The Best Two Years

It is interesting to think that the end has finally come. After two whole years I am coming home!!! I think it is just barely starting to hit me. I feeling of excitement, and yet an even greater feeling of sadness. For the past two years I have come to love a people, who when I first came out here, I hated. However, slowly over time they have gained a special place of my heart. I love it here so much and the thought of leaving literally is like ripping that piece of my heart out of me.
So all of the departing missionaries gathered the last few nights at our flat (the APs flat) and spent the night there. It was so surreal seeing all of us elders together again and thinking two years ago all of us were in the MTC together. Wow how time flies... The next day we went to the Temple and boy what an experience it was. It was really nothing abnormal of what you feel in the temple for me, until we went into the celestial room. To let you know for my whole mission I have worked as hard as I could. However, it has always been difficult to think if I did what was right in the Lord's eyes. Was He happy with my service? Was He truly satisfied with me, as a servant in His arms? I had said many prayers in my mission asking Him if I had indeed failed as a missionary or failed a certain convert if they had gone less active. I knew that this was the place and the time to ask him once again if my sacrifice was notable in his eyes. It was there that I began to pray and ask God if my two years was a sacrifice that was worthy in His eyes. Nothing happened. I kept praying and asked once more. It was then that the answer came. My whole soul ignited fire from within. My body felt excitement and then happiness, and then a sense of overwhelming love. Tears began to flow, and then across the lids of my closed eyes I saw each and every convert I had taught and entered into the waters of baptism. I saw my companion and I teaching them, I saw them praying and asking the Lord for guidance. I saw their baptism and confirmation. All of this i saw just as clearly as I can see the hand in front of my face. Next I saw every less active I had ever seen come back into full activity. I felt their happiness, and their love, which caused my heart to swell from within and burn as thought it were on fire. I saw others whom I had taught and once again felt their love and their gratitude knowing that they too would accept the gospel. Then continuing across the theatre of my mind I saw interviews I had conducted, missionaries I had counciled, Presidents I had served, and baptisms I had performed. This overwhelming love once again filled my soul and then I heard the voice of the lord speak to my mind saying, "Do you really think you could have failed? Look at what good you have don. My son you have no failed, but you have serve for me. I have accepted this with joy." This was indeed one of the greatest tender mercies that I have had while serving as a missionary. 
After the Temple we went to do the London trip. It was a trip that I have made many many many times, so it was nothing new to me, but it sure was a fun trip. I love London. I think it is the prettiest city in the world! After London we all went home, and while the rest of the missionaries watched a movie. Albrecthson and myself went to Jonny and Debbies home for dinner. It was nice to have one last dinner with recent converts whom I had helped teach.
The next day we went to church and Bishop Graham invited me up to bear my testimony before leaving. This I did with a full heart as a once again bawled my eyes out. I looked down and saw in this ward alone, Nikki Hewitt, Charlotte, Debbie, Jonathan, Manoj, and Tegen (set to be baptised next week) all of whom I had taught and made pre-mortal promises with to share the gospel with them, I have no doubt.
After church I said my goodbyes, finished packing, and headed to the temple. There I was interview by President Millar. It was just a normal interview. Having served as an AP for 9 months I was only interviewed by my mission Presidents once or twice. At the conclusion of my interview we proceeded to the "last supper" which was held down in the accomodations of the temple, immediatly following that we held our missionary testimony meeting. It was indeed powerful to see all of the elders and sisters and how much they had grown. I once again bawled my eyes out as I began to bear my testimony.
Right after that we said our goodbyes to President and Sister Millar, who were going to Germany the next day for a Europe mission seminar. Many of the missionaries went to bed after that but Elder Lusk and myself stayed up till about 4 AM in the mission office just talking. And now here I am writing this last email. Knowing that I will see you all tomorrow, with a happy and yet heavy heart. I know that what I have done the past two years has been an tremendous "sacrifice" but in reality it has been the greatest gift god has given me up to this point in my life (besides His son). I know God lives and that He loves me. I know that Jesus Christ is His son. Together "it is their work and their glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39). I know that because they love us so much they once again re-established the fullness of the gospel in these, the latter days. That this was done through the prophet Joseph Smith. That the priesthood authority was once again restored on the earth.  The evidence of this is the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. I know this to be true for have read, studied, and prayed about the words within that book. The power I have felt and the feeling which it brings into my life is beyond denial, that it is indeed true! I know that there is a living prophet of God on earth today, and that is Thomas S. Monson. I know that he is Gods mouthpiece on the earth. That he speaks what God wants us to hear, just as in times of old. I also know and perhaps to my greatest knowledge that Jesus is the Christ. He is the Son of the living God. I know that he suffered for me, an imperfect soul so that I might live again. I know that he has ransomed mankind giving them the opportunity to not only physically live again, but also spiritually. I know with every ounce of my heart that He lives. That he loves me. That He loves all of us and that is why He did what he did for us. Because I know this, this is why I chose to serve a mission. Not for family, not for friends, not for anything else, but because of Him. Christ is the reason I chose to serve. To be an instrument in His hands in bringing those "who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it" (DandC 123: 12 back unto Him, by partaking FULLY in His atonement.

