Loving Missionary Work.

This week I have learned a lot. Sister Hart and I have found it difficult to enjoy finding. It seems like we are constantly finding. So it was hard to find the motivation to find. Sister Hart and I talked and realize we need to approach finding in a different light. We realized that finding isn't just to find investigators but to help God's children on an individual level. When we changed our view of the purpose of finding our attitudes changed. So our plan is to make finding more fun. That is what we feel that was lacking. We are going to try to involve the IPads more and use our resources. I am excited once again to go finding!

This week Sister Hart and I found two new investigators. So Chantelle is a 19 year old we have met twice. The first time we met her we asked if we could come by and she said she was busy. The next time we met her was at the bus stop. Turned out we were going on the same bus as her. I asked her how her day was and you could tell it wasn't good. She told us that she just found out her mom has terminal cancer and is expected to only have a few years to live. Sister Hart and I did our best to comfort her. We explained that in order to truly help her we had to teach her about the Gospel. She accepted a day for us to come by and teach her. Chantelle lives with her boyfriend, Michael, So we ended up teaching the both of them. We planned on teaching the Plan of Salvation but the Spirit told us otherwise. We showed the Because of Him video and testified of Jesus Christ's Atonement. The spirit was so strong in the lesson! We scheduled Chantelle and Michael for the 21 of November. They are great!

So the bad news of the week is that we are no longer teaching Keith or Bata. Here are their stories. We had a lesson with Keith this week. We planned on scheduling him. We asked him if he read Ether 12, and he said no. He told us of how he just couldn't believe in a God. The spirit told me that we had to let Keith go. I thought to myself. "Why would God want us to let Keith go after 3 lessons?" From what I know about Keith is that he can feel the spirit easily so when he comes to have a desire to know God is there, he will receive his answer. It was hard to walk away from Keith's house that night but I know Keith would recognize the feeling of the spirit in his life missing.

Bata was similar. We knocked on her door and instantly I knew we would not see her again. Bata did not have desire to change her beliefs. Even though it was sad to not being able to teach Keith and Bata I am glad we left it at a good note. Sister Hart and I are still searching for that prepared soul. We will find them! Hope you all have a great week! 

Love,

Sister Garrett

I really don't get subject lines sometimes.

Well it isn't much of a surprise. This week Sister Hart and I did a lot of finding. It is England and people here are just not bothered about religion. But besides finding we had a pretty good week. As a new missionary in the mission filed it is good for a missionary to get to know all of the lessons so this week Sister Hart and I went to some less-actives to practice teaching them. It started off Monday evening for Family Home Evening. We went to a older couple named the Spencer's. We practiced teaching the Plan of Salvation to them. The spirit was really strong. The trouble is here in England and I guess everywhere else is that people just make excuses in coming to church. The Spencer's are great people but just do not have the motivation to come. Which to be honest, is very sad. Sister Hart and I will work on them and try to commit them to coming back to church.

Tuesday Val invited Sister Hart and I for tea. She is so good and loving church so much! Val is a very outgoing person and she talks to everyone at church and just befriends them! She is 71 and so sometimes she forgets some of the doctrine that we teach her but she FEELS the truth of the Gospel. That is enough for her. She is an example to me of the Saint I want to become. Someone who follows Jesus Christ completely. Who doesn't ask why but just does it. Later that night we taught Rosemary. We taught her the power of Hope and Faith in her journey to give up smoking. We have  made some goals with her to help her stop smoking. Her desire is lacking just a little but I think her desire to quit smoking will increase the more she reads her scriptures, prayers, and ultimately goes to church.

We finally were able to see Carmin. Our investigator from Romania. I just love her. The lessons we have with her are incredible in the fact that we can communicate with her fairly easily. She has little English but we were able to teach her the first lesson. She understood that there were prophets. She doesn't understand why just select people could be a prophet. We shared Joseph Smith's experience with her and she honestly thought Joseph was just seeing things. We told her that the only way to find out is through prayer. She was in a rush so I don't think she soaked up everything. Hopefully we can see her again next week so she can understand how she can receive answers.

On Saturday we were able to teach Keith. We brought a member with us which I think helped because he could relate with him more. Last time we asked him if he would read Alma 32 for us. He did but it was hard for him to understand it. Keith still doesn't understand how there could be a God. He was unable to come to church which was a shame. He works Sundays and the next day he has off is in 7 weeks. Not looking good for us. I think he has desire to know that there is a God but he just doesn't want to tell us that. He is slightly stubborn. I really think over time he will accept the Gospel. 

