Transfer calls....

I don't have much time today. P-days are getting busier and busier! Yesterday was tranfer calls. Sister Smith and I were expecting that either I was going to leave or that we would both stay. President Pilkington is very unpredictable. We found out that Sister Smith will be leaving Keighley and that I would be staying. Sister Smith was actually very upset. I felt very bad. She didn't like saying goodbye to people and I don't blame her. Sister Smith and I have become REALLY good friends and I am actually quite sad we won't be companions anymore! Thankfully we live close together back at home.

Sister Smith will be replaced by Sister Arrive who is from France. She has one more transfer here out in the mission field. She also is the Sister Training Leader which means that I will be going on exchanges with all the sisters in our zone. I am quite nervous to do that but I am also very excited! That is it for now. Talk to you guys next week! Love you all!!

Sister Garrett

2 February - 8 February

Dear Family and Friends,

This week's email will be really short. Nothing much has happened this week. Sister Smith and I have been focusing on finding people who are ready for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We did 13 hours of finding this week but only found 2 potential investigators. Their names are Stephanie and Beth. They are interested in learning more about the church. Beth is 16 and even said that she studied about "the Mormons" in school. She asked for our number so that she could give it

to her professor so we could speak to her class. That was pretty cool!

Other then that our week hasn't been very successful but I still enjoy telling people about how the Gospel of Jesus Christ can bless their lives. Even though they may not agree. I love being here in England! The weather here is fantastic! ;) I hope you all have a fabulous week! 

Until next time,

Sister Garrett

Wait? It's already February?

Dear Family and Friends,

I can hardly believe it is already February! I feel like January FLEW by. I also can not believe I have been here for about four months. I know it isn't that long but it really surprises me that I have been here in England, serving a mission, for that long! From the time I have been here I feel like I haven't made that much progression. As missionaries we are constantly finding for those who are searching for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Finding those people is so very hard! I feel like for all the time we spend knocking, street contacting, and bus contacting we should be teaching a lot more then what we have been. This week I have come to realize that planting seeds really is so important! That every door we knock on, every person we talk to isn't a waste at all. It is planting that seed that one day in the next life they will accept the message of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Just keep being good examples and plant those seeds! :)

This week wasn't bad at all. We have taught more lessons this week then what Sister Smith and I have done in the past. This week we saw David and Pauline again. We read the introduction of the Book of Mormon with them and they said they would read it. Sister Smith and I realized that we will have to take things slow with David and Pauline because they aren't really wanting to be a part of any religion. As we teach them I think they will understand that the Church of Jesus Christ isn't just 'another church'. We also taught Syllene. Her progression has been VERY slow. She hasn't had time (so she says) to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it. We brought a member with us to the appointment and she and I think she is starting to see the importance of reading to gain a testimony. Hopefully we will see her this week. (Cross your fingers please.)

Sister Smith and I were knocking one day, and this 16 year old girl let us in! Her name is Nikitia. When we met her she was curious in knowing if there was a God. We talked about prayer and how we can find out through prayer to know if there is a God. She seemed very interested in the message we shared. We had an appointment with her yesterday (Sunday 1 February) but sadly she flogged. This week Sister Smith and I will go over to her house and try to teach her again.

On Friday, a less-active member (Gwyneth) from the ward invited Sister Smith and I to her friend's birthday party. At this birthday party we met a woman named Joey. We talked a lot about what we believe in and she ended up telling Sister Smith and I her life's story. She has had a hard life. She cried on our shoulders as she was under a lot of stress. The next day Gwyneth gave us a call and ask if we could head over to her place because Joey needed someone to talk to. We talked to Joey for a long time until Gwyneth suggested in getting a priesthood blessing. We called the Elders and they gave her a blessing. The spirit was so strong and Joey was comforted after that

. I am excited to see Joey again. I know the Gospel of Jesus Christ can bless her life.

Sorry this week was a long letter! Sister Smith and I had the most successful week yet! Thank you for all your support, emails, and letters. I love you all! 