One last Baptism

We had a big miracle this week, I am sure I have already told you about Charlotte. We went over and taught her on Thursday. She is literally a dry Mormon, coming to church and obeying the commandments. We have taught her all of the commandments. The only reason why she won’t get baptized is because of her father being against it. She is really scared of that.  Anyway on Thursday we went over to teach her we talked about baptism. When I mentioned the word baptism she cringed a bit and then we asked her about why she didn’t want to be baptized. She proceeded to tell us about her father and how he would react.  Anyway we talked then a lot about faith and fear and about how the gift of the Holy Ghost would change her life. I didn’t want to push her at all cuz I could tell this was sensitive enough. So we invited her to pray about being baptized on Oct. 27. We said she needed to pray about it and on Sunday we would talk more and she can let us know what her answer was. She was very emotional and I thought great we have blown it and now she will never get baptized. Sunday comes around and we saw her and her mum walk into church late. After sacrament meeting I went up and started talking to her.  She told us "I have been really praying a lot about baptism as you said, and I do want to be baptized, but it can’t be this Saturday".... I was sad it couldn’t be this Saturday cause I wanted to be at the baptism.  I thought well that is OK at least she is getting baptized.  Then she said... I would like to be baptized this Thursday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The very thing that literally we have been fasting for, for about six weeks now and praying for soooooo long! Man it was such a great thing to hear. Her interview is today. Please keep her in your prayers!! She is having a private baptism. There will just be a few Elders and a few others people going. I am so happy I will get to see one last baptism before I go home! I love baptisms!!!!! That truly is my miracle. Please pray for her. :)

We have loads of appointments and a baptism!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Huzzah!!!!!!!!

Love you all!

Elder M. White 

Saying Goodbye

This past week we picked up a baptismal date! YEAH!!!! Her name is Tegen and she is 19 years old. We set her date for November 10 so that we she can be properly taught. She is 19 years old. One of her best friends was a member here about four years ago when she was in YW they have since moved. Anyway so we have taught her the restoration, the plan of salvation and gospel of Jesus Christ, she has come to church, and in church they went over the WOW and she accepted to live it and said "I don’t smoke or drink, Coffee is sick and tea I can give that up." So we are stoked for that! She also has read from the beginning of the Book of Mormon to 2 Nephi 5. So we are really excited about that! It doesn’t matter if I am here when she gets baptized, the exciting thing is that she is getting baptized :)

This week we visited Plymouth for a few days. That was very nice. I got to see a few faces before I go. It was crazy going down there, there were so many of the people I taught that have now moved back to their countries and are gone. I did get to see Russel and he is doing well despite his struggles he has had a  loss of his job and one of his best mates. Rebekah is doing well also. Chao Li is in china and Lin is up in Wales at good college. I stopped by Barbara and Martin and we had a good chat. I just feel so privileged to have helped these people gain a testimony in the gospel. I am going to see Della for the last time tomorrow and also say goodbye to big Wayne.

