Oct 30, 2013


Hey everyone, 

It's been another crazy week. Sorry it's taken me so long to email. These last two weeks have been our specialized trainings for each zone so we've been all over the mission. Elder Cox and I have given the same training 6 times now and we'll be going for a 7th tomorrow. We think we're starting to understand the subject a bit. haha.

I got to go back to Liverpool for a few days on exchange to work with Elder Duran. It felt like I'd never even left! I love going on exchange with former companions and going back to former areas. We were able to teach a lot of the people we were working with and visit some of my favorite people. We got some KFC as well :). It's ridiculously overpriced here...

We had our Manchester Stake conference this week as well. For the first time in my mission all the missionaries were asked to attend the Saturday evening session. Both Saturday and Sunday were completely dedicated to missionary work. It was amazing. Afterwards we had members coming up to us and telling us they had people they wanted us to work with and that they wanted to come out teaching with us. The work is hastening. Now we just need to create some time to spend in our area so we can take advantage of all this help we're being offered.

I'm really enjoying the work right now, even though it's a bit different than I'm used to. Elder Cox and I are getting along great! Since I don't want to bore everyone with the same things I do everyday I'll share some things I've learned recently.

I read this the other day in a talk. It's a poem called "The Man in the Glass"

When you get what you want in your struggle for self

And the world makes you king for a day,

Just go to the mirror and look at yourself

And see what "the man" has to say.

For it isn't your father or mother or wife

Whose judgment upon you must pass.

The fellow whose verdict counts in your life

Is the one staring back from the glass.

You may be like Jack Horner and chisel a plum

And think you're a wonderful guy.

But the "man in the glass" says you're only a bum

And you can't look him straight in the eye.

He's the fellow to please, never mind all the rest,

For he's with you clear to the end.

And you've passed your most dangerous,

difficult test

If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the world down the pathway of years

And get pats on the back as you pass.

But your only reward will be heartaches and tears

If you've cheated "the man in the glass."

["The Man in the Glass"]

I've learned a lot about the importance of self image and self respect and the kind of power it can have. You should respect yourself enough to be a self you respect. When you look around the world you see the people who have self confidence and self worth and they are magnets for success. We can choose that. Our lives are sacredly ours. No ones has lived it before. No one will ever live it again. In the talk he says this: "No habit chips away at our self-confidence quite so effectively as that of comparing ourselves with the people around us. When we find somebody who is indeed smarter, better looking, or funnier, it diminishes our sense of self-worth. A rabbi was asked on his deathbed what he thought the kingdom of God would be like. "I don't know," he replied. "But one thing I do know. When I get there I'm not going to be asked, 'Why weren't you like Moses? Why weren't you like David?' I'm only going to be asked one question: 'Why weren't you you?'" 

This is a topic many people in the world struggle with and there are many missionaries that struggle with it as well. Everyone wants to find who they are and where they fit into gods plan. I discovered this week Patriarchal blessings are key to discovering that. It outlines everything, spiritual strengths and even your weaknesses. Each of us is on a journey to come to know ourselves. There are no born losers to God. We fail only when we make choices that lead to failure. Be true to who you are! 

I love you all so much. Thank you for all the love and support that you give me. It means the world. By the way, Happy Halloween! Talk to you next week. Love you!

Elder Ford

P.S here is the bit I put into the mission newsletter this week.

A missionary’s Gethsemane

You’re on a mission and things seem tough, doors are slammed with voices gruff. Your companion refuses to do his share; you feel discouraged and even despair. You question your testimony and belief in God, you wonder about the path you’ve trod. Memories of pleasure dance in your brain, a siren’s song an old refrain. The work is hard, and with a taunt, whispers not as He wills, but as you want. You tire of rules, feet worn to the bone, and suddenly you decide you want to go home. You’ll never know if you say goodbye, what might happen if you stay and try. To follow the rules and do your best, to serve the Lord and pass your test. Where do you think you would be if Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, His soul in torment, a trial of fire had selected not duty before desire? He set the pattern for you and me, to meet our own Gethsemane. From boy to man to Elder with fire, comes only when duty can master desire.

