I'm super good. Our investigators are good. We're teaching a young woman who is studying theology. She's so nice and makes good cakes. She came to conference and said she would like to come to church sometime. We see her with Bev a lot, which is good because those two get on really well. Bev is like our missionary mother here; she is such a great lady. We're having a family home evening at Bev’s with her.
A man who is from India came to church yesterday and I hope he enjoyed it. I hope that he can feel the spirit with us.
We're not teaching any Polish people which is sad to me. I also think that I'm losing my Polish. I know I am. Except sometimes I forget words in English still and almost say the Polish word. I almost said to someone "have a nice Niedziela" instead of "Sunday".
I realize that I've still got a while one my mission and that I shouldn't really be thinking about coming home. When I was first out I saw missionaries who were burning out and close to being home. I decided then that I'd work hard all the way through my mission. So I'm going to continue to work hard even on my very, very last day, if I'm out knocking on doors, then I'll do it the best I can. After all, this is the only time in my life I'll get to do this. And also I love my mission so much; I converted Elder Mullen to knocking on doors because we made it fun. You just got to make it enjoyable.
I haven't had a chance to read the General Conference talks yet, but when they give us the ensign then I'll be able to.
I had to sing a solo in polish in the Primary program last week.
England has so many accents. If you travel about 30 min somewhere, they have a different accent.
For p-day we missionaries are going to have a Halloween party today. We're going to carve pumpkins. I'm excited!
Love you so much,
Starszy Ressler
Leeds - October 21, 2013
Things are good here in Leeds.
I'm training Elder Eisert, who is English speaking. He is from Salt Lake City, Utah and is the first companion I've had who is from Utah. He is 18 and has four older sisters. He's really energetic and excited.
Yea, our flat is super small. Elder Eisert bumps his head in most of the doorways. I don't really have a problem though. I've hit my head a few times. It's alright though. Our neighbor is really nice.
Right now we're not teaching a ton of people, but that's alright. We're working with the people we have and in our spare time (the rest of the time) searching for families. This ward really needs a few more good families.
This week we offered to do some garden work for some people. So we borrowed a mower from Bev (she's so great) and carried the thing (it was in a box) all the way to our flat (which is about a 20-30 min walk) then to the lady’s house (another 15 min) she wasn't home, so we tried again the next day. My arms were so tired. So it's been a strange week. Luckily the zone leaders have a car and they drove it back to Bev's two days later for us.
I talked to a Polish guy the other day and actually had a decent conversation with him; first one in a while. Sometimes I get to speak Polish but only like "hello", then they say that they are busy, so it's "goodbye". But I really enjoyed the conversation. He said he'd heard about us and would like to look us up on the Internet. I gave him Mormon.org/pol which is the Polish Mormon.org page. Thanks for your prayers and fasting.
This week I've had three people try to argue religion with me. You know at first on my mission people would do this ("bashing" we call it). I hate it. Why are we arguing religion? It doesn't really matter what we think, only what God thinks. But to be honest, at first I didn't know what to say or how to cope with it. But being a "dinosaur" of a missionary I've gotten a bit of experience. You know it's really true what Nephi prophesied in 2nd Nephi 29 about people saying "a bible, a bible!" I experience that quite a lot actually. But I've learned to just handle the situation calmly and I find if you can do that then you have a better chance of the spirit being there. I don't know, I think it just frustrates me. But I've learned a lot.
You know it's true I don't feel as naive anymore, meaning that I know a lot more about life, I think. I'm sure I've still got tons to learn. I figure that in life we are continually learning new things and growing. I like to learn.
It's really true about what you said that we learn from the experiences that we have. I've grown so much here. It's like Heavenly Father knows what type of person we need to be and he gives us experiences to prepare us for becoming that type of person.
You know I think of you all often. I think of how much I love you and how much you have helped me grow and learn. I've also learned about living on my own. I'm grateful for what you've taught me. I'm super grateful for the fact that you've taught me how to work. I love to work hard. I'm grateful you taught me how to do a job right. I'm grateful that you and mom taught me how to clean (we cleaned the flat this morning).
It really doesn't feel like I've been out 18 months. I love my mission. I'm sure you know the feeling. What a great experience.
Love you
Starszy Ressler
I'm training Elder Eisert, who is English speaking. He is from Salt Lake City, Utah and is the first companion I've had who is from Utah. He is 18 and has four older sisters. He's really energetic and excited.
Yea, our flat is super small. Elder Eisert bumps his head in most of the doorways. I don't really have a problem though. I've hit my head a few times. It's alright though. Our neighbor is really nice.
Right now we're not teaching a ton of people, but that's alright. We're working with the people we have and in our spare time (the rest of the time) searching for families. This ward really needs a few more good families.
