What a week! I love the church in England.
We had a ward BBQ on saturday and it went so well. So many non-members came and really enjoyed it. That was some of the best food I have had on my entire mission.
I was sick for a few days last week which was no fun, but I am feeling a lot better now. We had some really interesting lessons in the week. We went by a less active member in a super posh area a few weeks ago and he was really friendly and so was his wife so we decided to go back a few nights ago and see if we can teach them. It was an interesting lesson. They are both extremely atheist. We didn't do much speaking, and there really was no need for it. The only thing that popped into my mind was the story of Korihor in Alma 31. This man was so nice. He was a good father, honest husband, and a hard worker. But he has become so hardened to the gospel. He told us how he reached a pointed growing up where he decided to hope the church wasn't true. It really made me think about how if you give the adversary an inch he will take a mile. In the end we were able to bear testimony and share with him and his wife something that cannot be contended against. It certainly was a lesson I will never forget, and a lesson that has strengthened my faith.
I love this church. I know it is true. I love sharing with people all about how it can change their lives if they let it.
Love you,
Elder Gurney
Monday, July 7, 2014
Monday, June 23, 2014
June 23, 2014
Well it is warming up! We also have a new rule, suit jackets, all day everyday. It is brutal. But it still is only like 75 degrees. So glad I am in England.
The world cup is crazy. We had to be in at like 7 last Thursday when England played and we might have to be in at 4 this Tuesday. We were walking past a pub a couple days ago during the world cup and it was straight up like the great and spacious building. Ridiculous.
Last week we were doing a garden for a members neighbor and her neighbor came over and started talking to us. His name is Maher and he is from Iraq. He is so good! We taught him after we did service and he came to church with his two boys on Sunday and loved it. Such a good family. I love being a missionary.
Well I am pretty sick and am really tired so sorry to make it so short.
I love you guys!
Elder Gurney
PS President told us the first one to get a picture in a Rolls Royce Phantom got taken out to dinner by him and Sister Pilkington. We were about a day late:(
LEEDS A ZONE!
The world cup is crazy. We had to be in at like 7 last Thursday when England played and we might have to be in at 4 this Tuesday. We were walking past a pub a couple days ago during the world cup and it was straight up like the great and spacious building. Ridiculous.
Last week we were doing a garden for a members neighbor and her neighbor came over and started talking to us. His name is Maher and he is from Iraq. He is so good! We taught him after we did service and he came to church with his two boys on Sunday and loved it. Such a good family. I love being a missionary.
Well I am pretty sick and am really tired so sorry to make it so short.
I love you guys!
Elder Gurney
PS President told us the first one to get a picture in a Rolls Royce Phantom got taken out to dinner by him and Sister Pilkington. We were about a day late:(
LEEDS A ZONE!
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
June 16, 2014
Okay I just want to talk about Peter.
Peter is one of the most wonderful people I have every met. He is semi-active member I have been visiting since I came to Leeds. He is 69 and He joined the church 20 years ago this summer. He progressed well and gained the Melchizedek Priesthood and went to the temple and held callings and did his duty better than most men. All while being a bus driver. About 12 years ago he started slipping up. Stopped reading. Stopped praying. Stopped going to church. Slowly he just fell. He was miserable. He would drive the busses, and just cry. He would go home and turn on the TV and just sit. Or sleep till his next shift. He recognized that the adversary had got him. He was miserable. SO he started reading a chapter out of 2 Nephi. He still felt terrible. So he read it again. Terrible. 3 times he read it and nothing. So he went to sleep. He woke up and read it again. Nothing. So he turned a few pages and read a different chapter. He felt The Spirit for probably the first time in a long time. That was 12 years ago. Peter's testimony is incredible. He can hardly read the words of the Saviour without tearing up. Now Peter might still struggle with a few things. Not with commandments or anything we might view as wrong, but he struggles. But this man loves his Saviour. He loves his God. He is one of the many reasons I am on my mission. He has made an impact on me that I will never forget.
I love this church so much. I am starting, just starting to figure it out. What all of this means. As Boyd K Packer spoke of in his last talk, I am starting to learn things that cannot be taught.
Love,
Elder Gurney
Moroni 7:45-47:
45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—
47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
Peter is one of the most wonderful people I have every met. He is semi-active member I have been visiting since I came to Leeds. He is 69 and He joined the church 20 years ago this summer. He progressed well and gained the Melchizedek Priesthood and went to the temple and held callings and did his duty better than most men. All while being a bus driver. About 12 years ago he started slipping up. Stopped reading. Stopped praying. Stopped going to church. Slowly he just fell. He was miserable. He would drive the busses, and just cry. He would go home and turn on the TV and just sit. Or sleep till his next shift. He recognized that the adversary had got him. He was miserable. SO he started reading a chapter out of 2 Nephi. He still felt terrible. So he read it again. Terrible. 3 times he read it and nothing. So he went to sleep. He woke up and read it again. Nothing. So he turned a few pages and read a different chapter. He felt The Spirit for probably the first time in a long time. That was 12 years ago. Peter's testimony is incredible. He can hardly read the words of the Saviour without tearing up. Now Peter might still struggle with a few things. Not with commandments or anything we might view as wrong, but he struggles. But this man loves his Saviour. He loves his God. He is one of the many reasons I am on my mission. He has made an impact on me that I will never forget.
