Nov. 22, 2010

Dear Family,

Work is going well. Everything is coming natural to me now. I love finding and teaching. Being able to teach about truth is the best. This past week, I was able to go on a work over with the zone leaders to Watford. During the work over, we were originally supposed to teach an investigator about the restoration, but she was not there so we taught her mother, a recent convert, instead. This has to have been the most interesting/funniest appointments I have ever participated in. We brought along with us an inactive member to help him strengthen his testimony, but throughout the lesson, the RC and LA were going on multiple topics. At one point the RC and LA held hands and started having some sort of weird moment. I have no idea how it happened, but the Zone leader and I could barely keep our laughter in. Every time I would burst, I would look at my name tag and focus, but it was so hard! Being a missionary and consistently meeting/talking to new people is so fun.

I also was able to drive!!! I thought that they were joking when they told me I had to drive, but they were serious. The missionary I was with did not get his UK license, and he was already there for over a year, so his US license was invalid. I drove out of Enfield to Watford and I almost hit a couple of things, but everything was fine. Driving on the opposite side is different, but luckily the car I drove was an automatic.Good times.

Anyways, The church is true. When we share our message of Christ, my testimony gets stronger and stronger. There are many instances where I get easily frustrated and upset, but I know, that the trials I face are in no comparison to that of the Saviors. I have been doing my Atonement study as a new missionary and I am about halfway done. Although my understanding on the Atonement is limited, I know enough to help me overcome anything. One of the approaches that I use when talking to people on the street is, " My friend and I are sharing a message about how through faith in Jesus Christ, we can overcome anything." At the beginning of my mission, I was just going through the words so that I could talk to someone, but now, I say it because I know its true.

Love,
Elder Resolme

Nov. 15, 2010 - Chicken

He loves his chicken.

Dear family,

Everything is good in London. The work is moving forward. My scripture studies have been revolving around Abinadi and his fearlessness. Why can't we all be like Abinadi and express our love for our Savior by stating the truth with boldness?

Mosiah 16:13

And now, ought ye not to tremble and repent of your sins, and remember that only in and through Jesus Christ ye can be saved?

Mosiah 17:18

And in that day ye shall be taken by the hand of your enemies , and then shall ye suffer, as I suffer, the pains of death by fire.

I have learned to become bold when I teach. Having this strength shows investigators how important the things we teach are. Being bold is good, but there are different degrees we can take it. Most of the time, we do not take it to where we rebuke, like Abinadi, but sometimes it happens on the street. I still have so much to learn concerning Christlike attributes.

Love,

Elder Resolme

Nov. 8, 2010

Dear Family,

This week has been full of surprises. The week consists of District meeting, closed tubes, appointments falling through, and other good stuff.

Lately our teaching pool has been growing, but it just seems like there is no time in the day to do anything. Our new standard for missionary work in the ELM has now changed drastically. We are now recommended to have nineteen hours of finding a week. With all our appointments it will get down to the wire, and getting those hours will get a little tight, but this week should be so much fun.

Finding has gotten really exciting as well. I now find it entertaining to stop people in the street and put them in an awkward situation. Our leader told us to get used to it because that is what missionary work is about when street contacting. Nobody expects anyone to talk about prophets or eternal families on the street. Its great!! I remember Elder La Rosa talking to me about how it will start getting dark around five, and unfortunately it has started... Tracting has been difficult because it is completely dark around five thirty and when we knock on peoples doors, they act as if it were eleven at night.

Right now we have a couple baptismal dates, but we had to drop one due to family complications. Another is set for next month, but today we are going to try and set it for this month. His name is Francis Amadu. He is a great person and he wants to start coming to church. He feels that the things we are teaching are true, so we are currently preparing him for baptism. We will also try to set a couple others today, depending on the spirit. Helping others come to Christ here in London is pretty challenging, but it builds a love for God and a stronger faith in His Son when trials and unexpected situations occur. I am grateful for the harsh rain that seeps into my clothes, the appointments that fall through, and the people who have a negative reaction towards my companion and I, because without it, I would not know the sweet from the bitter.

Sorry about all the short letters, I think I will have time today to send more than a sticky note.

Love,
Elder Resolme

Nov. 1, 2010

Dear Family,

All is well in Enfield. On Saturday and Sunday we had stake conference and it was amazing. All of the speakers were fantastic, but the Sunday session was a little hectic. We originally had three investigators who were going to go to the conference, but a couple were not able to, so we ended up with one. That Sunday morning around eight, one investigator said he wanted to come! We tried our hardest finding him a ride. I wish that our stake center was close, but it is about a forty minute bus ride and about an hour tube ride. Although time was limited and the transportation was tight, we were relieved to find him a ride with Brother/Sister Shah. Sometimes the work can get stressful, but through hard work and diligence, the work will progress.