Until next week,

Sister Garrett

19th & 25th of January

Family and Friends,

This week has been pretty rewarding. There have been a few blessings. On Tuesday, we finally met with Syllene after weeks of her flogging us. She has depression (which is very common here in England) and she hasn't been wanting to see us. She said after our visit though she was glad she saw us. We hope we can help her to progress and make it to baptism. I love Syllene a lot and wish she could see how the Gospel would bless her and her daughter's lives.

Wednesday was absolutely amazing! We had Zone Training and I received a lot of personal revelation. For me personally and for the people I have been serving. The spirit was so strong and I learned how I really should be setting goals more frequently to become a better missionary. I noticed I need to grow and reach out of my comfort zone. After Zone Training we went to David and Pauline's home. I believe I have talked about them before. (They are potential investigators.) It has been really hard to share a lesson with them. They are older and they talk a lot. They also are not very religious. This particular night we actually shared more about what we believe and they accepted to read the Book of Mormon. Next visit we asked if we could share a lesson. I sure hope everything goes as planned.

Friday night we visited a less-active whos daughter isn't a memeber. We have been trying to help Cat (the less-active) so we could help her daughter. Cat has been smoking since she was 9. A few weeks ago she had NO desire to give up smoking. Last week we visited her and we followed the spirit as we tried to help her. She talked about how it was her dream to go to Africa on her 40th birthday (3 years from now). Cat smokes one pack of cigarrettes a day. Which is £6 pounds a day. £50ish pounds a week. £2000 something pounds a year. We said if she put the money she spends on smoking aside for Africa she could get to Africa in three years. We said we'd bring a jar so she can put her money in it. On Friday she put her £50 pounds for the week and has cut back on smoking.

Saturday was a bad night. We went to a member's home for tea. She started having chest pains, throwing up, and starting getting really red. Sister Smith and I decided to call for a ride to get to the hospital. She is fine now. The hospital gave her some medicine but it scared Sister Smith and I.

I love you all so much! Hope you guys have a good week!

Sister Ga

rrett

2 Transfers Gone... :(

Hi-ya family and friends,

Yesterday was transfer calls and I am still serving here with Sister Smith in Keighley. I can not believe I have been out for two transfers already. I know that it isn't that long but wow. Two transfers! Time really does fly out here in the field. Wow. I can not believe it.

This week has been mushed together so I will really try to do my best trying to tell you guys what has happened. This week Sister Smith and I did a lot of finding. Knocking in particular. Sadly we didn't find to many people. The only person we have a return appointment with is a woman named Hailey. She lives in Howarth and she already goes to another faith but we will be visiting with her on Thursday.

Syllene, one of our investigators, has canceled three apointments with us within these two past weeks. It is quite frustrating to have someone keep canceling on us. I have a hard time liking the gift agency. In a very very very small measure I feel what Heavenly Father feels like when he trys to help us. I love Syllene so much and wish we can meet her this week.

Sorry this was short. Out of time. Wish you all with the very best week!

Love Sister Garrett

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! (from the UK)

Wow, I can't believe it is another New Year! 2014 flew by! I'm going to be in England for the whole year of 2015. Crazy. This whole year will be dedicated to the Lord's work. I'm very excited to be a part of the building of his kingdom here in England. 

So this week has been wonderful! On Monday, Sister Smith and I decided for P-day we wanted to ride the steam train. So we bought our ticket and rode through the country of England on a stream train! How cool is that? I really realized how beautiful the country side of England is. There are fields upon fields of green grass (and sheep. Do not forget the sheep!) I am really so blessed to be serving in the England Leeds Mission!

On New Years Eve, Sister Smith and I spent it at a members home. Her name is Angela Day. She is a wonderful lady. New Years Eve was quiet this year but I really liked the simplicity of New Years Eve. I loved getting to know Angela! 

New Years Day was probably the best day of the week! We spent the day with the Kitsell family. The Kitsells are a family in the ward who are very kind and nice to us missionaries. They decided to take Sister Smith and I to Bolton Abbey. Which is a 800 year old ruin of an Abbey owned by monks and nuns long ago. We walked to the Abbey which were surrounded by green fields and well, it was amazing!

