Livingston, Part 2

Scotland is a lot like Ireland in many ways, but in many other ways quite different. We are somewhere between Edinburgh and Glasgow. The Edinburgh accent is easy to understand, but the Glasgow accent is...not. So I have a hard time understanding some people. Livingston is not really busy enough to street contact effectively, so we pretty much tract all day every day. It's more door-to-door than I've ever done. Ever. Elder Skelton is such a good missionary. I feel like he's training me. I have to make sure he's not dragging me along, and just keep up with him. I still haven't seen President MacDonald that often, but I understand he's settling in well, and he's still a big goof. Another difference I notice from Ireland to Scotland is that people close the door much faster. 

Everyone looks so big now. Amanda really looks like a younger version of Mom, doesn't she? 

We walk everywhere so far. No car, and no bikes. We are getting some bus passes on Tuesday. There are quite a few little towns in our area, and it's all quite suburban. These places are where people live if they can't afford to live in Edinburgh. There is quite a large shopping centre, about 50 minutes to walk there. 

Today we need to clean our flat and wait for a guy to come look at our leaky shower. We make most of our own meals, but we should have a few DAs this week. Elder Skelton is a good cook, and he likes to cook too, so...yeah. 

We had one investigator, but he dropped us on Sunday like a sack of hammers. He left after Priesthood opening where an upcoming activity was being discussed, and apparently we aren't supposed to have fun. We are gonna meet another guy hopefully tonight. 

I found a really nice CD player in my room. So that's cool. 

See you later! Love you! 

Livingston, Part 1

Hannah was indeed baptized this weekend. She is more than ready for it; she is so mature for a girl of only 13 years or 14. There was a man come in from Denmark named Christian Olsen who served in Bangor before, and also taught the Cunninghams. He did the honor of baptizing her. We the missionaries joined in the circle as Bishop Puckerin confirmed her the following day. So I am very happy about all that. Helen came to church for the first time in a few weeks. Apparently the last lesson we had with her had made her feel nervous and pressured, so she was very hesitant to see us again. But she just couldn't stay away. Alas, I shall not likely ever see her baptized. 

This week was rough for Belfast. On the 11th and 12th and a little bit of the 13th, there was some bad rioting going on in Belfast city, some of it involving pipe bombs and other explosives. All of the missionaries had already been instructed to stay in their flats NO EXCEPTIONS, just like every year. Everyone was safe, especially me and Elder Mueller in Bangor, because Bangor is generally just less violent. Nonetheless, we stayed inside for most of the 11th and all of the 12th, playing card games, texting people, and watching Studio C comedy. And going stir crazy. 

This Sunday was my last in Bangor. I've been called up north to Livingston. That's right, I'm a Scot now. I am in the Edinburgh district, being just between Edinburgh and Glasgow. I think. My new companion is Elder Skelton from Arizona. He's a big guy, very tall and broad, and he's just a few transfers younger than me. It's a new country, a new mission president, and the first time I've had a companion who's younger than me. I'm sure-fire out of my comfort zone. It's been a long trip by ferry, taxi, and train. Scotland is very scenic, and I was travelling with some very good missionaries too: Sisters Potter and Khoo, and Elders O'Connor and Moffitt. We had at least 10 big pieces of luggage between the 5 of us, and a few smaller pieces too. It was quite the hassle to travel with it. 

That's so great to know, that you probably won't have to move. Please do keep me updated about that. And if it doesn't work out that way, that just means the Lord has something better in mind doesn't it. Justin riding Keda is so cool, especially since Keda is one of the horses I was the most nervous about for some reason. 

I must sign off soon. I'll include a picture of me and Helen, , and some pictures of Elder Mueller beating me up, and a picture of me and Katie (Chinese investigator), but the picture with me and Hannah will likely need to wait until later. 

Love you!​

Bangor, Part 21 - July 9, 2018

Well, admittedly I do worry sometimes about everything at home, and it even seems to me sometimes that being on a mission here is harder on everybody than me being at home was. But at your insistence that you feel blessed, I remain. It doesn't help that we just had a visit from an RM who served in this mission (Elder Mueller's trainer, actually) and he said to us: ''I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but the day I got home was the best day of my life. And being at home is the best.'' and I'm just like: ''thanks.'' He's great though, and the ward sure loves him. His name is Brendan (or Brandon) Tolk, and he's the son of renowned pianist David Tolk. David was there too, and he preformed piano music at a fireside on Sunday evening. It was wonderful. 

At church on Sunday, there was a box full of church books. I took from it Great Are the Words of Isaiah, and A Topical Guide to the Scriptures, and the Discourses of Brigham Young.

I know nothing more at this time about transfers. I'll have to wait until Saturday. And on that Saturday, Hannah is still scheduled to be baptized. She has been taught everything, is going to be interviewed on Tuesday, and it's all good. We found out that Helen hasn't dropped and isn't avoiding us, just some circumstances have kept her from coming to church. Things like a holiday, and her mother's health, etcetera. We saw our Chinese friend Katie again the other day, and I think we're friends now. 

Honestly, giving talks has become one of my favourite things to do. I've become so comfortable with it. What was the topic? This Sunday, the topic in sacrament meetings focused a lot on social media safety and following the prophet. 

Man, hauling hay. Lots of fun, with the right attitude. And lots of exercise, whether you like it or not. Justin's kinda the man now, huh? And Tamara sent me a video, and Olivia was riding a horse in it. Holy canolies, is she tall now, or what? 

Love you, family!

Bangor, Part 20 - July 2, 2018

The Donaldsons went home on Saturday, and the MacDonalds moved in to replace them. We will meet them on Wednesday at a short conference in Dublin. I am excited for that, though I will sorely miss the Donaldsons. Both President and Sister Donaldson had that quality where they made each individual missionary feel like the favourite. Lots of love generated from that big, big man, and his little-bitty wife. But in the future, I might be able to meet them at a mission reunion in Utah. That's a happy bonus that you could see comes from a mission: you know people from so many different places, and it gives you an excuse to travel, even if it's only to Utah. 

I missed home yesterday. And yes, I did take time to sing my national anthem. I wished a little bit that I could watch the fireworks, sitting on a picnic blanket drinking grape soda with my favoured blood relatives. 

Helen. She didn't come to church and she isn't answering her phone. We may have scared her off; she may have felt too much pressure to be baptized. To be honest, I'm not too worried about her. She has so many supportive friends in the church that she won't lose contact, and she will likely be baptized someday, just not while I'm around. Hannah is still set to be baptized on the 14th this month, and is excited. We're teaching her again tonight. I think she will be baptized by stake president Noble, because she's pretty close to that family. President Noble is a cool guy, I like him. 

It is likely that I will be transferred, and will move to a new area on the 16th. I kind of hope I do too. I've been here long enough. But if I am assigned to stay, it would not be the end of me. 

Poor Mackie. Hopefully he now will know to be more careful around horses. Sounds like a lot of fun with the horses though. You must be having some good weather conditions for it. Magic is a bit of an ornery beast then, huh? Are those some new seats at the counter? 

Sometimes while my companion is emailing his girlfriend, I take some time poking around on family search. CFB Lybbert; what a manly man. I actually wasn't sure if I had pioneer ancestors, but there you go. Danish blacksmith pioneer. I still wish I knew more stories about Grandfather Lyle, but maybe I'll have to send a letter to grandpa for that. I know next to nothing about mom's side of the family. 

I'm alright. I could be a lot worse. God takes very good care of me. 

Love you!