Burns 2 Burnley

Hello all!

This week has been a blur. It was one of our most busy weeks, as far as schedule goes, and it all just blends together!

Monday: For preparation day, we were invited to Liverpool by the district leader. We had a pretty good day there, although it did leave little time for emailing. We decided that we wanted to visit the Liverpool docks, where the early saints left for the Americas, and where the first missionaries arrived in England. It was really neat to visit that sight that I've heard so much about. They even have a statue there representing those families that packed their bags and traveled to Nauvoo, leaving from the docks at Liverpool. There was also a statue of the Beatles that us four missionaries were able to pose with! It's always a short day when we go to Liverpool, but it was neat to see everything! Oh! And there was also a one-man-band in the town centre, that combined traditional techniques with modern looping, autotune, keyboards, etc. It was pretty neat! My district leader, Elder Audrilický was transfixed!

Wednesday: Valentine's day. What would a good Valentine's day be without a good valentine's day date? Well, one lovely newlywed couple from the Southport Ward had thought about that, so...... they invited us for tea! Elder Carroll and I were expecting a good Father/Son bonding day, but nope, we were invited to a valentine's dinner for four. I wasn't very comfortable with this idea, as this was their first valentine's day as a married couple, but we accepted their generosity and went. It wasn't as awkward as I thought. We shared with them the Mormon message "Expressions of Love". It went really well and we had some good food too!

Thursday: We met with a man who referred himself and wanted a Book of Mormon and Bible. He wanted to learn about the religion itself, but wasn't too interested in joining any particular faith. Partway into the meeting, we met his wife, who happened to be an inactive member from Utah. They were a really nice couple and had a lot of questions!

Friday: Today we met with a Methodist preacher! It was quite a neat visit. He was very interested in learning our different views and similarities. He is really keen, because he's willing to study things out for himself and willing to learn new things. We gave him a Book of Mormon and he committed to read and ask for himself! We'll see how that goes. I've seen that he has questions that we were able to answer.

We also, throughout the whole week, had a strange phenomenon. We set a goal to find 7 new friends this week, and, in a way, we succeeded! Everyday we consecrated one hour to finding. During these hours we found two new friends, but we also ran into two less actives (who actually called us over from across the street). The final three were actually funny stories. They were all previous investigators, but they came about it in strange ways. One we were waiting outside for a tea appointment when he came around the corner and when we set up a time to meet with him, we discovered he was already in our area book! We also phoned another friend, but he said he moved to Ireland, but he gave us a referral! When we put this referral in, we discovered that she was already in our books as well! So we found a lot of new friends... but not really 

Sunday: Today was Ward Conference. It was really great and we learned a lot about the Stake theme, "share your light, increase your light, and come unto the light". I love this theme and it works so well with Doctrine & Covenants 50:23-25 

"23 And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness. 

24 That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.

25 And again, verily I say unto you, and I say it that you may know the truth, that you may chase darkness from among you;"

It truly is a blessing to be doing all of these in my life. I know that I can do this, even if I wasn't on a mission. As I study, learn and grow, and strive to come closer to Christ and be a better person, my light grows. I have seen that so strongly. The more it grows, the easier it is to share and the more you will want to share it! The gospel is such a happy message! One of how you can be with your family forever, and receive all the blessings that our Heavenly Father has. That is such a joyous message! The more you grow, the more you want to share, and as you do these, the more your personal relationship with Christ and Heavenly Father will grow!

Invitation of the week

This week, I would invite you to increase your light! Specifically with scripture study and prayer! It's amazing to see how much just one chapter of prayerful study can do. Pray to begin, study, pray to end. This pattern has helped me so much on my mission.

I love you all and hope that you all have a great week!

Elder Burns

England Manchester Mission
Springwood, Suite G5
Booths Park
Chelford Road
Knutsford
England WA16 8GS
United Kingdom