The ward's numbers have been decreasing. There are so many less-actives in this ward, it is quite sad. President Pilkington wanted to help us out so he came and did a fireside for our ward. We invited everyone we could! Not as many showed up that we wanted to but it was

quite a good turn out. Several less-actives were there and even non-members! President Pilkington is so inspired! I think the ward really needed what he shared. Well time has come to a close. Talk to you all next week. Keep shining your lights!!

Love Sister Garrett

We preached to a man named Keith

My wonderful Family and Friends,

I hope you all have had a good week! This week is the same as always, finding. Which isn't a bad thing. It just means we are trying to find that person who is ready to accept the Gospel. This week we did 25 hours of FUN finding. Sister Hart and I have fun while we knock doors and street contact. This week we had appointments with Bata and Carmin but they weren't able to meet with us this week. Bata was sick and Carmin was getting her kids ready for school (they just moved to England two months ago) So nothing has happened there, BUT I still think they both have potential. 

Friday we taught two Jehovah Witnesses. More like they wanted to teach us. The kept asking questions and sharing scriptures from the bible that they think proved their point. But to be honest, they didn't have the spirit. That is how I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true. I know it through the Spirit. Sister Hart was really good in the lesson. She bore a lot of testimony that helped invite the spirit to the room. We gave one of the Jehovah Witnesses a Book of Mormon to read. She said she will read it. Another experience this week involving the Holy Ghost. :)

This week we found a man named Keith. He talked endlessly about how God cannot exist. We asked him how he knew and he said look at all the bad things happening in this world. We bore our testimonies and asked if we could share more with him sometime. He said we could come over but that we wouldn't be able to convince him. We said we could not convince him about anything. It was up to him. So we set up an appointment with him Saturday night and off we went.

Our Sister Training Leaders came on exchange with Sister Hart and I all of Saturday. So my friend and STL, Sister Davis, came to the scheduled lesson with Keith. I will be honest. I wasn't expecting Keith to answer the door when we went to his house Saturday night. What little faith I had. We got to know him a little bit better. His life, religious background, and his expectations of our visit. Then before we started the lesson we promised that he would feel the Spirit as we talked. To start it off we asked if we could offer a prayer. He said he would feel uncomfortable so he declined the offer. We respected him so we began to explain our beliefs. We taught Keith to his needs and shared the beginning part of the Plan of Salvation so that he could understood Heavenly Father and His plan for us.

Repeatedly throughout the lesson he mentioned all of the bad things that happen in this world. He couldn't accept the fact that a God could let all of these bad things happen. We talked about Agency, the purpose of life, the Holy Ghost role in our lives, and a lot about Jesus Christ. Both Sister Davis and I felt the spirit SO strong. We bore simple but powerful testimonies of Jesus Christ and God's love. Towards the end of the lesson you could see Keith completely change. We asked him to read the Book of Mormon. He accepted. We asked him if he would be baptized. He said he doesn't know enough at this point. (which we explained to him that we can help him with that) We asked if we could say a kneeling prayer with him. He said YES! We set up a return appointment and we are seeing him Wednesday.

The Holy Ghost is the real teacher. Sister Davis and I said what Keith needed to hear. All because of the spirit, Keith was able to turn completely around. I love this Gospel. It is so simple and that's what makes it so powerful. I love England and the people here. I cannot believe I hit my year mark Friday. I cannot face that fact. 

Until next week,

Sister Garrett :)

The Church is so true.

Dear Family and Friends,

I do not have much time to email. Right now we are in York and I have only 40 minutes to email. So this will be short but at some point I will explain more about this week and General Conference but here is just a summary of my week:

This week was great! I have learned so much from Sister Hart as well as from General Conference. I really enjoy training because it brings me back to the basics. (I really needed to be reminded.) Sister Hart is a brilliant finder. She is so bold and brave! She is very obedient and willing to work. I feel very blessed to be able to train her. This week we did a lot of finding again. But we did have some lessons as well. 

The first lesson we taught was to a woman named Bata. We have taught her three times in the past. She seems very curious to learn more about our church but I believe that is the extent. We have briefly went over the Restoration in the past but at our lesson we wanted to go over it in more detail. Well I guess that wasn't what we were suppose to teach. The spirit directed to talk more about the Book of Mormon and how to find truth. We tried to schedule her but she said she was already baptized. Next week we will teach about the priesthood along with the Restoration. I am not sure how interested she is to follow Jesus Christ and be baptized but we will ask her next week.

