1/2/2013

Family,

Happy new year! It was so good to speak to everyone on Christmas eve.
All the kids are getting huge. It's amazing how so much changes in a
year but everything stays the same at the same time. The vanilla coke
stunt you pulled was pretty lame. haha.

A lot has happened over this last week and a half. First thing, we got
transfer calls this weekend. I'll be staying in Blackburn for at least
another 6 weeks with Elder Reali. Elder Adair and Elder Kunzler are
staying as well so no changes in Blackburn this time. Pretty much
everyone in the zone stayed. It was a pretty uneventful transfer call.
This next transfer should be a good one though.

On Saturday we had the baptisms of Steve, Naomi, and Maucaley. It was
so good! It was the most spiritual baptismal service i've ever been
to. It's not often that a family decides to join together. They showed
up about an hour early to get ready and we had a nice chance to talk.
They brought me a little surprise as well. I told them about the
little Vanilla coke trick you did and they remembered me saying that
it was my favorite drink. They found one and brought it to me at the
baptism! Made the day even more sweet!

The baptism went relatively smooth. No last minute things, except i
forgot to bring an extra white shirt so I was soaked for the rest of
the day after I got changed haha. I baptized Steve and Macauley and a
member baptized Naomi. After the baptism Steve got up and bore his
testimony. It was amazing jsut sitting there and listening to him. He
was confirmed after the baptism as well because he had to wrok the
next day. Naomi and Macauley were supposed to be confirmed on Sunday
but one of the daughters got realyl sick so they couldn't make it.
They'll get confirmed next sunday. Now they're members i'm asking
myself, "Well, now what?" let's go find some more families!

I did get a very special expereince on Sunday though. Umesh, (someone
who we taught and baptized a month ago) and Ian (a less active who we
were able to find) got the Aaronic Priesthood. It was so good. Elder
Adair ordained Ian, and I ordained Umesh. They were both so happy.
Steve will probably get teh priesthood next week as well.

Over the Christmas period we did a lot of fun things. December 24, 25,
26, and the 31, as well as New Years Day we didn't do any proselyting.
They try and keep us off the streets those days. They celebbrate a bit
differently here. Maybe it's not that different though, just a lot
more beer. haha. We were allowed to watch family movies and even
played approved video games. It was pretty weird. We ate a lot of
sugar as well. I probably have gained 10 pounds in the last two
weeks... so much chocolate. Elder Reali has said some funny things
too. He's working on his English really hard but he says some funny
things sometimes. He kept getting the word "Treasure" and "Trousers"
mixed up. He kept asking everyone if we could watch "National
Trousers". haha pretty funny. We watched all of the Santa clause films
and watched prince of Egypt. That might be a new favorite for me. It
proved to me that you can feel the spirit even when watching cartoons.
haha.

Well everything is great here. Just trying to work hard and enjoy
every minute(They seems to be going pretty quick) Thanks for all the
support. LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Love Elder Ford

Pictures
1) Me, Ian, Elder Adair, Umesh. Just after being ordained
2) The whole family! Steve, Naomi, Macauley, Josh, Erin, and Neve
3) Playing Fifa 2012

12/10/12

More pictures

1. Christmas morning
2. Elder Cai before leaving for home
3. Elder Francis before leaving home

12/10/12

Hello everyone!

This week has been a week full of miracles. So many good things are
starting to happen. The work is moving like crazy!

I don't know if you remember, but a few weeks ago we were teaching a
family. Steve and Naomi. Well they kind of fell of the map for a
little while. We weren't able to go and teach them for a long time.
They are the ones who reffered themselves on Mormon.org. Well, on
tuesday we finnaly were able to teach them with our Bishop. It was
amazing. We found out that she had been diagnosed with Lupis(still not
sure exactly what it is) and that's why we haven't been able to get a
hold of them. The lesson went great. They are rock solid for baptism
on Dec. 29! Steve will baptise his 8 yr old son a few weeks later as
well when he gets the priesthood. They are a miracle family. When we
walked out of the lesson our bishop said, "Elder Ford, I'm really
happy". "why is that" I said. " I just found my replacement." He is
convinced that Steve is going to be the next Bishop. They are suh a
great family. Naomi brought their 4 kids to church on sunday(8, 7, 2,
8 months) and they loved it. Steve hd work but will be coming every
week starting next.