(By Anonymous)

To come to know the Saviour each of us will have to go through our own personal Gethsemane but how grateful we should be for a Saviour who knows exactly how we feel. “He will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:12).

Through Faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement we can overcome anything; President Uchtdorf said “there will be times when you think you cannot continue on. Trust the Savior and His love. With faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the power and hope of the restored gospel, you will be able to walk tall and continue on.” Elders and Sisters, You can do it! The enabling power of the Atonement is available to all who seek it. We can say each day “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). We Love you.

“Be ye therefore perfect”

  Elders Cox & Ford

Oct 23, 2013

Hey everyone,

It's been pretty busy lately. We started specialized trainings this week and they go one for the next two weeks. We'll be travelling to all of them to give trainings so that'll keep us really busy. Other than that not too much has happened this week. We've just been cooped up in the mission office preparing for our trainings and stuff. Not very much fun. I'll get to go on exchange back to Liverpool this week though so I'm really looking forward to that.

I had a pretty fun birthday. It's hard to believe I'm already 21! Thanks to everyone who sent all the birthday wishes. We were stuck in the mission office for most of the day but we travelled down to Newcastle to go have a meal with Sam Wiles. Definitely worth it.

This We've spent a few days this week in the Chester zone which is mostly in wales. We were asked to give a training and how to be a member missionary for the Priesthood leadership session of stake conference. Other than that this week was pretty non eventful. haha. super boring I know. I'll have more info next week. Love you all loads!

Elder Ford

Oct 7, 2013

wow,

This past week was amazing! Literally so many miracles. Elder Duran and I had so many experiences this week where we were in awe or how God works with people. It was hard to sleep this week because of all the exciting things that have been going on.

We're teaching some amazing people. We started teaching three girls last week and they're all really good. They came to general conference and loved it. You can always put your money on the prophet! We have almost more people to teach than we can handle right now. We need more hours in the day but we're managing with what we have.

We got to go to the Isle of Man this week to work with the four missionaries there. It was so much fun! It was a bit of a long journey there, almost three hours on the ferry but we enjoyed it. The Isle is gorgeous. It rained the entire time but it was still super nice. I didn't get to see much of the island because we were there only for a few days and we stayed pretty central where we worked. It was definitely worth it though. I learned a lot that really helped me. I learned about the relationship between Diligence and Faith. There is a line in Preach My Gospel that says "Your faith will be manifest through Diligence and work." That really hit me when I read that. Before everything I did I asked myself "How can I show God my faith through my diligence?" It made all the difference. We were able to work super hard and found 2 new people for the Isle of Man Elders to start teaching.

General conference was great as well! My favorites were Jeffrey R. Holland and David A. Bednar. they were both really good. When David A. Bednar said "To those of you who are currently not living the Law of Tithing, I invite you to consider your ways, and repent!" all of the missionaries got super excited and starting going "Ohhhh!" haha it was more exciting than a touchdown or slam dunk for us. Missionaries are lame sometimes but I love it. Quoting old church movies and stuff like that. haha

Well thanks for all your love and support. Transfers are next Wednesday so I'm not sure what will be happening. Only time will tell. Love you!

Elder Ford

Sept 30, 2013

Hello everyone!

 

Another week has come and gone. They're starting to go crazy fast. There are only two weeks left in this transfer but it feels like we just started. Things are going well for us though. This upcoming week is going to be a lot of fun. We're hopping on a ferry Tuesday and heading to the Isle of Man for 3 days to go and work with the Elders there. I'm pretty excited because it's probably the most coveted area in the mission. Every wants to go there and we're lucky enough to be able to. There are 2 companionships so I'll be working with one while Elder Duran works with the others. We'll have meetings all day fridayand Saturday plus General conference! It's just as good as Christmas.