Nellie and Jo I will see on Saturday. They are really worried about helping N-- afford College. It is so expensive and hard to get that much money for her to attend college. 

I’m so glad my mission president is a Dr. that has really been helpful for me while I have this hepatitis.  He wants to know my test results when I get them. He is keeping an eye on me. The English Doctor here thinks I am doing better.  I really like him. They have been checking my blood 2 times a week. I’ll bring those tests and the ultra sound and CT scan home with me for the Doctors at home.  I am feeling better and my symptoms seem to be lessening.  Hopefully I will be good as new by the time I get home:)  I feel so blessed have been able to feel good enough to be able to work and serve to the end.

Love you all!
 

Elder M. White

General Conference

Hi All,

Conference this week was amazing. I haven’t been able to watch all of the sessions yet. I am going to finish watching the last few on the internet. Our church has them all but it was so late for us to be out at night (time difference). We will most likely watch one of the sessions in sacrament meeting. 

For General Conference the Saturday morning session we got it late at night. Our recent converts Jonathan and Debi have never seen conference before and they don’t have a computer to watch it on so we decided to get the mission projector and our laptop and we set it up and projected general conference against the wall for them to watch. They had their cousins there who are from Portugal and didn’t speak any English. So we watched the whole thing in Portuguese! man it was nuts... at one point the cousin was in tears when President Uchtdorf talked. It was really good. I had no idea what he was saying but I knew it was good :) We loved it! 

We have been working with Charlotte and finished up all of the commandments with her.  She committed to live them all. There is no reason why she shouldn’t be baptized. This week we are going to try and give her a date for Oct 27 just two days before I go home. I really hope she accepts it. We have been fasting and praying for it. She is a really good girl.

For our zone trainings we have focused a lot on the baptismal commitment. At one of the zone trainings the first councilor in our mission presidency took us out for fish and chips at a place called "Chez Fred’s" (pronounced Shay-Fred’s, French I think). Anyway it was by far the best fish and chips I have ever had. Holy cow that was the highlight of the week for sure! I loved it sooo much! The zone trainings were good too:0 Tomorrow we have another zone training on the eastern part of the mission. It’s only about an hour’s drive away.

Debi and Jonathan are throwing me a b-day party today! I love them to bits. All of the other RCs are doing great :)  Emiliano I think is getting serious with this Bolivian girl (a member) so that is good. We like to hear that. Good man he is.

 I heard a great quote that I liked. "Only the church will save the world from its own destruction."           -Ezra Taft Bensen.

Love you!!!

Elder M. White

Gods Tender Mercy and "The Mormons are coming!!"!

This week we went to Windsor Castle and I forgot how beautiful it was there! Man inside it is crazy amazing. When we come back we will have to go there. On Tuesday we had to move some sisters out to the Isle of Wight. That place is fun to go to and a place to visit also. It was a long car drive though and then we had an hour fairy out from Southampton. The sisters we moved out there brought so much dang stuff! We brought our mission van and their entire luggage took up the whole van!!!! On Wednesday we had a ZLC. Thursday we worked in our area. I won’t lie it has taken me forever to try and grasp how to work an area while being and AP and I don’t know if I will ever be able to do it... Trying to do exchanges and trainings and then still trying to get enough rest and work in our area it just manic. Right now our big hope for a baptism is Charlotte. She is doing great. She is in Alma in the book of Mormon. Really the conversion is already there. It is just when. I don’t know if I will see another baptism... I was thinking though that no matter what the seeds which I sow don’t die when I leave but continue to grow as the Lord of the Harvest (Jesus) reaps of their benefits.