The other lesson we taught was to a woman named Carmin. She is from Romania. She speaks very little English. She knows very selected words but Sister Hart and I were able to communicate with her. It actually was very impressive to be honest. I don't speak Romanian (if you weren't aware) but she understood everything we taught. We invited her to be baptized which put her off a bit. Next week we will teach her the Restoration so that will help with

the questions she has. She seems very golden and prepared. I am excited to continue to teach her
more.

General Conference was amazing! I really felt God's love for us while watching the sessions. It makes complete sense that God would call a prophet to the earth along with Twelve Apostles. The Gospel is so simple and sweet. Jesus Christ loves us and he reaches to us through the Holy Ghost and his servants, the prophets and apostles. I love this Gospel and I am glad I have the chance to declare his word.

Until next week,

Sister Garrett

Finding like champs

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been very basic. It has been mainly made up of finding. Sister Hart and I did 25 hours of finding this week. We worked really hard but basically right now we are just building up our teaching pool. We had appointments this week but people didn't show up. (That is my mission life right there!) BUT we found more then 10 potentials this past week and have several lessons lined up for this

week so it looks like it will be good! :) We have an appointment with two girls at the church tonight. We have two appointments on Thursday. One with Paul and Bata again. We got in contact with them again and the other lesson with a Romanian family we found while knocking. On Friday we have an appointment with a man named Ryan.

Monday evening Sister Hart and I went to a member's house for Family Home Evening. We have started something new in the ward. Every week the sisters and I select a family to go see and visit them and share a FHE lesson about missionary work. At the end we invite them to pray for missionary opportunities and then have them write down an experience they had within that week in a notebook. Then on Sunday morning they will go up and read their missionary experience to the ward. This notebook is going to be passed within the ward to help the ward become more missionary minded. I am really excited for it to start going! The first family we went to enjoyed our lesson.

This past week though we had the opportunity to teach a less-active named Rosemary. She hasn't been to church for a few years now. She has a problem with smoking and admitted it to us. While we were in the lesson Sister Hart and I scheduled her! Ok not for baptism but to quit smoking. This week we are going to bring a calendar and set daily goals for her to stop smoking by a certain date. The spirit was so strong in the lesson! Sister Hart and I just walked from the lesson smiling.

Finding, practice teaching members, teaching less-actives, and being flogged sums up the week. I wish I had something more exciting to tell you all but sadly I don't. Next week's email will be better! :) Sister Hart and I are going to work harder! Hope you all are doing well and everything is going well! Enjoy your week and make the most of every moment! Love you all!!

Sister Garrett

Sister Woods from Ogden, Utah

Val dressed in white. The highlight of my week.

Family and Friends,

As you can tell from my subject.... Val was BAPTIZED!!!!! I will never get tired of seeing one of my investigators in white. Never. Saturday night was wonderful. Val has made my week. I will talk about her more later. I will start off the week from Wednesday. 

Transfer Meeting was Wednesday. I could not sleep the night before and leading up to the meeting I was just shaking. Seven sisters came in and knowing I could be training any one of them just scared me. My new companion is Sister Hart. (Pronounced like Heart. In case you wanted to know.) She is from Pocatello Idaho. She is 19 years old. She learns so fast, I feel like I don't have to do much training. She is very outgoing and personable with everyone we meet on the street. She is good at street contacting. She feels uncomfortable about knocking but honestly who wouldn't? Within these last few days I have realized how much I have grown within (almost a year) of being out in the field. I was like Sister Hart. Didn't particularly like knocking but now, I love it! I cannot imagine not knocking for the rest of my life! 

Currently we have no one to really teach. Sister Jessee and I had to split the area. We put all of our investigators, potentials, and less-actives into two areas then we each got one. So the investigators that Sister Hart and I got are Paul and Bata as well as Michael. All three of them are not getting back to us. Sister Hart and I talked yesterday and we've came to the conclusion that this week we are going to work hard to find new investigators. We are going to use new/creative approaches, find in different areas, and really try to talk to EVERYONE we see. I have great hopes for this next week! 

