When Mum Says No, Ask Grandma

Oh my goodness so many miracles!! I have loved the first week of this transfer so far serving with my new companion. She's my grandma but she's quickly becoming one of my best friends! I learn so much from her and I can just feel the work in this area progressing! So let's get to it!

Miracles!

I have felt like I have grown so much over this past week. It's been incredible to see and serve with so many other people and to be able to be here serving the people in England! I love them!

I want to share one of the most exhilarating experiences I've had as a missionary so far.

Sister Clawson and I were walking along the road and on the other side was a group of 8 teenagers. I was just laughing to myself and jokingly said to Sister Clawson "What in the world would you say to them? How would you even approach them?" to which she replied "Well, like this!" She stopped and crossed the road flagging them down and calling out to them. My stomach dropped. We walked over to this group of 16 year old teens and quickly found that the majority of them were atheists. They were laughing at us and asking ridiculous questions and so I just stood there and testified. It was incredible... the courage I received in that moment was beyond my own as were the words I spoke. I felt like I was standing on my own wall while arrows and stones were being cast at me only to have them bounce off and not touch me.

Sister Clawson and I were also able to see the hearts softened of two of these young people. They were quiet at the end and really took on the challenge of praying to ask God if He is there.

Truly, I felt as though I had lived the stories I read about in the Book of Mormon.

I feel my Saviour's love for these people I meet on the street and I just love the people of England more and more every day!

Funny Story

hmm.... nothing super funny yet. Besides the fact that both Sister Clawson and I are both terrified of Spiders. Really, we're completely helpless. This morning during our studies she began to share some of the things she had read and learned and suddenly she jumps up with her binder in her hands, screams, and then throws her binder on the floor.

I'm just kind of sitting there.

And then she quietly whispers, "spider....."

I think she then expected me to rush over and get it for her. But that's a joke. I would rather sacrifice my pinky toe than get a spider. So we just sat there looking at her binder.

It was good fun.

But finally the spider surfaced and so for some reason we both screamed again (maybe to intimidate it) until I finally just grabbed a jug full of water and dropped it on top of it. Blech. I wanted to throw up!

So this should be an interesting few months with the spiders...

Update

We've met so many incredible people on the street! The timing is perfect and the people truly are being prepared to hear the message of God. We invited three different people to baptism on the spot these past few days and they all accepted! And so we'll hopefully be getting in touch with them in order to teach them this week :) They are so lovely!

I don't know if I've shared this or not but a man named Rado, whom we met a few months ago, had moved away. However, he lived in a home full of people from his country and they all love God! We keep meeting more and more of them. They are all so very humble and just love learning more. Ah so good! I just want to see them every day to teach them! haha

We walk everywhere. Still. ha So if there was anything I could recommend to someone who wants to serve a mission... is get comfortable, thick, walking shoes. Not just comfortable flats! Seriously, it will save your life. I don't even recognize my own feet anymore, honestly.

The ward here is incredible. I love them so much! I am so not looking forward to the day I get transferred out of Crewe :( I actually had to give a talk on Sunday and while I was speaking to the ward I just felt such a powerful love for everyone who was there. I can't explain where it came from or why, but I felt as though I had known every single one of these people and I just love them all so much! I am finding and making my forever friends here in England.

Quote of the week!

Here are a few quotes that I have found to be really uplifting and inspiring for me, and so I hope that maybe they can do the same for you <3

"The greatest blessings require the greatest sacrifices from us"

"How can God grant us anything if we do not desire it? If we do not ask for it?"

"When He answers yes, it is to give us confidence.

When He answers no, it is to prevent error.

When He withholds an answer, it is to have us grow."

Foods/words

Oh man. Where do I begin? I just love the English language! ha it is so fun!!

I had a traditional South African pudding after tea yesterday. It had a milk base and so naturally, I loved it.

As for the words... umm it is so hard to notice them any more because I just hear them every day and they all sound so normal! I can't remember which is English and which is American English! ha! I have finally found out the true meaning of what "taking the Mickey" means though.. so that's a relief ha I thought I would never see the day when I would understand how to properly use that phrase. But, alas, I have. :) I might try and explain it later.. *suspense*

Alright, that's all for this week! Once again, I want to thank everyone for the birthday emails they have sent me! They mean the world, even if they are late or whatever.. I don't have any concept of time anyways haha oh my goodness there is a spider on my keyboard.... I have no idea what to do about it. This would happen to me. Oh shoot, I can't see it. Dear goodness I'm haunted by spiders everywhere I go!

Alright I'm finishing this email so as to not irritate this spider into openly attacking me...

I love you all! I pray for you! I miss you!

Email me any questions or thoughts that you want answered or would just like to share :)

Oh yeah! And a BIG BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUT TO MY LITTLE BROTHER who is turning 15 today! Holy Moses that's old! Love you Aaron! If any of you see him, give him a big hug and tell him it's from me :)

Loads of love from England,

Sister Reed