Last week the Olsen’s took us to Hornsea; out to fish and chips and also to the beach, where we wandered and watched the waves. I took some great pictures but today I forgot the cord to plug it into the computer. Sad day; smutno mi! I still struggle with polish, but I'm doing a lot better than before. It'll probably be a struggle my whole mission but maybe I'll get real good with it. It's funny when Elder DeShazer or I forget a word in English.
It really is amazing how quickly that the church is moving with missionary work. It's still amazing to me the age drop. I think we're going to see the effect of it all this next transfer, as the large groups are going to start filing in. I think I told you but about 98 new missionaries were coming in by July as of a few months ago (more than the set amount of missionaries that our mission has at a time). I've heard of cases where one experienced sister has to be in a trio and train two sisters at one time. It's really crazy I think.
I've been more worried about retaining people that we baptize in the church. I've seen a few cases where someone will take the lessons or even get baptized but when a missionary leaves they lose interest. It's when they've become more interested in the missionary than in the gospel. I think Elder Bednar said something about becoming converted to the gospel and not converted to the missionary. Sadly I've seen it. I know one of our investigators is converted to the Gospel; I've heard his testimony and we no longer have to ask him if he's coming to church he comes on his own. I think that a lot of it all comes down to desire; it's their desire that keeps them going. And sadly desire is either impossible, or very, very hard to give to someone. But I only hope that the people that we meet we can say something that will spark their desire and that they'll know for themselves. That's what we all have to do for ourselves as well, find that desire, to have that testimony, and be converted. When I think of conversion, a word that came to mind is sacrifice. I think we have to work and be willing to sacrifice our will to the Lord so that it's His will over ours. I do worry a lot about the people I teach becoming converted and not just to me.
My studies are going good; I just finished the Book of Mormon in Polish! And now have started it again in Polish. I understand lots more this time round.
Love you much,
Starszy Ressler
It really is amazing how quickly that the church is moving with missionary work. It's still amazing to me the age drop. I think we're going to see the effect of it all this next transfer, as the large groups are going to start filing in. I think I told you but about 98 new missionaries were coming in by July as of a few months ago (more than the set amount of missionaries that our mission has at a time). I've heard of cases where one experienced sister has to be in a trio and train two sisters at one time. It's really crazy I think.
I've been more worried about retaining people that we baptize in the church. I've seen a few cases where someone will take the lessons or even get baptized but when a missionary leaves they lose interest. It's when they've become more interested in the missionary than in the gospel. I think Elder Bednar said something about becoming converted to the gospel and not converted to the missionary. Sadly I've seen it. I know one of our investigators is converted to the Gospel; I've heard his testimony and we no longer have to ask him if he's coming to church he comes on his own. I think that a lot of it all comes down to desire; it's their desire that keeps them going. And sadly desire is either impossible, or very, very hard to give to someone. But I only hope that the people that we meet we can say something that will spark their desire and that they'll know for themselves. That's what we all have to do for ourselves as well, find that desire, to have that testimony, and be converted. When I think of conversion, a word that came to mind is sacrifice. I think we have to work and be willing to sacrifice our will to the Lord so that it's His will over ours. I do worry a lot about the people I teach becoming converted and not just to me.
My studies are going good; I just finished the Book of Mormon in Polish! And now have started it again in Polish. I understand lots more this time round.
Love you much,
Starszy Ressler
Hull - March 4, 2013
Cheers!
It's strange to see how fast time has gone by. It really seems like yesterday that I said goodbye to you all and went to the MTC. I think that this time we have on earth will go by like a dream. I for sure feel old. I still can't believe I was 18 and now I'm 20...yea I'm old. And my back is starting to hurt, (that's for sure a sign of old age). This is the one year of my life that I will spend all of it being a missionary.
Things are still plenty busy, but going good. We're still both tired but that comes with the work I think. I'm taking my vitamins, no worries. Every week Sister Everett, who is a widow in our ward, gives us a bag full of apples, bananas, apple juice, chocolate, bacon and eggs when we go and visit her. She is an angel. We're very well taken care of here by so many good people. And many of the ward members feed us often. Sister Waslin is having us over for my birthday and is baking me a cake she has us over every week and is really good to us.