It's seriously amazing how prepared they are. Bishop already committed
them to be sealed in the temple next December! They are making all
kinds of comments as well, like they want me to write them when I
leave the area, and they want to come to my wedding. haha.

Our other family that we are teaching is doing great as well(Dan and
Naomi). We've been super blessed to be teaching both families. It's
weird because the are the first 2 families that i've taught in my
entire mission. It's pretty lucky.

I also got the news that Brianne was pregnant! what?! haha. I was
pretty shocked even though I expected it a lot sooner. I'm happy for
them though. They're starting to get a pretty good line-up. haha.

Thigns are good with Elder Reali are good. I'm learning how to be
extremelly patient. haha. His English is improving loads though. He'll
be a great missionary.

We've got some exciting things coming up. Christmas party for our zone
at the mission home on Friday. We'll probably go to the temple grounds
sometime with Steve and Naomi and teach them a lesson there. We're
having a combined FHE with Bishop's and Steve and Naomi's family
tonight. It's an extremelly bust time of the year. Plus Christmas is
just round the corner. I'll probably be Skyping sometime on christmas
eve. Sometime between 4-8 in the evening here. not sure what time that
would be there. I'm looking forward to it though.

Well thank you for everything. Make sure to pray for all of our
investigators. They need the extra blessings. Talk to you next week.
Love you!

Love Elder Ford

12/17/12

Hello everyone!

It's been a really busy great week. There has been a lot going on.

Monday Evening we did a Family Home Evening with Steve, Naomi and
there family and Bishop Pattenden and their family. It was a huge
success. There families are perfect for each other. each with 4 kids
around the same age. Steve and Naomi continue to be the greatest
miracle i've seen so far on my mission.

They're both still solid for the 29th and there oldest son macauly has
decided that he wants to be baptized with mom and dad instead of
waiting. When we teach them sometimes I forget that they haven't been
members all their lives. They just act like Mormons! They took a trip
to the temple by themselves this last week just to see what it was
like! We're planning on taking them up there tuesday or wednesday for
a proper tour. It's pretty exciting. We're getting down to crunch time
with them.We have less than two weeks(plus the hollidays) and we still
need to teach them loads of stuff. Pray that our schedules work out!

We had our zone Christmas party at the mission home friday. We had to
wake up super early to catch our train. It was almost three hours
total travel to get there. It was pretty fun though. We had a big
christmas meal(Sister Preston is an amazing cook) and we watched a
movie(The Emma Smith story). We also did so lame skits. haha. damaged
my pride a bit but it was good for me I guess. We did a White Elephant
gift exchange as well. I ended up with an old, beaten up foreign
dictionary. Pretty lame. I can't complain though because whoever ended
up with the gift I brought got a dog toy. haha.

At the Christmas party there were a few of the missionaries who were
going home. They were all missionaries I knew very well. It was pretty
sad. It also freaked me out because they are only a year ahead of me.
They came out January 2011. Time is flying.

I'm looking forward to Christmas coming up. we're planning on spending
most of it with members. We won't be proselyting the 24,25, or the 26
of december. Also new years eve and new years day. I'll be skyping
Christmas eve at 7 in the evening, english time. Hopefully everyone
can make it. It's hard to believe it was 6 months ago since we last
talked.

I was able to learn some great things from my study this week. I want
to share it. I was studying about Pre-earth life and the war in
heaven. I read this in Revelation 12.

 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against
the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the
Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out
into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation,
and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ:
for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them
before our God day and night.

There were only two sides. You were either for god our against him.
Each of us chose to be on God's side. The battle on earth has already
been decided. We all know who is going to win. Why do so many of us
spend so much time trying to decide which jersey to put on. it goes on
to say this in the next verse.

 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of
their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Everyone at one point had a testimony. Everyone once fought for
Christ. It's our job to rediscover it in ourselves and to help others
do the same.

Love you all so much. See You next week!

Love Elder Ford

Dec 3, 2012

Hey everyone,

This week has been a good one. It's not every week there is two
baptisms happening. The Baptisms of Umesh and Judith went great.

