March 26, 2012

Dear Family,

This week has been pretty rough. There have been many things that I have had to look over and just oversee to make sure everything with missionaries as well as the area was running smoothly. It was difficult for me to find peace and comfort, but I am so grateful for this week because I know that it was a time of growth and progression. I probably did not excel at everything, but I tried.

On Tuesday I had a work over with the Gillingham Elders and I was able to give one of their investigators a baptismal interview. Being able to take part in ones journey towards baptism is very rewarding for me. This past week I also found, a couple of opportunities to play the guitar! What a relief that was for me. In Gillingham, sang a song for someone to come to church. I think i've still got it.

To help me find more stability, I have been reading in Doctrine and Covenants. I think I read in section 103 the other day and I thought it related quite well to my situation. It spoke about being saviors among men, and how important the callings are that we receive.

Love,

Elder Resolme

March 19, 2012

Dear family,

This past week has been quite busy. It has been fully occupied by workovers with three different areas, and finding. I wish that I could send some pictures of the missionaries that I have gone on work overs with, but I always fail to bring my usb chord to the library. Maybe I will just send them via post.

The other week, we displayed a video from Mormon messages about fine tuning a radio, and how it compared to the spirit. I have internalized this principle and have tried to fine tune my ability to feel and follow the promptings of the spirit. The Ashford community, is quite accustomed to being stopped in town center by missionaries. Their actions after seeing us are either ones of walking faster, expressing their frustration with rude/smart comments, or walking past as if we were never there. We get the odd few who stop and listen to what we have to share.

As I have payed attention to how I feel, and what the message I think heaven is trying to relay to me, I have been able to see miracles. I think within a little while, we were blessed with finding/teaching two people in the town center who became new investigators, and the next day, we were able to find another, who too has become a new investigator and communicated to us his desire to show his gratitude to God for all he has been given. While in Gillingham, Kent, we found a young man who too was taught on a bench in town center and became a new investigator for our younger missionaries.

I remember following the spirit a while ago and seeing that i did not really get anywhere when I listened to its promptings. Now I have been able to recognize a little bit more of how the spirit speaks to me. Oh my goodness, it makes life so much easier.

Another thing that happened while on a work over with Elder Lingam, from UT Provo, was during the early morning of Sunday. We both woke up to around four am to a revolting argument between a couple of our neighbors. I thought I was dreaming until I heard Elder Lingam say, "Man what is that?" We both just laid there in aww and then fell asleep as the heated argument started to subside. Then it proceeded once again terribly loud, and simultaneously, Elder Lnigam and I both jumped out of bed, turned on the light, and started to prepare to go outside to make sure everyone was okay. It sounded as if someone was going to do something he would regret. As we were about to go outside, the police came. That night I had a couple of hours of sleep. Oh my, I was completely knackered for Sunday services. I love England.

Yes, I did receive the package. Thank you. I have been sharing with the missionaries in the zone and I will have our investigators taste a bit of the US goodness.

Love,

Elder Resolme

Mar. 5, 2012

Dear Family,

On Saturday, we had another leadership meeting in London. We read a couple of scriptures in the old testament on how we can become better leaders, not just for our investigators, but more directed towards the missionaries in the zone.

Ezekiel 34

4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was ^asick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with ^bcruelty have ye ruled them.

5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.

The training given by our leaders were both bold and direct. It got the point across to each of the missionaries in the room. I remember back when I was a new missionary, I had different priorities that I focused all of my attention on, but now, my perspective and list of priorities have changes drastically. The other day we also had a meeting with a member from the ward. He taught us the importance of leadership and stated that the weaknesses of the zone are a result of the weaknesses of its leaders, and the weaknesses of the leader are the weaknesses of the missionaries.

One word that I have tried to understand is the word "success." If you asked me what success was at the start of my mission, it would be completely different from my answer today. I feel everything falls back to the scripture in Ezekiel. "Shepard's and flocks"

Love,

Elder Resolme

Feb. 28, 2012

Dear Family,

I have had some spiritual experiences, but I feel it will be more appropriate when I share them with you when I get back home. Here are a couple of funny instances that have taken place over the past week.

I had a work over with a missionary from Louisiana and in the evening, we went tracting in his neck of the woods, Gillingham, Kent. Although it was dark outside, the people were quite friendly and some were willing to listen, and then we came upon a Jewish evangelist. We explained who we were and he warmly invited us in his home. We accepted and as we entered, he offered us some alcohol. We both hit a roadblock and just paused. We instantly declined and we explained ourselves once again. He took no offense and then proceeded to introduce us to some of his friends. As he did so, there was a bit of an awkward couple of minutes before we started talking and feeling comfortable around one another. His friends asked us questions but at the same time, they were still puzzled on why their friend had let missionaries in their home, on a Friday night. The Jewish evangelist expressed some interest and exchanged details with my companion. As we were about to head off, I saw posters of The Beatles and other bands on their walls. I asked if they had a guitar and they said yes. Then I asked if I could play. Heaven. After that night, their attitudes about missionaries definitely changed as everyone joined in on singing and having a good time while I messed about with the guitar. Sometimes, unless we are paying attention, we might miss the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Its whisperings could be as simple as, "Do you have a guitar?"

