March 24, 2014

So it has been a busy week in Leeds. A busy transfer! I cannot believe it is week 5 of the transfer. I felt like I just got to England five minutes ago!

I want to tell you today about the Rojas family. Alex and Elizabeth Rojas are from Chile and are here so that Sister Rojas can teach English. They have been here for like 4 or 5 months. We meet with them like maybe once or twice a week. Brother Rojas is not very good with English but is learning. He is such a humble man. They literally have nothing here in England but Brother Rojas has been to known to give missionaries the umbrella from over his head and the tie off his neck. I love this family so much. The reason I wanted to talk about them today is because they helped me realize how privileged we are to have the gospel. They have nothing but the church in this country, and it is all they need. Everything else just seems to work out. We all have so many worldly things we want, and yes they are nice to have, but all that really matters in this life is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that is where true happiness comes from. It is not just a nice idea that helps us through hard times like I am told everyday by those who don't have a faith, but it is the ONLY thing that can possibly get us through this life, back to our Heavenly Father. 

I am happy here doing the Lord's work. I miss all of you terribly but I know this is where I will be happiest. I know the Lord is watching over all of you and I know that if I keep working hard he will continue to do so. Don't take this gospel for granted. You need it.

I love you guys,

Elder Gurney

March 17, 2014

Wow another week gone by! It is ridiculous how fast weeks pass by.

Well I am really really happy. It seems like just yesterday I was rebuking everyone for telling me a mission is easy. I now understand. We really need to rely on the Lord in this work.

This week has been interesting. Friday morning while I was shaving, the phone rings. It is President Pilkington so I answer with shaving cream all over my face. He asks if we will come open the front door for him. The flat was a mess. I hurried and got as ready as I could (This was during breakfast) and opened the door. Everyone disappeared. Ha so anyway he stayed and observed some of our planning. It was a nice time, I learned so much. I will tell you, the flat is clean now. 

I have been learning a lot about obedience lately. Especially about the spirit of the law. Me and Elder Schwarzkopf have been trying to be perfectly obedient to mission rules and we can see the blessings of it. I have specifically been trying to not find loopholes or using any little bit of justification in my obedience (spirit of the law) and it has been showing. Maybe not in baptisms, but I notice when we go out finding we have better conversations, people are nicer and are more interested.

  20 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—

 21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.

- D&C 130:20-21

I know that the Lord loves us so much that he desires to bless us. We just have to let Him.

I love you guys!

Elder Gurney

 I love knocking

Teaching drunks at a bar!

Selfies with Jews     

March 10, 2014

Ah I am so happy this week!

I am really just loving England. So winter decided just to not, so the weather is incredible. Warm enough just for suit coats most days!

Me and Elder Schwarzkopf decided to work a lot harder last week and this week and we can already see the joy from it. The success as well. I love this area. We have been teaching a man named Darren (yeah he spells it wrong) and he is the biggest miracle. We just got him as a referral from the office so we assumed mormon.org. Well he told us that we was just sitting outside his house and he asked a lady if he could use her phone, which he did, and she just went to her car, grabbed a Book of Mormon and gave it to him, so he called the number on the inside! (the mission office stamps all the BoMs) He is such a good guy. He has definitely had a rough past and has been homeless for most of it. He has such a desire to change and I am so excited for him.

I just love how the gospel changes people. I have met so many people who have just left old lives behind to become a disciple of Jesus Christ and I can just see the light emulating out of them. They are happy. They have goals and hope for the future. The world doesn't have that, and if it does it is centered around money.  People need this joy weather they know it or not. "No words are wasted" I really believe this. 

Gordon B. Hinkley said, "When all is said and done, the only real wealth of the church is in the faith of its people.". I love this quote and I love finding this wealth in my own life and helping others find it in theirs.

Your Heavenly Father loves you and I do as well. I know this church is true and that knowledge makes me so happy. Let it make you happy as well.

Love you,

Elder Gurney

Me and Elder Schwarzkopf after a very long and tiring and enjoyable week.

ps dont notice the messy flat.

March 3, 2014

Well I really should quit waiting to send the group email till last because it just suffers when I do.

It has been a good week! I will tell you quickly of one miracle because I have to go any minute. Last night we had about 20 minutes of time before we went into the flat and it was just pouring with rain.

Me and Elder Schwarzkopf decided to be obedient and talk to people before we went in. We talked to like 3 people but they didn't really wanna stop in the rain but then we talk to this guy Mark from spain and it was a miracle. He wants to meet with us! so we got his number and will call him today. 

There can be miracles when you believe.

Love you!

Elder G

Feb 24, 2014: Leeds 1!!!

Hey everyone!

So sorry my emails have been slacking lately, the last few p days have been crazy.

Leeds is fantastic. I cannot imagine two more different places that leeds and north shields. We live in a place called Headingly, which is just a university part of town, full of students. My new companion is from Germany and he is so good. I am just so happy I haven't had an american companion yet.

Teaching is a lot different here. We have an institute building that we teach almost everyone in. The ward is like huge. Maybe 130 people. and 60% are students. Massive YSA, but they are all so good, especially at missionary work.

So we had lunch at a members home on Saturday, the Bowes-Taylor family from South Africa. Yes, mom, they know Anita. What a small world! They are just so normal and nice and good. It feels good to be in like a normal family home, there weren't many families like that in NS. I am just so excited to work for this ward and in this area.

Well I am happy and I love you all!

Elder G