Bangor, Part 11

This week we got our moves call, and found out that we will not be moving. So me and Elder Baklan will be together in Bangor for the next foreseeable 7 weeks. I am okay with that, because me and Elder Baklan get along well and Bangor is a nice and agreeable place. We have dinner appointments pretty much every day for the next 19 days. I love all of the members that we visit; they're just great people. We have to rebuild our teaching pool; we've had to drop a few investigators who were going nowhere fast. I bought a new shirt, and it looks pretty good on me. 

Okay, here are 3 things I've noticed that are decidedly different, especially about Northern Irish people (because that is different than Republic people):

1. Irish people are very touchy. They will often have there hand on your arm, shoulder, or hands when they are talking personally to you. And that's among strangers. 

2. There is a lot of mental illness in Northern Ireland. More than normal, I would say. I have been told before that one of the causes of that is a lot of inbreeding. So a lot of the people you meet will have autism or aspergers or some other disability. 

3. A larger part of the people are very very open about their personal life. Stopping people on the street to talk to them, you are quite likely to get their entire life story. 

So, you probably know that Wendy W. Nelson (Russell M. Nelson's wife) was born and grew up in Raymond Alberta, right? Well, I heard that she was a Lybbert, or was related to the Lybberts somehow, do you know anything of that? Do you think it would be easy to find out? 

You also may know that Russell Nelson and Jeffery Holland started their world tour this last week in London. Their message was broadcasted to all of the British missions, so we got to watch it too. I wish y'all could have watched it. There wasn't any new announcements, it was mainly talking about the themes of conference: revelation and ministering. There were two sessions: one at 7:00PM for everyone, and one earlier in the day at 2:00PM for missionaries. At each sessions, the speakers were Sister Holland, Elder Holland, Sister Nelson, and President Nelson. It was a very special and unique thing to be a part of. And the Sisters are very good speakers, who are rarely heard from. I wrote a lot down, but here are few notables:

Elder Holland noted that the book of Ether is over 1000 years of history contained in about 30 pages. Hence, we can infer that the Book of Mormon is not to be taken as a history book; it's the things of God which are contained therein. 

President Nelson talked about the Solemn Assembly. There were, of course, a lot of people who had threatened to be there to voice their opposition and to protest. And many showed up and were there in the conference, but because of the spirit present they were silenced. 

Sister Nelson emphasized how there are missionary efforts going on on both sides of the veil. Many have accepted the gospel in the spirit world, and are anxiously waiting and cheering us on to do missionary work on this side of the veil so they can have their ordinances done in the temple. 

President Nelson concluded the session by promising a blessing for the missionaries. Included in that was a blessing on our families at home, that they will be taken care of and that the sick and afflicted will be healed. I was just thinking, that can give us a lot of hope.... 

I'm sorry, I was not part of the family fast this week. I don't really know why, but we've been advised in the white handbook to not fast for things going on at home. But I have been praying; plus, you've been blessed by the prophet. So there. 

I have been ever so slightly trunky for the past couple of days. But that should get better right soon. I hope. 

Love y'all!