Elder DeShazer is as goofy as ever. He's doing well, I think. Hey maybe Sadie and Addie could draw him a picture and write him a letter and then send it to our flat. I think that'd brighten his day. I love that Elder.
People here are good. Daniel’s whole family came to Church; I love that family so much!! We saw Peter, he was painting his house I tried to say 'you're painting' in Polish, but what I said was 'you're wasting'. Woops... something to laugh about.
Sophie is excited to get baptized, and Andy wants her to so she'll be on the straight and narrow. Aziz is super good as well.
My studies are good. I'm trying to do it all in Polish, I don't understand everything. But the things that I do understand hit home to me a lot. I love trying to see it in a new perspective.
Our lessons are about 50 min. It depends on the lesson. They aren't supposed to go any longer than about 1 hour, sometimes they do a little though. Sometimes if someone doesn't have time then we can meet with them for a short amount of time.
You know I have a picture I carry around with me of our family in my Book of Mormon and I show it to people when I talk about families. I love you all so much. As I've come out on a mission, I've been thinking more and more about the members of my family who are less active themselves. I wonder at times if maybe they just need a friend. We need to love them even more.
I think that for my birthday I want to do lots of missionary work. I think that'll be the best present I get finding someone I can share what I love the most. And on the way building my own testimony that Jesus is our Savior. And that God loves all of us. I don't want to be anyone but me because I know that God made me and I am special. I know that God made all of his children and they are all special too; and he loves us all.
Love you much,
Starszy Ressler
It's strange to see how fast time has gone by. It really seems like yesterday that I said goodbye to you all and went to the MTC. I think that this time we have on earth will go by like a dream. I for sure feel old. I still can't believe I was 18 and now I'm 20...yea I'm old. And my back is starting to hurt, (that's for sure a sign of old age). This is the one year of my life that I will spend all of it being a missionary.
Things are still plenty busy, but going good. We're still both tired but that comes with the work I think. I'm taking my vitamins, no worries. Every week Sister Everett, who is a widow in our ward, gives us a bag full of apples, bananas, apple juice, chocolate, bacon and eggs when we go and visit her. She is an angel. We're very well taken care of here by so many good people. And many of the ward members feed us often. Sister Waslin is having us over for my birthday and is baking me a cake she has us over every week and is really good to us.
Elder DeShazer is as goofy as ever. He's doing well, I think. Hey maybe Sadie and Addie could draw him a picture and write him a letter and then send it to our flat. I think that'd brighten his day. I love that Elder.
People here are good. Daniel’s whole family came to Church; I love that family so much!! We saw Peter, he was painting his house I tried to say 'you're painting' in Polish, but what I said was 'you're wasting'. Woops... something to laugh about.
Sophie is excited to get baptized, and Andy wants her to so she'll be on the straight and narrow. Aziz is super good as well.
My studies are good. I'm trying to do it all in Polish, I don't understand everything. But the things that I do understand hit home to me a lot. I love trying to see it in a new perspective.
Our lessons are about 50 min. It depends on the lesson. They aren't supposed to go any longer than about 1 hour, sometimes they do a little though. Sometimes if someone doesn't have time then we can meet with them for a short amount of time.
You know I have a picture I carry around with me of our family in my Book of Mormon and I show it to people when I talk about families. I love you all so much. As I've come out on a mission, I've been thinking more and more about the members of my family who are less active themselves. I wonder at times if maybe they just need a friend. We need to love them even more.
I think that for my birthday I want to do lots of missionary work. I think that'll be the best present I get finding someone I can share what I love the most. And on the way building my own testimony that Jesus is our Savior. And that God loves all of us. I don't want to be anyone but me because I know that God made me and I am special. I know that God made all of his children and they are all special too; and he loves us all.
Love you much,
Starszy Ressler