 

We had a super fun P-day last week. We went on a tour of Liverpool with the entire zone. We saw all the Beatles sites, all the historical sites, and all of the church sites. There is so much iin Liverpool to see. It's a lot of fun here. I'm starting to feel more at home here. It was a little tough getting used to Liverpool at first. I think because I loved Newcastle so much it made it hard to adjust to Liverpool, but after almost 10 weeks, I'm getting used to it. haha. It's taken awhile.

 

We had some good progress in our area this week. We have loads of people to teach right now but it all seems a bit stagnant. We feel really bad because we've been really busy with so much other stuff we haven't really been able to give each of them the attention they deserve. It's mostly on us and our lack of getting the ward involved though. We had some big progress with one young man named Rikesh. He is 16 and was supposed to be baptized last transfer. His dad gave her permission and everything, but then an hour before the baptism his dad decided he didn't want him to get baptized any more. It was pretty devastating. He is amazing though! He comes to church and youth night every week, and he even goes to early morning seminary every day! He goes to all of the youth dances as well. He's pretty much a member. We decided that we are really going to focus on his dad but he's never really home. We went to the cafe he owns and just talked with him for awhile about how he felt. It helped loads! Plus he gave us discounted food :). We're going back agian this week so we'll see what happens.

 

We've been blessed with quite a few solid Mormon.org refferals this week too. They are people who go on the church's website and ask for missionaries to come around. They are usually pretty rare for us but we've gotten 4 in the last week. We've already taught a few of them and they are super solid. They're from Iran and want to convert to Christianity. The work is going well.

 

Other than that, things are pretty much the same. We get up every morning and work. Not much else to tell you. haha. I love you all so much. Thanks for everything.

 

Love Elder Ford

 

Pictures.

1. The River Mersey. Where the saints left England.

2. Cloudy Liverpool Skyline.

Sept 16, 2013

hi everyone,

Another week gone. The first full week of the transfer has flown by. We had a lot of fun and we were kept pretty busy all week.

We had zone trainings on Tuesday. President Preston asked us to focus the entire meeting on the power of words and the impact that they can have. Elder Duran and I struggled for a few days trying to decide which direction we wanted to take the meeting. We received some last minute inspiration that worked out pretty well. We prayerfully selected a few missionaries in the zone who we knew really well, then Elder Duran and I made up some rumours about that missionary. While we were doing on activity at the meeting we pulled these missionaries out of the room one by one and told them about what "other missionaries had told us". Some of them were really confused, others were upset. After we we talked to them we gathered everyone back together and told all them missionaries who we had pulled out that the things we had told them were lies. They were like "No way?!" I got the point across for sure. Gossip is destructive.

That was probably the most eventful thing this week. Went on another few exchanges as well. We had a ward Activity on Saturday as well that we were able to take some of the people we are teaching to. That was pretty fun. Other than that it was a pretty standard week. A lot of teaching, A lot of finding.

This next week is going to be crazy busy. Zone conference, meeting with the Stake president, meeting at the mission home, Baptism of someone I taught in a former area, and a massive mission wide Chinese activity here in Liverpool. I'll hardly have time to think but I love weeks like this. All is well here in Liverpool. Love you all so much!

Love Elder Ford

Sept 9, 2013

Hey Everyone!

It's been a great start to the transfer so far. Things in our area seem to really be picking up. We set up almost our entire week at church this Sunday! If everything goes according to plan this should be a miracle week. We've been extremely blessed with lots of investigators to teach. We had 4 people at church yesterday and we were expecting 9. Between all 8 missionaries in Liverpool the gospel Principles class was almost too full.

I'm enjoying serving with Elder Duran. He is a very solid missionary. One of his greatest strengths is his ability to bear testimony. We've been in a few lessons were the people we were teaching were getting a bit distracted and he bore his testimony to get the spirit back. It's reminded me how important in really is!