Not sure really were to start. This week was one of those weeks were I
really have no idea what happened. We're seeing some really good
things happening in Blackburn. Now that we have four Elders we're able
to do a lot more work. President Preston also gave us and the ward a
challenge. He said that if we can baptize 4 more people by the end of
the year, he'll put a set of sister missionaries in next transfer. Our
bishop was super excited about that. He said we love the Elders but
it's just not the same. haha. We've got a lot of work to do.

We're teaching some really good people. One of our families, Dan &
Naomi are doing really well. We were able to teach them this week with
our Bishop. Dan came to church on Sunday and brought his 5 year old
daughter. She loved primary! we're hoping to get the whole family
there next Sunday.

We had our temple zone conference and a Holiday meal as well. I wish
we could go to the temple more as missionaries. It such a great place.
We ate a thanksgiving meal in the cafeteria after. It was a nice
re-charge. I've been getting pretty stressed lately. I've got a lot
more to worry about now.

Everyone here is getting really excited for Christmas. It's still not
as big as in America though. We do holidays right. haha. I've been
telling everyone how dad always makes our house look like Clark
Griswald's from Christmas Vacation. haha. We're waiting for our
packages to come so we can put them under our mini-tree!

Elder Reali is doing great. The English is coming along. I've decided
I don't want to be an English teacher though. He'll ask me why you say
things a certain way and I can't explain it. Being with a new
missionary we do a lot more study. We have an extra hour for companion
study and an extra hour of language study. We're studying A LOT. It's
helping him a lot though.

Nothing else really has been going on. haha. I don't remember this
week at all. I can't believe mom got a grand piano though. I'd rather
have cable t.v or a hot tub. pretty lame. Better keep the kids far
away from it though. She'll be ruthless in protecting it. haha.(love
you mom)

Things are good here. Working hard and I can't believe it's already
December! Time flies. Love you all and I hope you have a good week!

Love Elder Ford

Pictures:

1. Umesh
2. Judith
3. Fish head (African Food)
4. elder Adiar and I at the temple, facebook style.

Nov 25, 2012

hey everyone,

Another week has come and gone. England is preparing for Christmas as well. They had a pretty big lighting ceremony in the town where we live so now the town center is all lit up with christmas lights. Nothing like our house looks like though. England can't really do Christmas lights because all the houses are connected. It's pretty different.

Thigns have been pretty busy. We've been trying to figure out the area a bit. Since there are two companionships in Blackburn now we jsut split the teaching pool in half. We're trying to work in new areas that we haven't been able to go before as well. It was a difficult first few days but things are moving along. We're teaching some great people.

There are also going to be two Baptisms in Blackburn on Saturday. Umesh and Judith! It's going to be pretty exciting. Umesh has been investigating for almost three years now so it's been a long time coming. Judith is the sister of Sylvia who was baptized my first week here in Blackburn. We've been blessed to have a lot of success in Blackburn. There is still so much potential in our teaching pools as well. We have 3 families that we're teaching and all of them are great!

Elder Reali and I are Enjoying our time. It's a bit different being with a brand new missionary. I've almiost forgotten what it's like to be new. Sometimes I'll forget he's now and just start doing things without explaining why we do it. We do a lot of study as well. For new missionaries we do an extra hour of companion study to help them learn the lessons and to practice teaching. Elder Reali is also trying to learn English so we do an hour of language study. It's a lot of study A total of 4 hours a day! His English is improving steadily though. The language has been a bit of a barrier but we're working through it. The English/Italian dictionary has been our third companion..and the spirit of course. haha.

I'm learnign a lot about patience as well. I've been reminded about how difficult the transition into missionary life is. You have to do a lot of things that are extremelly uncomfortable. I've had to be very patient and help him to make the adjustments. It's been a great learning experience for both of us.

I'm looking forward to this transfer. We're going to the temple this week for one of our Zone Conferences, We have a christmas meal at the mission home later this transfer, and Christmas and new years. It's going to be pretty exciting. Plus, I'll get to Skype home. I'm really going to try and enjoy the holliday season because it might be the only i get since President Preston usally sends the January group home for Christmas. I've heard that Christmas's on your mission are the best. It's hard to believe it's already almost Christmas again! Time is cruising

Well, things are going great here. No complaints. Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. Love you all. Talk to you next week!

Love Elder Ford

1. Three generations of missionaries (my father and my son)
2. My and my first born haha.