The morning of Val's baptism our bishop called and told us the musical number was canceled due to illness. So during lunch Sister Hart and I practiced Lead, Kindly Light to sing at the baptism. It went really well! While singing, I could just feel how much love God had for Val and for each and everyone of us. The spirit was so strong at the baptism! I would be lying if I said that Val wasn't scared to be baptized. I learned so much from her because she allowed faith to overrule her doubts and she followed Christ's example. She has made a big impact on me as I have been able to teach her. I love her so very much and I am glad she now has the Gospel in her life. I love missionary work! I never imagined how amazing and fun missionary work would be. I cannot believe I have been out for almost a year. I love it here, to much to leave. Well enough about the time I have left, I hope you all have a great week. Peace out homies! 

Love your friend in England,

Sister Garrett (Swaggy G)

.

I hope you enjoyed my raptism now it's time to plan Val's baptism

My family and friends,

I finished my rap!! I am not sure if I can send a video in an email so I will send you the words here.

Yo, what up, my name is Sister Garrett

I come from this church here you can't compare it (point at badge)

We're the kind of girls that don't shove it in your face

We invite ALL to learn more, take it at your own pace

My home I left in the Rocky Mountains

To serve Jesus Christ who is my captain

I flew over here just to mention

About His church and the Restoration

It all began with the prophets of old

Who brought God's children into one big fold

Prophets like Moses, Noah, and Abraham

God gave em authority to benefit man

Jesus, himself, came to this earth

To help us out and establish his church

He called twelve homies to help him preach

No matter how hard they tried to reach

Not every man believed in Christ

That he would come and suffer the price

Mistakes and pains he felt it all

So he could pick us up after we fall

Jesus Christ journey came to a close

You thought it was finished or so you supposed

We'd like to tell you that it wasn't over

The story is simple now let us uncover

Just like in those times of old

God called another prophet we know its bold

Our Heavenly Father and His Son

Appeared to this boy the only one

Joseph Smith is the name of that lad

He translated this book we know it's rad (hold up Book of Mormon)

Inspired by God's mighty hand

Recorded in an ancient land

To feel the power of this book

You gotta pick it up and have a look

The source of truth is from the man upstairs

We're here to tell ya that he'll answer your prayers

You'll feel it by that Holy Spirit

Through your heart and your mind you'll truly feel it

We invite you to read it right through

And ask God if the book is true

When you come to know the message is right

Don't put up a fight, just be baptized

Invite us over and we'll tell you more

So you know what blessings are in store

I haven't rapped on the street it anybody yet but it will happen eventually. The missionaries in our Zone call Sister Jessee and I the Pontefract rappers. Anyway, on to my week. This week has seemed like a blur. I honestly cannot remember much. I feel like this past transfer has just FLOWN by. I feel like Sister Jessee and I just became companions. This week nothing much has changed. We have only been teaching Val. Our other investigators have either dropped us or we dropped them. But the good news for the week is..... VAL IS GETTING BAPTIZED!!!!! She passed her baptismal interview and this Saturday is her baptism!!! I am so excited. Sister Jessee and I have been inviting the whole ward to her baptism in hopes we will have a good turn out.

So yesterday was transfer call night. Sister Jessee and I knew we were going to be split up. Every time I have gotten along with a companion and the area is progressing, President Pilkington decides to splits us up. The problem was that Sister Jessee and I both wanted to stay to see Val's baptism AND we both loved serving with each other! Well Sister Jessee received a call from President last night that she would be training a new missionary. President also called me. He asked me if I would also train. Yes you read that right. I will be training as well!! The best part is that both Sister Jessee and I will stay in Pontefract. Our flat is going to be a four man flat. Party!! I couldn't sleep at all last night! I believe it is also why I cannot remember ANYTHING from this past week. So I am sorry about that.

The one thing I do remember is my personal study one morning. I have started the Book of Mormon over and I got to Jacob 5. WOW does that chapter apply to missionary work. Towards the end of the chapter the Lord of the vineyard calls for his servant to bring other servants to help in the vineyard. My favorite verse is 71 which reads, 

"And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and labor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the last time that I shall nourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit.." 

Missionaries are the servants in the Lord's vineyard. The time we have as missionaries is short BUT the Lord promises if we work with all our might, we will have joy in the fruit. I know that the joy of missionary work is worth it. I have loved every minute of my mission. It is sometimes hard but with the Lord's help is it worth it. Eddie, Charlie, and soon to be Val are TOTALLY worth it!

I love you all very much! Hope you guys have a great week!! Can not wait to tell you guys next week who I will be training! :)

Your friend,

Sister Garrett