The Book of Mormon musical is coming to London. It’s all over the double decker buses and in the news papers and the ads they have put up say.... "THE MORMONS ARE COMING!!!!" and has a picture of a missionary, then in little letters at the bottom it says Book of Mormon Musical, but no one notices that unless you are really close to the bus and so it actually has been really good for the church. Everyone in London is asking us if we are Mormons! It is fun!!! Anyway the church I believe is planning to blitz London with the "I’m a Mormon" ads and they have bought a piece for advertisement in the program for the musical. It hasn’t been bad and I think the only people that will see the musical are morons anyway and those who do see it hopefully have sense at least investigate to find out more. Anyway made me laugh.

Remember a year ago when I was teaching Grace, a Chinese student from Plymouth and were about to be baptized but didn’t. She had some things she needed to work out. Then before she got them all worked out she went back to China. About two weeks ago she came back to UK to finish her schooling. She moved from Plymouth to Birmingham. I got her number and have called her a few times but never was able to get her information from her. She said she was coming down to Surrey sometime but I didn’t know when and where and keep in mind that Surrey has at least 4,000,000 people. I had no idea when she was coming and where she would be but I wanted to get in touch with her so I could get her info to send elders to her in Birmingham.  I  also wanted to say good bye to her...... Anyway ok back to story... we went to an eating place that was about an hour away from my area called Guildford. We went inside and talked for a while then went to order our food. While I was in the line I heard "Elder White!" and there was G-- right behind me!!!! I was shocked!!! Of all places I had no idea it was in this particular city in the county of Surrey that she was going to visit, at this time, and at this restraint! (Tender Mercy for sure)It was really neat! We talked and I got her info and passed it on to the Birmingham Elders. She said she will let me know when she gets baptized as well. We probably talked about 10-15 minutes. It was really good. So that was quite the tender mercy of the week. Just those divine meetings that God sets up. Amazing how that works, He knows where we will be at that exact point in time. I would expect she will be baptized in a month or two's time. 

Well family love ya tons and I will speak to ya soon!

Elder M. White

Elder Nelson

This week has been a good week for us. We are working with some great investigators as I said... but none of them with a date yet. I think we need to start extending dates soon though. I really want to see one more baptism before I go. I hope as well that I can see one more LA go through the temple before I go. I don’t have that much time left!!!! 

We taught our Ugandan family again about the importance of the BofM. We are also teaching Charlotte I can't remember if I told you about her. She is a 16 year old girl in the ward who is PM she is not a member but her mom is and she and her mum come to church and she is pretty much just a dry Mormon! We have been planning on teaching her the commandments. She is really good and needs to be baptized she needs the Holy Ghost!" I think she might be scared of her father and his reaction though. Please keep them both in your prayers. We have been fasting and praying for them each week to hope that a miracle will come. 

As far as RCs they are doing great the ones you know. I heard Emiliano he is dating this girl from Bolivia who is a member so we will see how that goes. I thought that was pretty great.  He is such a good bloke and really wants to get sealed in the temple,

Jonathan and Debi are awesome. Debi is teaching us to bake English foods... It is kind of funny cuz she in 0% English she is South African and Portuguese! But hey, I need to learn to make crumpets before I go home and she said she would teach us. She and Jonathan are rock stars. 

Man this week wasn’t a boring week but my email has kind of been sorry.  I can’t think of any really good stories right now...

I loved meeting Elder Nelson last week.  That was so sweet and quite the shocker. He came to see his daughter who is serving with her husband in the temple here.  He came into the office and we were all shocked!!! There was a missionary from Botswana who was going home and he was in the office when he introduced himself and said he was from Botswana Elder Nelson said "Oh... I dedicated Botswana in 1992." All of us were like... Wow, who but an apostle can say that, yeah very few people can say that! Elder Nelson was also a lot taller then what I thought. On TV he looks smaller but no he is probably like six foot taller than me... It was pretty amazing to meet and talk to him.

Well that is about all the news I can think of for now.

Love ya all

Elder M. White