Monday, November 24, 2014

November 24, 2014: Hey thur friends!

What a week! We have really seen miracles this week.

It has been a good week! I am really happy. I love my companion with all my heart but he struggles with english, so he gets frustrated. Maybe if you guys could say a prayer or two for Elder Korenkov (kah-rain-cough) It would be appreciated.

I have really hit a turning point this week. I am so happy working now. I just love it. I got a bit complacent. I have had the same assignment for nearly a year now, and it is easy to get complacent. I have gotten a lot more involved with my purpose this week.

I love the scriptures. I love studying. I cannot read enough. I have read the entire missionary library and a marvelous work and a wonder, now I am reading Articles of Faith. I have been reading the scriptures a lot as well. I have read the Book of Mormon twice and started a third time but then I moved to the new testament. I am in the gospel of Luke and loving it. I don't think I am a slow reader, but I want to understand everything, so I don't read a whole lot during study. My scriptures look like a coloring book. Mom, thank you for the example you set of scripture study. You always talked about it and I do remember. For a long time I wanted to know all the deep doctrine and things (every missionary hits that at their six month mark) but to be honest all I study now are the simple truths of the gospel. I love Preach My Gospel and I hope you guys study it often.

I do love hearing about home. Don't worry I am long past the homesick thing. I do miss you guys, but I love my mission. I love being a missionary. Mostly I am just tired. All the time. It is a weird feeling to be able to sleep no matter what time of day it is. I don't even know what it is like to have physical energy anymore. I think I spent all of that by my year mark. Now I am just running on spiritual power. That sounds lame but it is true.

I love this gospel. I know it is true. I know it intellectually and infinitely more important, I know it spiritually. Through the Holy Ghost. I know it not just because I have studied it, but because I have applied it. I love bringing the gospel unto peoples lives.

I went on exchange at the beginning of the week and I realized that I waste a lot of time. I am here to baptise people. So when I came back to my area we just hit the ground running. Well walking really fast, then stopping and talking to someone, then walking really fast, then stopping....you get the picture. We found a family!

So Ahmed and Shirin are the parents. He is from Pakistan and she is from Persia. They have a 13 year old son named Hamzeh. They are solid! The mom was almost baptised a few years ago, and she loves the church. The dad is so open minded and loved the idea of searching out a new religion, telling us the Qur'an actually teaches people to do that. So yeah they are muslim, but I don't think they really practice. So me and my Russian friend are excited for that.

We had a mission presidents fireside last night for the stake and we filled the room full. 285 people. I have no idea what that compares to a utah ward, but for a fireside that was record breaking here. Literally. This is the 6th and last one of the year and we had the most attend. So it was really exciting.

Hmmm what else. Hugh went to the temple this week! So did Jess. They both loved it. It kills me being so close to a temple (45 min) and not being able to go.

Well I love you guys and miss you!


Happy Thanksgiving!

Elder Gurney

Monday, November 17, 2014

November 17, 2014

I haven't seen the sun in a long time.

Look outside. Yep there is sunlight. Not here!

Well anyway despite the lack of sunlight Huddersfield is fantastic. This has been my shortest area, but one of my favorites. I told the assistants the other day that if I got transferred on December 3rd I would cry. Like real life tears. They said they would keep that in mind...it is easier to convince the APs than God though. We will see what happens.

I was reading the last chapter of John this morning, well skimming it, I didn't have much time. But I was thinking about Peter and all he had been asked to do and leave. I watched Holland's MTC talk "feed my sheep" which is fantastic if you can find it. Once we are called. It is forever. Sure a mission is 2 years but our call as disciples of jesus christ is for forever.

It has been a fast week with a lot of meetings. On Wednesday we had zone conference which was incredible. Then we had stake conference during the weekend, but prayers were answered and my talk got canceled:) We had an area seventy, Elder Charles, presiding and it was a fantastic meeting. Hugh Moses, the man who was baptised on September 20th gave a talk and it was incredible. I don't want to sound biased or anything but I think his talk was the best one there...he spoke about how the missionaries came around and all they did was ask him to read and pray and he kept saying God has stopped talking to me. But finally he did it and it was the trick. He very quickly gained a testimony and was baptised after that. We had the privilege of having lunch with them after church and it was so great. I love that family so much. The gospel has improved their home so much. They are such an incredible family without the gospel and the gospel in their home has made it even better. I think I got a glimpse of the promise in D&C about great shall be their joy in heaven.

Anyway I love this gospel. I know it is true. It makes me so happy to know that. I know that one of the best ways to grow close to the Saviour is to embrace his Atonement and study his life.

I love you guys!

Elder Gurney

Thursday, November 13, 2014

November 10, 2014: Bon fire night!

This is a holiday the states definitely needs.
(Brother Pollentine, his nephew, Alicia, Elder Carrano, Sam, Emily)



its kind of like an english 4th of july, but on the 5th of November

anyway it has been a good week. Elder Korenkov was sick at the beginning so it was kind of slow, but this weekend made up for it. Our investigator Shay came to church yesterday and she loved it. We have been teaching both her and her mom and she is determined to be here next sunday with her mom. I am really scared I am going to get transferred on the 3rd of dec. I love this area and this ward and this companion. That is why I am so scared I am leaving.

Well sorry that it is so short, I love you guys!


Elder Gurney

November 3, 2014

Hmmm what to write about.....

Well Hugh Moses blessed the sacrament on sunday, that was so great. I love that guy.

Hmm We had a ward halloween party that was a lot of fun. A truck or treat, out of the boot of the cars. I still don't get it.

Well I am happy and I love Huddersfield and never want to move.

Love you guys!

Elder Gurney