The week prior to this, I was on another work over with a missionary from Germany. We were in Ashford and we went finding for 7 hours that day. As the day grew to close, we got in the car, and were about to go look for some less actives, but I was unable to find our worksheet. I told my companion to pull over in a neighborhood, and right when we parked, we felt the prompting to tract two houses on the side. Through this experience, I can testify, that Heavenly Father has a sense of humor. One thing that I was able to be taught that day, was the definition of a naturalist. My goodness. The second house we knocked on, a man came to the door, fully fleshed, and as he opened, I quickly put a folder I was carrying below my eyes to save myself from such horror. As he excitedly stood naked at his front door, my companion and I Taught, Testified, Invited and quickly left.

Love,

Elder Resolme

Today we will be playing table tennis at a local school in favor of one of our investigators whose family came to church on Sunday. Apparently he is quite the allstar.Last night was transfer calls and I am staying in Ashford while Elder Cena is moving.

Feb. 13, 2012

Dear Family,

I am doing fine. This past week, we had a power week. We were able to find and teach a handful of new investigators. Like always, we have been able to recognize a copious amount of miracles, but not just my companion and I, the whole zone. I know that it is through our chain fast. We have been having this goal where a different companionship would fast each day in the month of February for zone unity and blessings. The blessings have come in abundance.

Last week, we tracted into a young lady who is a Born Again Christian. we got off on a good topic and we were both comfortable with what was being said, but than I had the prompting to speak about the Book of Mormon. As I spoke, she related an experience of when her boyfriend received a religious book while walking through town. A book that caught his interest and one that made him want to tell his girlfriend about it. I helped her realize it was the Book of Mormon. We will be giving her family a call tonight to see when we would be able to them all.

I wish that I had a powerful memory, but I do not. Experiences like this one, happen all of the time. I hope that I will be able to remember all of these good times. Thankfully, I have the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Love,

Elder Resolme

One last thing. On Friday, we were prohibited from going to the local library, but this is a story for another time.

Feb. 7, 2012

Dear Family,

I am on another workover today with Elder McCormack from Scotland. We started the day off with a man who knew about The Church back in Nigeria. The conversation got a bit heated, but we bore testimony of the truth.

The Book of Mormon is a record of holy scripture given us by God through his designated leaders, the Prophets. I know that it is true, and I know that it is a witness that Jesus Christ lives. I love my Savior, I am starting to understand him a little bit more through receiving answers about the Atonement from my prayers. I know he is real. I am a living witness of it.

Love,

Elder Resolme

Jan. 30, 2012

Dear Family,

The other day, I was able to have another double work over with two areas in the zone. First I was able to go to Gravesend and spend the day with Elder Hlaphi from South Africa. He is a spot on missionary with no fear. Thankfully, he understands what his purpose is as a missionary and through his efforts, it is evident. That day, we had around seven hours of finding...mmmhhhmm, so much fun!

After this work over with the missionaries from Gravesend, I went straight to Deal for another work over with the District Leader. We supposedly had a couple of appointments, but I think all of them cancelled that day. Luckily, that gave us some time to find the elect. As we did so, we walked and testified of the Savior, and we were able to find and teach those who had been prepared.

Probably, the main experience that I got from that day was when I was led to stop a lady who seemed to be in a rush. As I approached her, I asked her if she felt that life had a purpose, and from that point, I listened and got to the conclusion that she was unhappy with her current life and that she truly wanted to understand what her purpose was. I then invited her to sit down at a bench so that I could help her understand how she could find her purpose. Although she was in a rush, she spared fifteen minutes to learn some truth. Throughout the fifteen minutes, she spoke about her life, goals, and problems. During the teaching process, she kept on asking, "Why?" Through the message, she gained peace, and we left with a prayer. The spirit was there in abundance, but there was something missing, her choice to learn more. Because of her career in dance, creating time to see us was problematic. I left her with my witness and hopefully in the future, her life will be sorted through the gospel.

Choices are so important to pay attention to. Unfortunately, many people want to do the right thing, but somehow, they always choose the wrong. I have realized that the Plan of Happiness, can also be called the Plan of Choices. Our choices make us who we are. It is important to study out everything in our minds before we come to an action or response, because there will always be a result.

Over the past weekend, we were able to have a couple baptisms, and this week we will have one more. If you could keep Shawnie(I can never spell her name right) in your prayers that would be fantastic. She is a young mother who is determined to get baptized.

Love,

Elder Resolme

PS. Can you send me some pictures from the WEDDING!