England Holds My Heart

Hello everyone!

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Sorry, this might be a long one.

I can't even begin to explain all of the emotions that are passing through me as I'm typing this out.

It's been quite the journey to say the least.

18 months ago I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into! I had expectations but they would soon be stretched, rolled thin, tossed about, rained on and of course hung out to dry in the incredibly sunny English weather. Ha just kidding, it would get rained on again before it dried.

But I also had no idea just how much I was going to gain from this experience.

So I haven't been a part of the social media world, the news, my family and friends' lives back at home...

But that's because I've been a part of the greatest work in all of the world.

MISSIONARY WORK.

I've gained some of the greatest friends, family you could even say. I've learned more about myself than I ever thought possible and even more about the person that I want to become. And most important is what I've been able to learn about my Saviour, and THAT is knowledge that no one will ever take away from me and something I will treasure for the rest of my life.

So, here are some things that have happened in the past two weeks!

Our friend Phil was baptised and somehow I was roped into singing at his baptism. I've never sung so much in my life than I have here on my mission!

I also got roped into singing on my last Sunday.. Which also didn't go so terribly.

We got to see the Qalovaki family again! And they have two new pugs... Which are the cutest things I've ever seen! They had me try FRIED OREOS.

I've heard of fried twinkies and whatnot but... Never ventured to try it. But let me tell you, they're actually really good. And not at all what I was expecting. Ha I seriously love this family so much and will anxiously be awaiting for the day when they are all able to enter into the waters of baptism together!

I also got to go on an exchange back to Newcastle with Sister Conlogue!!!!! We did a big Blitz in Stafford which is where a bunch of missionaries get together and split the work in the area.

AWKWARD MOMENT

So in order to get to Stafford, we have to take a train from Shrewsbury (the bottom of the mission boundary) through Wolverhampton which is in the Birmingham mission. So as we arrived in Wolverhampton we walk down the stairs and run into two elders. I assumed that because I didn't recognise them they must be new... So they turn to us and one of the elders quickly says "hurry up! The train is leaving! The Birmingham train is about to go! Hurry!!!"

I'm a bit confused because I didn't think our train to Stafford needed to go to Birmingham... I figured these elders were also going to Stafford for the blitz and so I told them "well, why are you going to Birmingham? We don't need to go there.."

He seemed a bit confused and repeated again that we needed to hurry and catch the train because it was leaving the platform...

"Well, aren't you going to Stafford? Our train is leaving from platform 6, so we don't need to go to Birmingham elders..."

Then it dawned on him

"Stafford? You're going to Stafford? You're in the wrong mission..."

"Well what mission are you in?"

"The Birmingham mission."

"Oh... Right... Well hey! I'm sister Reed! It's nice to meet you!"

Hahaha turns out they were Elder Fortner from Oregon and Elder Hsu from Taiwain.

We exchanged some pleasantries and wished each other luck on making our trains back to our areas and then we headed off.

Good times.

So once we actually got to Stafford we swapped companions and went knocking on doors and talking to people in the street for a couple of hours! Then we all piled into Pizza Hut and after eating, we travelled back to our areas. Sister Conlogue and I headed back to Newcastle while sister Zulueta went with Sister Gantulga back to Shrewsbury.

It was so much fun to be back in my old area and seeing the people we taught and just the streets and houses... And the smell... Man. I love England haha

Since we don't have a car in that area any more we were taking buses! But they're super unreliable there... So at about 8:45 at night our bus FINALLY shows up and it's like a 30 minute bus ride back home... So we're doing our planning on the bus and this old man taps me on the shoulder and says "hey, do you know who I am?" With his big toothless grin.

I'll tell you, I hadn't got the slightest clue who he was.

Then he proceeds to rip open his shirt and beneath it, on another shirt, read "DJ KEITH" and he starts laughing and says "I'm DJ KEITH! I'm at all the pubs round here!" Followed by some good laughter.

He was a nice old man, but clearly drunk haha everyone on the bus was watching me to see how I would respond, but it's quite simple to just be polite and have a friendly conversation. I'll be honest though, there came a point when I wasn't exactly sure what he was saying with the combination of his stokey accent and the alcohol... But the woman in front of me just started to laugh then said "I'm sure she's flattered,

mate, but she's not interested in seeing you"

Oh, that's what he was going on about.

I sure am going to miss England.

There are so many things about my time here that has changed me. I've got an eternity to count my blessings and even then I don't think I'd have enough time to write down all that I've been given.

I could go on and on about some of my experiences but time is short and I don't think anyone would want a novel to read haha but I will fill you all in about my last week as a missionary and my journey home next week! I promise!!!

I know that this gospel is true. I know that God lives and so does his Son, Jesus Christ. I know that they lead and guide the Church of Jesus Christ on the earth today and that they have called another prophet to guide us in these latter days. I love the scriptures. I love the bible and what it teaches and I love the Book of Mormon and the truths that it contains. I know that families are forever. That because of Jesus Christ and Gods perfect plan, we will all live again.

I know it, I live it, and I love it!

With all of my love,

And for the last time as a full time missionary

LOADS OF LOVE FROM ENGLAND

SISTER REED

Sent from the Lord's iPadEndFragment