Unfortunately, Saturday morning Sister Smith wasn't feeling well at all. She has been a little sick lately but she didn't think much of it and on Saturday she had to be confined to her bed. Which mean't I was confined to the house. I decided to read my scriptures with this long length of time I had and finished the Book of Mormon last night. I couldn't put the book down! I become so involved with the story and wow. The spirit I felt was incredible! I know without a doubt the Book of Mormon is true. The spirit testified that to me. I encourage you all to read and gain that testimony for yourself. Read it everyday! I love you all! Make 2015 the best one yet!!

With much love,Sister Garrett

MERRY (late) CHRISTMAS!!!!

Hi-ya family and friends,

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas! Sister Smith and I did! We visited member after member after less active after investigator after member. It was quite a busy week visiting everyone but it was wonderful! I loved every minute! We went to several member's houses this week. The

ward is very welcoming to us. They made Christmas amazing! I will send you guys some pictures we took this week. Here is the whole (13 days) of Christmas Song:

(13 Dec.) On the first day of Christmas God gave to me; knocking in the pouring rain.

(14 Dec.) On the second day of Christmas God gave to me; 3 hours of church and knocking in the pouring rain.

(15 Dec.) On the third day of Christmas God gave to me; district P-day, 3 hours of church, and knocking in the pouring rain.

(16 Dec.) On the fourth day of Christmas God gave to me; getting flogged, district P-day, 3 hours of church, and knocking in the pouring rain.

(17 Dec.) On the fifth day of Christmas God gave to me; MISSION PARRTTAYYY!, getting flogged, district P-day, 3 hours of church, and knocking in the pouring rain.

(18 Dec.) On the sixth day of Christmas God gave to me; getting lost in Bingley, MISSION PARRTTAYYY!, getting flogged, district P-day, 3 hours of church, and knocking in the pouring rain.

(19 Dec.) On the seventh day of Christmas God gave to me; Ward Christmas Party, getting lost in Bingley, MISSION PARRTTAYYY!, getting flogged, district P-day, 3 hours of church, and knocking in the pouring rain.

(20 Dec.) On the eighth day of Christmas God gave to me; Caroling in Leeds, Ward Christmas Party, getting lost in Bingley, MISSION PARRTTAYYY!, getting flogged, district P-day, 3 hours of church, and knocking in the pouring rain.

(21 Dec.) On the ninth day of Christmas God gave to me; Christmas Carol Concert, Caroling in Leeds, Ward Christmas Party, getting lost in Bingley, MISSION PARRTTAYYY!, getting flogged, district P-day, 3 hours of church, and knocking in the pouring rain.

(22 Dec.) On the tenth day of Christmas God gave to me; visiting members, Christmas Carol Concert, Caroling in Leeds, Ward Christmas Party, getting lost in Bingley, MISSION PARRTTAYYY!, getting flogged, district P-day, 3 hours of church, and knocking in the pouring rain.

(23 Dec.) On the eleventh day of Christmas God gave to me; running cards to people, visiting members, Christmas Carol Concert, Caroling in Leeds, Ward Christmas Party, getting lost in Bingley, MISSION PARRTTAYYY!, getting flogged, district P-day, 3 hours of church, and knocking in the pouring rain.

(24 Dec.) On the twelfth day of Christmas God gave to me; Christmas (Eve) with the Kitsels, running cards to people, visiting members, Christmas Carol Concert, Caroling in Leeds, Ward Christmas Party, getting lost in Bingley, MISSION PARRTTAYYY!, getting flogged, district P-day, 3 hours of church, and knocking in the pouring rain.

(25 Dec.) On the thirteenth day of Christmas God gave to me; skyping our families, Christmas (Eve) with the Kitsels, running cards to people, visiting members, Christmas Carol Concert, Caroling in Leeds, Ward Christmas Party, getting lost in Bingley, MISSION PARRTTAYYY!, getting flogged, district P-day, 3 hours of church, and knocking in the pouring rain.

On Boxing Day (a holiday celebrated in the UK) it snowed!!!! Sister Smith and I feel like we are in Utah. It came a day late but it was wonderful!

Love you all!

Sister Garrett