well I've had better weeks, but I've also had worse weeks. This
week was a week of feeling sick a lot, but grinding it out and still having a
blast. I don't think I've laughed this much in a week ever. elder clabaux
is a legend! ive officially been in the UK for six months now, it has been
the hardest and darkest six months of my life, i have had some of my lowest
lows, where i didnt think i could take it anymore, that being said, it has been
the best six months of my life, where ive felt Gods love the most, some of the
happiest moments of my life have been here, my testimony has grown, and
honestly it has made me a believer in myself.
last monday was kind of an emotional one, not even as much for
me, but seeing other people tear up makes me tear up haha. we went and played
some basketball in walsall and of course, I still got game haha, and if you
think I don't just FREDETTE ABOUT IT! I'm pretty sure Jimmer's birthday is this
month so a big bday shoutout to the biggest baller of all time. we went to the
O'Grady's and Pxxx and Syyyya came too so they could say goodbye to Clayton. We hung
out, and all sang some hymns together. If you knew me back home, you knew I
hated singing anywhere, but I love singing hymns here, nothing invites the
spirit more. It was an emotional night.
Tuesday was a weird one, total blur. we just hangout at the flat
in the morning and by noon we were at the mission home for transfers. it was
way fun to see people like elder hill, terry, Miner, Ey, the list could go on
for dayzzz! also said goodbye to Elder Hatch and elder Hellyer, both super cool
missionaries who finished their missions last week. also pretty sad to say
goodbye to elder Clayton, it was one heck of a transfer, I'll miss that kid a
ton. Elder Clabaux and I headed back to the flat to get settled, we had a few
appointments flog us but it's all good cuz we did the normal grind and knocked
some doors, found some cool people who have some potential, and went to the
Owens for dinner. It was a pretty good day, but change is so weird. I get so
comfortable with an area and a companion, so change always feels totally
life-changing haha, but it's all good.
Wednesday started kinda rocky, just felt nauseous for it, when
we went to the mission home I asked Sister Leppard about it and she said to
keep a food log for a few weeks so we could track what is making me feel so
crappy, then I can see a doctor for it. It was dumping rain the entire day
until we left the mission home so that was a tender mercy for it to stop! Haha,
we went to try to visit some referrals but they weren't there so we went over
to PxxxJ and Syyyya's, had some pizza, and talked with them for awhile, it was a
good night in the end!
Thursday was good! We left pretty early to get to our district
meeting in Walsall but it was a sick meeting, I gave a training on baptism
doctrine and it really made me reflect on how baptism isn't the end goal, it's
really the beginning, we always have need to progress and become better,
receive temple blessings, partake of the sacrament every week, that's what
enduring to the end is. We did some district finding there and I went with
elder Garrick, it was pretty funny, found some cool people for them to go back
to. We went back to Wylde Green and visited a couple in the ward whose name I
can't spell to save my life so yeah haha, they're cool, we knocked doors for a
bit and found a few really cool people, one family we are seeing again
tonight!! I'll update you guys on that next week! We went to our flat to eat
dinner and contact people on our phones for the rest of the night.
Friday was a super busy day, we had zone conference with the
Birmingham Zone in Wylde Green, it was SOO nice to get to talk to elder hill
more, it's so cool to see him out here. The zone conference was pretty good.
One thing I really liked from it was when President Leppard said that God
expects just as much from us as we do for our investigators, it gave me a
different perspective which was cool. By the time it was all over it was like
3:00, we went and painted someone's house for a few hours and then had ward
coordination meeting and dinner, it was a good day out here!
saturday had some miracles while knocking doors! we went to visit
a potential and he actually let us in to share the restoration, I literally
forgot for a second what we were supposed to say haha, he was a really cool
guy. we met a few other really cool people who committed to reading the Book of
Mormon. There was one point in the afternoon right before dinner where I just
felt super nauseous, and all of the sudden a wave of homesickness just hit me
so flippin hard. I hadn't been homesick since last year but all of the sudden I
was just not in the mood and I felt literally sick, well we kept knocking doors
and this Jehovahs Witness lady answered the door, and it was the last door
before dinner, I was not in the mood to debate her, so after she tried to prove
her point to us, I bore my testimony to her that I did not come out here for
two years to be converted, I came out here because I have a firm testimony that
God loves us just as much as the people in the times of the bible, and because
of that he has modern day prophets, well she didn't say anything after that,
but she did invite us back. Sharing testimony in all situations is so key cuz
it lets the spirit work. After that we went to dinner at the O'Gradys. I still
felt sick but was able to make it through the dinner. Let me just say that the
O'Gradys are some of the coolest people ever, it's members like them that help
me keep going.
Sunday was a much better day, church was good. Syyya invited her
sister to come to church, she lives in Wales, so she came and by the second
class she was in tears because she felt the spirit so strongly, we got her set
up with the missionaries out there. It's so cool to watch the gospel change
people's lives, god truly does prepare people. during the third hour of church
we got to spend it with the young men, which I was sooo excited about! we are
tight with the YM president and he wants us at all the activities now, and we
are really working now to create a stronger program, including a mini mtc!
After church we did some knocking doors and then went to PxxxJ and Syyya's for
dinner, it was a good day.
This past week had its ups and downs for sure. I felt sick a lot
this week but it's all good, I've been talking to sister Leppard about it so
I'll go to a doctor soon to figure out what the heck is going on, she told me
to go on a completely gluten-free diet for the next two weeks, so if you have
any good gluten free food ideas or anything, PLEASE tell me ASAP! but don't
worry, your boy DV is still having a blast and is working his tail off! God is
good!
as for a spiritual thought, I'd challenge each of you to watch
the "Because of Him" video, and to think about what Jesus Christ
means to you personally. I've mentioned this video before but I loved watching
it this week so much because I know, no matter what I'm feeling, that Jesus
Christ knows how I feel, and is standing next to me in all things. Because of
Him, i can get through hard times. Because of him, I can repent and become
better. Because of him, I can live with all of you beautiful people again.
Because of him, I stand here preaching to the people of England and Wales, that
they can return to their families and God again.
major bday shoutouts to Ben hill and Riley Glenn. Two of my best
friends in the world, I'm a bit closer in distance to Ben right now than Riley,
but nevertheless, I love both of you guys and hope that you see this.
i fetching love you all. look unto Christ in every thought,
doubt not, fear not ✌️️
Elder Varner
Sent from my iPad
pictures of
TRANSFERS (sorry i cant caption which is which), also some pictures with PJ and
Sonya, district meeting, and some more! and also the wedding! congrats jake and
kendra!
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