I love this church so much. I am starting, just starting to figure it out. What all of this means. As Boyd K Packer spoke of in his last talk, I am starting to learn things that cannot be taught.
Love,
Elder Gurney
Moroni 7:45-47:
45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—
47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
Monday, June 9, 2014
June 9, 2014
Hey there everyone!
What a week! Full of ups and downs, but mostly ups, so it is okay.
We recently met a family from Pakistan. Khalid and his son Yasir. They are so incredibly prepared for the gospel. The only problem is we have to find out if they are in danger or not, and if they are we can't teach them....and there is a really high chance they are in danger. I am praying everything will work out.
I had the opportunity to interview a man named Ranjit (Ron-Jay) yesterday for baptism. This man is incredible. He has been coming to church for a 2-3 months and he is such a good man. He has had a really hard life and he just hit rock bottom when his wife left him for another man, and took nearly everything he had. Me and Elder Olsen were talking about how when God's children really need him, he will send us to them to share with them the gospel. We experienced this as well when we met a man who was drunk and had just been beaten up really bad.
I know that this church is true. I know that the restored gospel changed peoples lives into exactly what they need, even if they don't know it yet. I love this church, and I feel it such a privilege to be out here every single day representing my Saviour.
I love you guys!
Elder Gurney
What a week! Full of ups and downs, but mostly ups, so it is okay.
We recently met a family from Pakistan. Khalid and his son Yasir. They are so incredibly prepared for the gospel. The only problem is we have to find out if they are in danger or not, and if they are we can't teach them....and there is a really high chance they are in danger. I am praying everything will work out.
I had the opportunity to interview a man named Ranjit (Ron-Jay) yesterday for baptism. This man is incredible. He has been coming to church for a 2-3 months and he is such a good man. He has had a really hard life and he just hit rock bottom when his wife left him for another man, and took nearly everything he had. Me and Elder Olsen were talking about how when God's children really need him, he will send us to them to share with them the gospel. We experienced this as well when we met a man who was drunk and had just been beaten up really bad.
I know that this church is true. I know that the restored gospel changed peoples lives into exactly what they need, even if they don't know it yet. I love this church, and I feel it such a privilege to be out here every single day representing my Saviour.
I love you guys!
Elder Gurney
This country is beautiful.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
June 2, 2014
It has been such a good week! I am excited it is my birthday tomorrow, and all I want for my birthday is to not write this email. hahaha I love you guys but this group email is always so hard to come up with. I love all of you and i am really happy. It has been a good week.
Elder Gurney
hey look, its the district!
Elder Olauson, me, Elder Jensen, Sister Zurcher, Sister Kuhn, Sister Jodicke, and Sister Arreve
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
May 27, 2014: Hey Everyone!
Ah I just love being a missionary! This is such an incredible experience.
We had zone conference last week. We talked about so many different things. From stress, to family history, to laughter. It was really good, gave me a big boost, which was needed.
So the other day we were out knocking and we got in and taught a lady named Donna from the philippines. She was so nice! I love meeting people from the Philippines because they always know about the church. It is huge over there. It was nice because I had just read the article about the church over there, that same morning!
Last night we had a mission wide "power hour" where everyone in the mission went out finding. Including President and Sister Pilkington, and all the senior couples. There were so many miracles. President went with an elder in sheffield and they got in and scheduled 4 or 5 slovakians for baptism. (there is a huge slovokian branch over there) and at the same time I met a slovakian on the bus in Leeds. So much fun. So many miracles.The church is true.
I love you guys!
Elder Gurney
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
May 19: Hello Rocky Mountains!!!
What a week! I am so happy.
I have reached an interesting point in my mission. Just everything makes me happy.I used to get sad about all sorts, and even a little homesick. But now I just am happy. I love missionary work. It is so much fun to talk to people and to visit with people.
Yesterday we were knocking this street we felt really good about. The weather was beautiful and we talked to some really nice people, I got to thinking though. We are literally going door to door asking for people to let us help them, with anything! But they won't usually let us. That just blows my mind. But hey such is the work.
I am really happy. I have been studying a lot about virtue and a pure heart lately. I was studying Alma 31 this morning about how Alma was so pained because of the Zoramites sin. It makes me want to gain that same desire. To help people that badly.
I love you guys and hope you have a good week!
Elder Gurney
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