I am so grateful for all of the people we have to teach. I am learning so much from them. Everytime I teach, my testimony grows. In order to progress, we cannot just lay back and day dream, we have to take action and go to work. I always used to think that my faith was not strong enough, but luckily, I have come to the understanding that ones faith is part determined by diligence. Faith is essential in the work, so I try and apply what President Hinckley's father told him when he was struggling on his mission, " Forget yourself, and go to work."

I also just wanted to let you know, that i am still able to have my favorite food almost everyday. I know it is not the best, but I have chicken all the time.My new companion, Elder Allen, has got me hooked onto these little shops. There all little chicken stores everywhere. Some are even right next to eachother. I will send pictures of them later.

Love,Elder Resolme

Oct. 16, 2010

Dear Family,

This week has been full of meetings and work overs. On Monday we had family home evening at Sister Okloos. On Tuesday and Wednesday we had work overs. I was stayed in Enfield with our zone leader on Tuesday, and then on Wednesday i was able to go to Hayes with the missionary from Sweden, Elder Engelbrekston. Zone meeting was also on Wednesday. After the meeting we went to Nandos! I've been waiting months to go there. The chicken is really good!

I am finally at the point where I feel like I have been apart of missionary work for my whole life. I can't see myself doing anything else. It is such a humbling experience. This week I have been working very hard on my lessons and I know that only through the power of the Holy Ghost am i able to remember and apply these things to teaching. It is amazing how the spirit works. I look forward everyday to my personal studies so I can gain more knowledge about the scriptures and doctrine, but there is just not enough time, especially this past week. there is an advantage to having a companion that is District leader, but there are also many disadvantages, like no time to study. I now just try and find every opportunity to learn more.

Last night we learned who was getting transferred out of the area. We held a conference call with all of the missionaries from the zone. We all contemplated who was going where and then the actual details were given by the zone leaders. Elder La Rosa will be transferring Monday to an area a couple hours away. He has been a great trainer and I have learned many things from him. I know that his training will help me grow into a powerful teacher. My new companion will be a missionary named Elder Allen. Although it will be a change, I know I will be able to learn a good amount from him as well. I think he is from Utah.

Fasting is an important command that members should not take lightly. It was given to us out of love so that we might be able to grow spiritually and come closer to our Heavenly Father. This act brings forth many blessing in heaven (Malachi 3:10). It is still the middle of the month, but somehow I have almost depleted my missionary card?! I could not believe it. I am so excited to finally experience the time at the end of the month where missionaries run out of food money. These next weeks will be so fun! I cant wait to start fasting! God works in mysterious ways.

Mobs and armies may assemble, but the truth will go forward boldly to every nation. Have no fear because the Lord is with thee. Go and do.

Love,
Elder Resolme

Oct. 11, 2010

Dear family,

This week has been very busy. It has gone by very fast. Lately, since it is almost the end of the transfer, we have been having many companionship work overs. They are so much fun. Work overs are very important because I can learn from other people. Everyone has their own type of teaching and approaches where I can grow from. This week I had work overs with with Elder Glancy (California) and Elder Biergerg (Sweden).

One of the most interesting things that happened was with Elder Glancy. We went street contacting in Edmonton and we stopped this one man who looked a little disoriented, but Elder Glancy started to talk with him, I thought that the conversation was not going anywhere so I was looking for more people to talk to. Just as I turned away, this man, tried to kiss Elder Glancy on the cheek. He was obviously drunk. I could not believe that happened, but it did! After the event, I felt bad for the man, but I was laughing so hard.

I also have to get used to the transportation here in London. We either walk, use a bus, or ride a tube. I am still confused on all the different routes. During the work overs, we got lost multiple times. It was so bad. First Bierberg and I were on a tube that suddenly stopped, and went into a different direction, then we went on another tube that was going into a different part of the city after we got on a bus that was going North instead of South. Traveling has been my conflict, but now I know the area I am in because of the various mistakes that occurred. I love this place!

Today is our p-day, but we just got back from a lesson. We taught this person the commandments because his baptism is on Saturday. He is such a great person. His name is Chukwuemeka Azubuike. He is from Nigeria and he knows so much about the gospel. He once was taught about it in Nigeria, but then he moved to London. He had a couple personal trials, but now he is fully prepared make and keep covenants. He has read the Book of Mormon multiple times and he loves reading other church related books (Gospel Principle Manuals). He knows so much. We have enjoyed teaching him, and seeing his enthusiasm about getting baptized on Saturday. We are so blessed to be able to have him here in Enfield. I know he will be a great leader, and he will move the missionary work forward here in this area. In Abraham 3:22-23 it talks about these noble and great ones. After seeing him, I know he will be a tremendous example to the church members. All of us were called to be these powerful beings, we just have to live up to our potential and live our lives in accordance with the will of God.