This week we offered to do some garden work for some people. So we borrowed a mower from Bev (she's so great) and carried the thing (it was in a box) all the way to our flat (which is about a 20-30 min walk) then to the lady’s house (another 15 min) she wasn't home, so we tried again the next day. My arms were so tired. So it's been a strange week. Luckily the zone leaders have a car and they drove it back to Bev's two days later for us.
I talked to a Polish guy the other day and actually had a decent conversation with him; first one in a while. Sometimes I get to speak Polish but only like "hello", then they say that they are busy, so it's "goodbye". But I really enjoyed the conversation. He said he'd heard about us and would like to look us up on the Internet. I gave him Mormon.org/pol which is the Polish Mormon.org page. Thanks for your prayers and fasting.
This week I've had three people try to argue religion with me. You know at first on my mission people would do this ("bashing" we call it). I hate it. Why are we arguing religion? It doesn't really matter what we think, only what God thinks. But to be honest, at first I didn't know what to say or how to cope with it. But being a "dinosaur" of a missionary I've gotten a bit of experience. You know it's really true what Nephi prophesied in 2nd Nephi 29 about people saying "a bible, a bible!" I experience that quite a lot actually. But I've learned to just handle the situation calmly and I find if you can do that then you have a better chance of the spirit being there. I don't know, I think it just frustrates me. But I've learned a lot.
You know it's true I don't feel as naive anymore, meaning that I know a lot more about life, I think. I'm sure I've still got tons to learn. I figure that in life we are continually learning new things and growing. I like to learn.
It's really true about what you said that we learn from the experiences that we have. I've grown so much here. It's like Heavenly Father knows what type of person we need to be and he gives us experiences to prepare us for becoming that type of person.
You know I think of you all often. I think of how much I love you and how much you have helped me grow and learn. I've also learned about living on my own. I'm grateful for what you've taught me. I'm super grateful for the fact that you've taught me how to work. I love to work hard. I'm grateful you taught me how to do a job right. I'm grateful that you and mom taught me how to clean (we cleaned the flat this morning).
It really doesn't feel like I've been out 18 months. I love my mission. I'm sure you know the feeling. What a great experience.
Love you
Starszy Ressler
Leeds - October 15, 2013
So it was transfers and I'm staying here in Leeds 2. Elder Mullen is leaving and going to the Sheffield Zone to a place called Mansfield. And my new companion is.....I have no idea actually. I'm training again, it looks like it'll be another adventure for me. Tomorrow I'll find out who my new missionary will be. I'm excited to train again. When we train we usually call our trainers our "father". So we see this lineage of missionaries going on. So Elder ball is my trainer or "father" in the mission, and now he's got two grandkids and one great-grandson. He's probably super happy. So is having kids really this stressful? I know Dad, you've got gray hairs now but was I really that much of a stress? I'm kidding. I know it'll be great but a lot of work again! It'll be interesting, I'm worried I'll get lost a lot because I still am figuring my way around here. It'll be alright though.
One exciting thing is that Elder Krylborn who lived with me in my flat in Hull last winter is going to be serving in Leeds 4 which is right next to us. So I'm super excited to see him again. It'll be fun.
This P-day we're going to get together with another zone and I think even President is coming and we're all going to play football (English football).
I'm at a point and place, where I really don't speak much Polish anymore. I really, really, really want to teach another Pol. You know speaking Polish has ruined my ability to spell that I never really had. I now put w instead of v all the time. It's weird.
I like my new suit. The neat thing is that Elder Mullen got the same suit, so we've got matching suits and we also bought matching gloves. I think I'm alright there are loads of warm stuff here. Actually, I think I need a new jacket. I sold one of them to an elder who really wanted it. So now I need a new one. I looked and saw some for about £40 but I don't really like any of them. We'll see if I can find something. I have a fleece jacket, but it's getting to be really wet; that jacket is warm but not water proof. I have that one I came out with, but that is super long and I don't wear it all the time. And I have a water resistant jacket but it's really light, so I need a middle jacket I think. We'll see. I want to buy an English jacket that I like and will bring home with me. I think I can find some winter wear here to buy.
Thank you, thank you, thank you so very much for the Polish music! I've been listening to it and am starting to understand somewhat of what they are saying. It's hard because I don't speak Polish as much as I used to. I fear that I'm losing my language skills. I'm trying my best though. I mostly have a gospel vocabulary.
That is so neat that Jake Wright is in Brendon's mission! Isn't that crazy. Ah, he's going to be having such adventures I think.
Have an amazing week!
Love,
Starszy Ressler
One exciting thing is that Elder Krylborn who lived with me in my flat in Hull last winter is going to be serving in Leeds 4 which is right next to us. So I'm super excited to see him again. It'll be fun.
This P-day we're going to get together with another zone and I think even President is coming and we're all going to play football (English football).
