This week was full of travel! I really like driving at first until you have to go to London a few times and to visit other members in the Zone. It just gets tiring!
On Thursday we had a Mission Leadership Council held in the Hyde Park Chapel. Elder Teixera was there. He is the President of the Church here in Europe and it was so inspiring to listen to what he had to say. To be at this meeting we had to wake up at around 5 to get ready and start our road trip down. It should have only taken 2.5 hours but instead it took 4! Traffic was so bad and there were a few accidents because of the rainy morning. The meeting lasted from 10 AM-5 PM. Mentally, physically and spiritually drained I then had to start the trek back. After getting supplies and filling out paperwork in the office we left. By this time it was around 6:30. We had an exchange the next day too so one of the Assistants came up to Norwich with me and my companion stayed down in London. On our way our of London there were a few accidents and so it took a long long time to get going. It is coming up on 10 PM and we still have 45 miles to go. We get to the roundabout on the motorway and it says that the road to Norwich is Closed! UGHGHGH! I was not happy haha but it took us on a detour to the middle of no where. By this point the car was running low on petrol. I was feeling a bit nervous and we decided to pray with other 3 missionaries in the car that we would make it home or find a petrol station soon. We continue on our journey and take a right where the detour sign is pointing. We turn right and go for a few minutes and find there was pretty serious accident 3 cars in front of us. We then were instructed by the police officers to turn around and try a different route. Now even less petrol in the tank and feeling like we are not going to make it for very much longer if we don't fill up. We then say another prayer and continue on. We take another right and put in the directions to the next fuel station. It takes us to an old and abandoned rinky dink station that has not been open for a really long time! We try another one and the next station doesn't even exist! We are still in the middle of no where and running on fumes! We say another prayer and continue on ward. And let me mention the car we drive is diesel so we can not let it run out! We try for out last shot and we are driving through this tiny village when all of a sudden a giant, heavenly, yellow shell petrol station peeps over the bushes! We made it at last! We go inside and buy some food and fill up the tank! We then drive the rest of the way home safely and get home at midnight.
I learned a few nice lessons from this experience. When driving back I had the thought that I should maybe top up to be safe and not let it get too low but I tried justifying in my head why I didn't need to stop. I then later almost had to learn the hard way. NEVER WAIT TO TOP UP! I am sure you can relate that spiritually. We may never know the detours or the fake stations that are ahead but we can take control of the situation before it gets out of control. The power of prayer was very useful during this journey as well. There where things that we could not contol but things only God could. We are to do everything in our power and then ask god for his assistance. I know that we should have run out of fuel. I felt the engine kind of give away but it kept on pushing forward. We are all being looked after by our Father in Heaven.
Mothers Day is coming up and I am excited to Skype home again! I will talk to you all in a week!
Love,
Elder David
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