It was like he was Dear Johned, but no one told him

Hello All!

Whoo! This week has been crazy!! It was one of those weeks where on Saturday night I said to Elder Carroll, "Wait, is it Saturday? Yesterday was Tuesday!" It flew by! It was definitely our most successful week, but it also came with the most challenges, especially for Elder Carroll. #dearjohned..............kinda. In the words of Elder Carroll, "while we were celebrating our 3-year anniversary, she was celebrating her 2-month anniversary with her second boyfriend, unbeknownst to me" So, yeah it's been challenging, but he's taking it well.... I think. He might be an empty void of depression and sadness, but I could be completely ignorant to that #beone #companionship 😉. Isn't it interesting how they come together? Satan tries extra hard to bring us down, and as we try our best, the Lord will give us even more blessings! I have definitely seen that this week!

Anyways, here's been my week!

Last Monday, we played the ward's New-year football (soccer) game. We invited the elders in the Crosby area over and they were able to come down and play. They were on the other team. It brought back a lot of memories from my soccer years! I was definately glad I had that opportunity, because even those who don't play football in England are crazy good here! (but of what I've heard they aren't good at basketball, so maybe I can beat them at that! 😉) Anyways, it was a fun game, and our team won! 

On Tuesday we had a district meeting that I was asked to do a training in! eek. I was a little underpreapred, but it ended up being pretty good. After that, we did a street display in Bootle and talked to a few people. There were a few teenagers that said their parents might be interested, but I'd be surprised if anything came from that. Not giving up hope though. Anyways, Later that evening we were able to give service to a 93 year old woman and we took down her Christmas tree and other decorations. She let us ride her stair lift up her stairs! It was like a rollercoaster!! That was a good time! 🤣

(Side note: WE WENT TO WATERLOO, AND THERE'S A RESTAURANT BY OUR FLAT CALL "MAMMA MIA PIZZERIA"!!!!!)

On Wednesday morning we went and helped usher the funeral of Bishop's father in law. It was a really great experience and we felt that we got to know the man from the stories that friends and families shared. Later in the day we went and talked with a man who has been investigating for over 3 years now and walked to town with him, we explained that in this new year we can have a new start, and spoke about baptism. When we brought it up he said he wasn't ready, like he usually does, but we spoke of a baptismal date like a goal, and setting it is an act of faith. After we explained it like that he accepted a baptismal date for the 17th of February!! Later that day we felt inspired to go to a town at the very edge of our area, that I've never been to before. We went by a member there and she was sick and really needed our help, in which we were able to give her a priesthood blessing. We talked about the work in that area and got a few referrals, and she agreed in the future we could do a Book of Mormon study in her house with people from the area. Woot! We hope this will bring in an interest and expand the church in that area! I feel that it has been prepared. We asked her and her daughter what nearby street we should visit and they prayerfully decided on one. We went and knocked right after and of the 31 doors we knocked, 21 people opened and spoke to us! After that we got to the bus stop to go home an met a man from Slovakia and made him into a new investigator, sharing a bit and setting a return appointment for a week from Saturday. Before we finished talking to him, he said he has a friend who would be really interested in meeting with us and gave us her name and number!

 

Thursday we went back to that far away area and it was so windy we were getting blown all over the place! My tag even got blown off and lost!! There goes tag #1! Anyways, we were chasing rubbish all across the street, because a couple of people's bins fell over and spilled all over the street. The wind was blowing everything everywhere! It was crazy! That night the member we visited on Wednesday called us and told us about a friend of the daughters who was in a dangerous relationship and asked us to pray for her. We prayed for her that she would be able to recognize her worth and have her be protected. 

Friday was another great day! We stopped by another person whose records we found, but that person no longer lived there, but we were able to share the message of the Restoration with the man who lived there now. He accepted a Book of Mormon and asked us to come back in a week to discuss it!! Later that night after Tea, we felt to visit a member who we heard had been going through a hard time. We had stopped by a few times before, but no one was ever in. We went by and he was home and let us in and we were able to get to know him better. Elder Carroll was prompted to ask this man to share his testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and he bore a powerful testimony of that. The Spirit was so strong. We felt such a strong love for him in his situation and we were filled with compassion.  Elder Carroll shared this scripture with me, and I think that exemplifies it, it's 1 Nephi 20:10 "For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." 

On the way home we got a call from the sister we visited on Wednesday and she told us the girl who we prayed for left the relationship and was finding her self worth. We made some plans to befriend her and introduce her to us. She also said that she was feeling so much better and stronger after the blessing. She was able to go to work when the doctor said she would probably be bedridden for 3 weeks. She has such a strong desire to help people that God strengthened her to be well. 

Saturday we had a street display in Southport, and I was able to find a new friend all by myself! It was a good moment, and happened after my district leader, Elder Audrlicky (from the Czech Republic), counseled me in approaches and jumping out of my comfort zone. I was so grateful to him, and he helped me find that new friend!

Jumping back to Friday morning, I had the thought that my Facebook would start working that day. I tried downloading it, as I had the past 3 weeks, but it didn't work. I was slightly bummed, because I felt like Friday was the day. I even told Elder Carroll it! That night, Elder Carroll felt inspired to go over the technology safeguards for companion study. That night, when we were on the bus ride home, ~9pm, I had the thought to download it one more time. I did so, and prayed to Heavenly Father that it would work, and it did! Woot! Because it installed so late in the day, we spent most of Saturday setting that up. We used the wonderful tool that Facebook is to message a girl who was found at a street display a week ago and invite her to come to church. She has a strong desire to go and take her mother. She wasn't able to this week, because of work, but she hopes to in the future!

Sunday was another amazing day! We went to church and were able to help pass the sacrament. A senior missionary couple came and did a self-reliance introduction and because of that the ward is now organizing on having a night every week to have this meeting where the members can work on applying principles of becoming more self reliant with their personal finances. After church we had lunch at bishop's house (*see picture above*) and that evening we went to the new member fireside with Michael, the man we put on date to be baptized. The spirit was really strong there as new members bore their testimonies and stories of how they found the church and came to know it's true. That was a wonderful way to end a miraculous week!

I know that Heavenly Father blesses us as we try to do our best! We were so blessed to find so many new friends and for Michael to accept a baptism date! I know that this work is important to Him, and that it is important for everyone! I testify that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only church that holds the full authority of God, and holds all His truths. I know that President Thomas S. Monson was a true a living prophet on the Earth, and that he lead the church as God desired. He was a good man who loved his wife and family. I know he is with many of them now. I am so grateful for eternal families, and that I can live with my family forever! I love this Gospel and the many ways that it blesses my life. It truly is the greatest gift! I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

I love you all!

Weekly Invitation: Think of a trial that you have been through. Truly reflect on how God helped you to grow and be strengthened through that trial.

Weekly Invitation #2: Because all of my sisters are married, we've been searching for new "potential investigators" (aka potential girlfriend/wife) for Elder Carroll. If there are any females who will be available in 18 months, please, let us know! Pictures welcome 😉

P.S. Hopefully you enjoyed some humour when it comes to Elder Carroll's situation. That's how we've gotten through this week. Elder Carroll is honestly doing better than I think I would. He put this burden in the hands of the Lord, and He has helped him through it all, in so many ways. I'm definately glad I've been able to help him through this.

p.p.s. All information about Elder Carroll has been shared with his approval.

Love you!

Elder Burns

England Manchester Mission

Springwood, Suite G5

Booths Park

Chelford Road

Knutsford

England WA16 8GS

United Kingdom