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.

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

 

This country is beautiful.

 

 

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

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

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

May 12, 2014: Happy Mother's Day!!!

Ah I love this holiday. Moms are just the best.

Anyway it has been a tremendous week here in the wonderful county of West Yorkshire. I LOVE being a missionary. I am having a huge mind block of what has actually happened. Let me look at my planner.....

OH. We went to the bishops daughter for tea last week and it was so much fun. So she is married to a nonmember Rob. He is an interesting fella. Super nice, but just so not bothered about church. It was just so nice to visit with them though. They are super nice and Rob is so funny. We just talked about cars for like the entire appt (We weren't really allowed to "push the gospel on him") that was the deal for the appt. It is just nice making friends on missions.

It was the 50th anniversary of the chapel here in Leeds over the weekend and that was incredible. In just 50 years the church has grown from one branch in the Manchester stake of 30 people to an entire stake. I just love the Yorkshire people.

This is a place called Malham Cove. It is pretty cool I guess.Harry Potter filmed here and stuff.

Love you guys so much!

Elder Gurney

May 6, 2014

Ah I am staying in LEEDS! I am so happy. Me and Elder Jensen are staying together! In fact all of the 8 missionaries in the ward are staying the same. That means out flatmates stay as well! I am really happy.

Me and Elder Jensen were out last night doing some knocking and we saw so many miracles. With in the first 6 doors we had 2 potentials with return appointments and a new investigator. We didn't even have time to finish knocking but we will when we are back there on thursday. I have really just learned to love knocking on doors. We taught this guy last night named Joseph and he is a rastafarian. Not like some chav who smokes weed with his friends but a real life Rastafarian. He is so nice and he is so good with music. Such a boss.

I am really really happy being a missionary and I love the people of England.

Love you guys!

Elder Gurney

ps sorry I forgot my camera today...