CHARLIE!!! :) :) :)

Hi-ya to my family and friends,

I just want to start off by saying that I am sooooooo happy to be able to witness Charlie's baptism this Saturday!! This last Sunday, Charlie had her baptismal interview. She passed! This week we taught her about tithing. She is a single parent, with no job, going to school, lives in a flat, has two kids to look after, and is in debt. When we taught her about tithing she understood why, as members of the church, we would pay tithing but she couldn't see how she would pay tithing herself. So Sister Georgson and I prayed hard for her! And on Sunday, she met with the bishop and she committed to pay tithing after she is baptized!! She is really doing so great. The first time I met her I could tell she was struggling, but now she is so happy and confident! The Gospel of Jesus Christ really does change people!

Besides Charlie we got another investigator this week. His name is Nick. Nick is probably in his 50's. He had his dad, brother, and uncle pass away within the last 10 years. He is fairly interested to learn more about the Gospel. We answered a lot of his questions last Wednesday when we taught him. He thinks it is great to see young women our age "changing the world". It interests him to see why we would leave our homes to come here by ourselves. Nick seems quite promising. We will be seeing him again on Wednesday.

Thursday was Zone Conference. I just love Zone Conference!! I learn of so many things that I personally need to do better at. I came back with a long list that I need to improve on. I love President and Sister Pilkington so much! I know they are in this mission to personally help me. I look up to them so much and the words they spoke help inspire me. We found out that two weeks from Thursday we official get IPads. I am not to excited about it but I know it can be used as a tool to help the work here in the England Leeds Mission. I am so glad to be here on a mission in the best mission in the WORLD! I am truly lucky! I love you all for your wonderful support and I hope you all have a great week!

Until I email again,

Sister Garrett

Another week of finding...

My family and friends,

It was another week of finding. We hit 30 hours again! Woo Hoo! We always find potentials but they aren't very solid. They give us their numbers and addresses but they always say they are busy or never answer the door. It is quite frustrating. We have been finding close to our house which hasn't had much success. So, Sister Georgson and I have decided that we are going to reach farther out of our area. This week we will try it out and tell you all how it goes! :)

So Tuesday, Sister Georgson and I had to say goodbye to Sister Holland. It was very sad. When I first heard I was going to be in a trio I was quite nervous, but it turned out to be a lot of fun! We always had something to talk about and someone was always laughing. It is strange seeing an empty bed and desk. When she left it was quite quiet. Sister Georgson got along really well with Sister Holland. She seems a bit more quiet now but her and I still get a long wonderfully! :)

Charlie is still doing wonderful! :) She is so excited for her baptism. We taught her the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Chastity. She took both very well. She finds it hard to give up coffee but her motivation is getting to her baptismal date. Her step mother offered her Alcohol and she turned it down. She is very strong! She also came to church on Sunday and loved it again! She told us that she repented and felt AMAZING after! Charlie has been praying with us and Bella (her almost 4 year old daughter) has also started to pray. Charlie is really doing so amazing! I love seeing her grow and gaining a testimony of the Gospel.

This transfer I have decided to memorize some scriptures from the Book of Mormon. One including Alma 5:45-46. I love this scripture because of the spirit it brings. Alma speaks with such power and authority. The way he knows is through the power of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is key to conversion. In missionary work without the Holy Ghost we would have no direction. I know that the message of the Restoration is true because every time I recite

the first vision I feel the spirit SO strongly. Jesus Christ's Gospel has been restored to the earth by Joseph Smith and I testify this is true! I know we have a living day prophet here on the earth. What a great message it is that I have a privilege of sharing!!! Have a great week everyone! Love you all!!!

Sister Garrett

 

Hiya Family & Friends

I dont have much time to write this week. I am heading to Hull today with Sister Georgson and Sister Holland to drop Sister Holland off because she is heading home. So this email will be very short. So the news from transfer calls yesterday.....

Sister Georgson and I will stay companions in Grimsby. YAYYYYYY!!!!!! Both of us will get to go to Charlie's baptism.

 So speaking of Charlie. Charlie is doing great! She is really excited for her baptism. We are having to push it back to the 30th of May because we still need to teach her all the lessons. Sunday she came to church and again loved it. A member of the ward took her to church on Sunday. The member offered to take her every week! Charlie's kids are continuing to make friends and enjoying Primary. We taught Charlie the Word of Wisdom and Law of Chasity yesterday. She had a few questions but said she will keep them both. She is soooo prepared! I am excited for the 30th of May! :)

Well, I hope you all have a good week!

Your friend,

Sister Garrett

Miracle!

My dear family and friends,

All I can say is that hard work pays off. Over 50 hours of finding these past couple weeks and we found Charlie. Last Sunday, (26 April) we found a woman named Charlie. All we did to stop her was say hi and she stopped instantly. (Which is a miracle for England) We asked her if she believed in God and she said, "Yes I do." She hasn't really gone to church before but she was willing to hear our message. While talking to her she actually seemed emotional. From the very first time I met her I knew God had prepared her for Sister Georgson, Sister Holland, and I.

Tuesday, we had several appointments that were set up but all fell through. I was disappointed till we met with Charlie. The spirit was very strong while we taught her the restoration. After we told her about the Book of Mormon she said, "Why didn't I know about this earlier?" We invited her to be baptized on the 23 of May and she accepted. She didnt have any questions.

Throughout the week we called her to see how she was doing. Her birthday was on Friday and we even said Happy Birthday to her. She accpeted to come to church with us on Sunday. We had a plan to travel with her to the church. 

Sunday morning it was pouring outside. I was soooo worried that Charlie wasn't going to come. I kept praying and hoping she would. We got to her door and I see Charlie and her two kids, one in the push car and the other standing there. We walked all the way to the church building. From her house to the bus stop (20 mins), toke a bus ride by the chapel (15-20 mins), and walked to the church (10 mins). The ward was VERY welcoming of Charlie and her kids. One of the moms from the ward introduced her children to Charlie's kids. The kids sat pretty quiet through the sacrament. She even stayed throughout Sunday school and Relief Society. Afterward, she said she really enjoyed it and that she will come next week.

We saw her yesterday. We asked her if she had any questions about church and she had a few for us. She even asked us questions about the Book of Mormon! She really is soooo prepared! I have a strong testimony of how the Lord truly prepares people for the missionaries to teach. Charlie loved church because of the messages shared and testimonies born

but also because everyone was so friendly and welcoming. I invited all of you guys to reach out to those in your wards and also anyone you may not recognize at church. I love you all very much! Have an amazing week!!

Sister Garrett