I'm at a point and place, where I really don't speak much Polish anymore. I really, really, really want to teach another Pol. You know speaking Polish has ruined my ability to spell that I never really had. I now put w instead of v all the time. It's weird.
I like my new suit. The neat thing is that Elder Mullen got the same suit, so we've got matching suits and we also bought matching gloves. I think I'm alright there are loads of warm stuff here. Actually, I think I need a new jacket. I sold one of them to an elder who really wanted it. So now I need a new one. I looked and saw some for about £40 but I don't really like any of them. We'll see if I can find something. I have a fleece jacket, but it's getting to be really wet; that jacket is warm but not water proof. I have that one I came out with, but that is super long and I don't wear it all the time. And I have a water resistant jacket but it's really light, so I need a middle jacket I think. We'll see. I want to buy an English jacket that I like and will bring home with me. I think I can find some winter wear here to buy.
Thank you, thank you, thank you so very much for the Polish music! I've been listening to it and am starting to understand somewhat of what they are saying. It's hard because I don't speak Polish as much as I used to. I fear that I'm losing my language skills. I'm trying my best though. I mostly have a gospel vocabulary.
That is so neat that Jake Wright is in Brendon's mission! Isn't that crazy. Ah, he's going to be having such adventures I think.
Have an amazing week!
Love,
Starszy Ressler
Leeds - October 7, 2013
Leeds is treating me well. It's getting colder, but not too bad yet. It does rain a bit though.
Yea, I was able to see conference. It was really good to hear it. I enjoyed the sessions I did see. I didn't get to see the last one because they play that one at 9:00 at night. But we will get the Ensign so it'll be alright, I'll get to read them later, or I can just look them up on the computer if I get the chance. We went to the Crossgates Chapel to see them. I think that that is the stake center.
We're good. We’re working with a few people. Martine came to church. She is studying theology at University and is looking to teach theology someday. She came and also a man from India. We're not teaching any Polish or Slovakian people at the moment.
I know that the work is hastening. It was interesting because so many of the talks were related. I didn't get to see the part about Sheffield, but I think I would like to.
It rained a bit over the weekend, and then it was sunny for conference (when we got to be inside). But I guess that's just life and English weather.
This week I went on exchange with Elder Mast, he's from France and is really funny. I like him. He's only been learning English for about 10 weeks and already speaks it pretty well. The funny thing is that I got lost. Elder Mullen usually takes the lead in where we are going because I don't have a clue (I have a better idea now days though). But we ended up going out of the area and almost out of the zone! But we were safe. I saw a sign that said Dewsbery Town Center and decided that we had better get off. When we got off we saw the Elders walking on the other side of the street. They came over and talked to us. So that was kind of an adventure.
I'm slowly getting used to the area. I still call it Hull by accident sometimes. In one of the talks in conference, I can't remember who it was, but the man talked about his ancestor who came from Hull Yorkshire. I was like "I'd just been there!"
Thanks for the pictures, I miss the mountains. We just don't really have mountains here like back home. Leeds has tons of hills though. Hull was really flat I think. I sent Mom some pictures.
Love you,
Starszy Ressler
Yea, I was able to see conference. It was really good to hear it. I enjoyed the sessions I did see. I didn't get to see the last one because they play that one at 9:00 at night. But we will get the Ensign so it'll be alright, I'll get to read them later, or I can just look them up on the computer if I get the chance. We went to the Crossgates Chapel to see them. I think that that is the stake center.
We're good. We’re working with a few people. Martine came to church. She is studying theology at University and is looking to teach theology someday. She came and also a man from India. We're not teaching any Polish or Slovakian people at the moment.
I know that the work is hastening. It was interesting because so many of the talks were related. I didn't get to see the part about Sheffield, but I think I would like to.
It rained a bit over the weekend, and then it was sunny for conference (when we got to be inside). But I guess that's just life and English weather.
This week I went on exchange with Elder Mast, he's from France and is really funny. I like him. He's only been learning English for about 10 weeks and already speaks it pretty well. The funny thing is that I got lost. Elder Mullen usually takes the lead in where we are going because I don't have a clue (I have a better idea now days though). But we ended up going out of the area and almost out of the zone! But we were safe. I saw a sign that said Dewsbery Town Center and decided that we had better get off. When we got off we saw the Elders walking on the other side of the street. They came over and talked to us. So that was kind of an adventure.
I'm slowly getting used to the area. I still call it Hull by accident sometimes. In one of the talks in conference, I can't remember who it was, but the man talked about his ancestor who came from Hull Yorkshire. I was like "I'd just been there!"
Thanks for the pictures, I miss the mountains. We just don't really have mountains here like back home. Leeds has tons of hills though. Hull was really flat I think. I sent Mom some pictures.
Love you,
Starszy Ressler