Sunday, October 20, 2013

Week 13

So, I've been remise about posting Nick's letters recently. Here is the letter he wrote on October 7, and since he didn't write on the 14th, I've also attached some news and pictures that has come to us through other means.  

Hello from the north of England!

Hey everyone! So I honestly feel like p-day was yesterday. Time flies so fast, and seems to go faster everyday. North Shields is doing great. I am happy here. I am going to hit my 3 month mark this week. Too soon!

Conference was brilliant! I think that is the first conference I have actually stayed awake and paid attention to the whole thing. Conference is a whole new thing when you don't have an iphone or ipad in front of you. I tried the pen and notebook approach and it kept me plenty entertained. We watched the saturday morning session live on saturday night then priesthood we saw recorded sunday morning, the saturday afternoon we watched recorded sunday in the middle of the day, then sunday morning live sunday night. We just watched them at Sister Thompsons home because she has BYUTV.

The talk that really stuck out to me was the end of President Uchdorf's talk in priesthood session. He said "You should hear President Monson pray for you." Which reminds me of what I read in the Book of Mormon the other day in 2 Nephi 33:

3 But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great aworth, and especially unto my people. For I bpray continually for them by day, and mine ceyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry.
4 And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people. And the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto them; for it apersuadeth them to do good; it maketh known unto them of their fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them to believe in him, and to endure to the end, which is life beternal.
I love this chapter. It was kind of Nephi's last hurrah before he passed away. It just made me think of how much our prophet really cares for not only us, but the entire world. A bishop cares for a ward and all those who live within it, which in provo is a neighbourhood, or england it is a couple cities. But the prophet cares for an entire world. I have faith in the future because I know President Monson has a faith as strong as Nephi's. God will consecrate his and all of our prayers for the gain of all people.
I also really enjoyed President Uchdorf's talk in the saturday morning session. "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith."
When M. Russell Ballard spoke, it was so different hearing it as a congregation of members rather than when he spoke to us as missionaries. He essentially gave the same sort of talk, but it made me realize how much we rely on members. It is hard to see that in Utah, but here, missionary work does not happen without members. It just doesn't move forward. "What an exciting time to be a member of the church."
I love you and pray for you all the time!
Elder Gurney
PS I am terrible at taking new pictures so here is an old one from a castle we went to during p day several weeks ago.



Elder Gurney saying goodbye to Elder Krylborn and hello to Elder Kjeldsen, (at least thats how I think you spell his Danish name!) As you can see there are four Elders serving in the Ward.