I really enjoyed Mission Leadership council this week. It's easily my favorite meeting. Seeing all of your old mission friends, getting inspired, making decisions, and Sister Preston's cooking. It doesn't get much better than that! President Preston gave a training all about words and how they can build up or they can destroy. He used James 3:2-10 as the basis of his training.

 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Many of the less actives we visit say that they don't come out anymore because someone said something that offended them. We need to control our tongues!

We experienced a miracle on Saturday. Every first Saturday of the transfer we have consecrated finding for 4 hours where we just go out and speak to people and try and find people to teach. We were trying by a former investigator named Neena. She answered the door and immediately let us in and asked us to teach her son named Steven. Steven is 19 and has been looking to strengthen his relationship with God. He was actually fasting and praying that he would be able to find answers. He listened and said he believed every word we said. It was amazing to see that there are people who would go as far a fasting and praying to be able to find answers before they even meet missionaries.

God is hastening His work in Liverpool! This mission has been such a blessing to my life and I'm sure that I'll think of it everyday for many years to come. Thanks for the support!

Love Elder Ford

Sept 5, 2013

HI!

Another transfer gone! Time goes ridiculously fast. Every transfer seems to go a little faster. We got the call Saturday night to say that I'll be staying in the wonderful city of Liverpool for another transfer. Elder Walker has been transferred to Newcastle-under-Lyme, My previous area. I got to tell him how lucky he was. I'm now serving with Elder Duran. He's from Murrieta, California, the same place Elder Corbin was from. He is in my same M.T.C group as well. This is the 5th person in my M.T.C group that I've been lucky enough to serve with. Elders Barnes, Beard, Sutton, Palmer, and now Elder Duran.

I learned some very important lessons last transfer. I was retaught the principle of faith. It's amazing how you can learn about something for years and years and still not completely understand it. I thought I understood what faith was before coming on my mission but when I got out here I realized that it was a lot deeper than I thought it was. I've come to know that faith is a literal power and that you can do anything if you have enough faith. I've also seen how experience can be an enemy to faith. The longer you go on your mission, life, and in the church, and the more experience you start to have the more you begin to rely and those that on simple faith. Sometimes it's good thing to not know exactly what to do. That will force you to rely on God. When Nephi was asked to get the plates from Laban he said "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do. Nevertheless I went forth..." (1 Nephi 4:6-7). Don't let experience shadow faith.

I also was retaught that the church organization is perfect. Absolutely perfect. Unfortunately it's members aren't perfect, but the purpose of the church is to help us one day become perfect.

I also learned loads about humility, that it impacts all that we do. It impacts our perception of ourselves and the way others view us. We don't magically become more humble by making a list of our short comings and telling ourselves what we're not good at. That's not humility at all. It's just throwing yourself a pity party. President Uchtdorf said "We don't discover humility by thinking less of ourselves. We discover humility by thinking less about ourselves." I've learned that you can't inhale recognition and praise. Those types of things can go to your head very quickly and can give you a false image of yourself. Spencer W. Kimball once talked about how Humility has the ability to properly catalog praise and recognition. That which is over the top and untrue must be thrown into the garbage. That which is exaggerated is taken and trimmed down to an appropriate size. And that which is true and appropriate is to be graciously accepted, only to be forgotten later and used as a stimulus for further improvement.

Last transfer taught me a lot. I'm grateful for every single transfer because of what it has taught me! I'm learning things here about myself, God, and the world that I couldn't learn sitting in a classroom.

We're going to be incredibly busy these next 6 weeks. The other Liverpool Elders area got turned into a Chinese speaking area so we have all of there people that they were teaching on top of ours. It'll be a bit chaotic the first few days of the transfer like it always is but things should settle down nicely. Elder Duran and I are preparing ourselves for some miracles.

Thanks for everything. I love you all so much!

Love Elder Ford