I also loved General Conference! What a powerful weekend that was. All of the talks were fantastic. The leadership in the church is magnificent and you can tell their words are true by the spirit. The priesthood session was so powerful. Missionary work is so important. I am just very grateful to be out in a time like this. I am also really looking forward to the talk President Monson gave to the Relief Society. I guess the Priesthood session is not the only session where members get rebuked. I heard the charity talk was great.


Love,
Elder Resolme

Oct. 4, 2010

Dear family,

This past week has been very successful. We have found many new investigators who are ready to learn so much more. Enfield has not had a baptism in around a year, but I am feeling one very soon. I learned from others that this area is pretty challenging, but I am so happy to be here because I know I will grow significantly. We have been blessed with so many people who are so accepting to our message.

One of the couples we are teaching are John Claude and Melanie. They are from the Congo and they speak French. I would have to say that the hardest part of my mission is just understanding what people are saying. Everyone is so diverse that I have a hard time listening to what they say, but luckily they both speak very well English. The first appointment we had was so exciting. The Spirit was there and so we set conditional baptisms. They said yes! We called last night and they have been keeping the commitments that we gave them. We are meeting with them tonight and we are going to set a baptismal date. This has been the case for other people a couple of times already. If it be the Lords will, then we will be bringing a couple of brothers/sisters back into His the fold. John Claude said that he made an appointment with us because he felt something different from us that set us apart from others during our initial contact.

On Friday, my companion and I did a good amount of finding, but since it was raining and the wind was destroying our umbrellas on the high streets, we decided to stop street contacting and go tracting. We knocked on many doors, but many of the families weren't home. As we knocked the rain was pouring. About halfway down the street we were able to be invited in by a woman named Arvina Mungar. She let us in because we were basically soaked. She is a 27 year old teacher and she is very busy, but luckily she was off that day. We talked about who we are and what we do and then we taught her about the restoration/families. At the end of the lesson her father walked in and talked to us. Her family is great! They both took a liking to us so we scheduled another appointment. As we finished we started to knock on more doors. While knocking we noticed Arvina run out and she gave us vouchers to Starbucks!?!

General Conference was outstanding. It means so much more as a missionary. I loved it when Elder Nelson asked the missionaries to stand! It made me so happy to see the missionaries in the zone stand and also when the choir sang Called to Serve. The talk that meant the most to me was by Elder Holland. Mom/Dad, thanks for everything. I will work hard.

The mission life is so good. Waking up early, studying, finding, teaching, testifying, and learning is something I look forward to each day. Becoming a fisher of men is exciting.

Finally got my raincoat today.

Love,
Elder Resolme
This e-mail was from Sept. 27, 2010:


Dear family,

Everything is going well. The past week has been great. It has gotten much colder and it has been raining a good amount. I finally feel like I am in England. My suit is already wearing out. We're constantly walking around and traveling on buses looking for people to teach. all of these finding hours have been paying off because we have had many appointments over the past week.

One of the lessons we had was last night. We were coming home from a dinner appointment around 8, so we decided to go tracting until 8:30 because we had to make other calls at that time. As time passed, we grew closer to the eight thirty mark, and the last door we knocked on was wonderful. A lady from Ghana answered the door and she accepted us in her home for a lesson. Her family was great. We taught her about the Book of Mormon and she accepted all of the commitments that we had. Knocking on hundreds of doors are tiring, but when you knock on a door like hers, everything is worth it.

2 days ago, Elder la Rosa and I basically had a bible bash day. There were multiple people who consistently tried to prove us wrong. There were so many questions that i could not answer but, luckily, my companion could. He was able to keep the bashing to a mere conversation and everything went well. Our last item for that day was to visit a referral. His name was admiral and we thought we were going for a friendly visit, until he opened the door. He argued with us about the church and got out all his false ideas and perceptions about the church. I was so upset about the things that he was saying. With this person, I could have easily answered all of his questions in a powerful manner and i could have easily made him feel discouraged. there were so many times where i was about to lash out at him, but my companion just testified of the things our church believes in, and he showed charity. Although we both could have easily destroyed him in doctrine, telling him off would have been useless. being charitable and showing kindness was the best answer.

As missionaries we have one hour a day to study. I had no idea how reading the scriptures could take an hour, but now this hour is terribly short. There are so many things to learn and read. I wish we had more time, but we don't. Can you just let all the prospective missionaries know that reading preach my gospel would be one of the most significant ways to prepare for the mission. Before missionaries can teach, we have to know the doctrine, and when we know the doctrine, the Spirit gives us strength when we invite others to come to Christ. I love it.

The pictures are from P-day. The ones on the street are of Abbey Road!!

Love,
Elder Resolme