On Tuesday this week we had Mission Leadership Council and we gave a really funny training on using correct and proper language. British huh? The training was focused on removing weak words from our vocabulary. Words like; I guess, kinda, maybe, sort of, almost, just, like, ummmmmm and any other verbal ticks we may have acquired while on our missions. We made a really funny video about it and I will put it on the Google drive account today. 

Elder Donaldson of the 70 was attending the meeting and made a comment that really helped me understand where I am at this moment. In his words he said, " I will be the new mission president in Scotland/Ireland mission on July first, so I called our area president (Elder Teixiera) a few weeks ago and asked him for advice on where I should go to learn how to run a mission and how leadership should run in a mission. He responded and told me 'You need to go to London England. They are doing some exciting things and you need to see what they are doing.' I hope you realize where you are at the moment. You are under the direction of the finest mission president of the world. You are called to represent the Lord where Prophets and Apostles have been called to serve. You are doing it at a time where the work is hastening. Remember these moments and make every second count because you are in a remarkable situation." 

The spirit was so strong as he said those words and I know them to be true. The Spirit of the Lord is being poured out among his children in London and we have witnessed it this week. 

On Wedensday morning we were asked to drive to the train station and pick up a new missionary from Ukraine. While driving there we got in an accident. Don't worry mum it is alright. No one was injured and it wasn't our fault. We were in a right hand turn and straight only lane and the car next to us was in a straight only lane and he tried to turn right and smashed into the front right of the car. I have pictures as evidence for you all to see. Some other Elders came to pick up Elder Anderson and take him to the station to get the other Elder from the Ukraine. Elder Torres and I stayed with the car for 2 hours waiting for the tow truck to come get the car. Interesting way to start the day.  

On Wednesday we had another exchange and guess who it was with.... ELDER NOLAN! It was great to be back again for the day and we had so much fun. I love that guy. His granddad sent him a Selfie stick so we were going around London taking Selfies with people and then start talking to them about the gospel. It worked great! 

We also had a lesson with 4 chinese recent converts and it was so cool so we took a picture. I will send that as well. Chinese people are really prepared for the gospel. They are such strong members! 

Well that is it for this week. I hope to see Lion King soon and we are hopefully going to go to the Wax Museum to take pictures with the Queen! The pics will be great! 

Love,

Elder David

 The Number 1 Fish and Chips in London!! Baileys Fish and Chips!

Year of the Sheep

Happy Chinese New Year!! It is the Year of the Sheep. Doesn't really mean much but that is what they call it! What a fun week!! On Monday we have calls where we talk with the Zone Leaders about how the missionaries are doing and to see how we can help them out. Those phone calls last about 4-5 hours. I didn't want to look at the phone after that. We then spent the that night with President Jordan preparing for the meeting on Wednesday. 

Wednesay was the big meeting and guess who showed up. Elder Hallstrom of the Presidents of the 70 and Elder Teixeira the Area President of the Church in Europe. They spoke to us for a while and really it was amazing. Elder Hallstrom talked to us about when he served as a young missionary in England and how he thinks of his mission everyday of his life. Not living in the past but there is always something in his day that will remind him of it. He told us to not waste our time. He taught that our mission is a shadow of how the rest of our life will turn out. It was great and it hit me in the heart because my time is running low and I need to squeeze  every last drop out of this experience. I am not slowing down but only speeding up. 

After the meeting all three of us split to go on exchanges with the Zone Leaders. Guess where I went back to? NORWICH! It was the best day. Being back in the flat, driving the same roads, and seeing all the members I had grown to love. We went and taught the Simbi family. I don't know if I told you but 2 of them got baptised recently! We are still teaching the rest of the family and they just need to commit! It was great to be with them. We finished the night with a kebab from a member who owns his own kebab restaurant! It was just a dream! 

I love you all and hope you have a great week!! See ya! 

Snow! Very Rare!!!! 

--

Elder Talan Haynes David

England London Mission

64-68 Princes Gate

Exhibition Road,

South Kensington

London, England SW7 2PA

This is Different

I literally just spoke with you all a few days ago but a lot has changed haha. On Wedenesday we went to St. Pancras station to meet with all the missionaries and get them with their correct companions and send them off to there areas. After doing that I went to the Hyde Park Chapel for the new missionary meeting. All the new missionaries were coming and their trainers with us. We were in charge of training the trainers on how to train effectively. Loads of trains. I loved being apart of that meeting and seeing all the new missionaries. It brought me right back to when I was a new missionary and sitting in that meeting. I remember meeting Elder Hutchins for the first time(this transfer he goes home) and then taking all my luggage through the tubes to the London North flat. Laying down that night in my bed looking at the ceiling I thought to myself,"Where the heck am I?" I had no idea where I was in the world and it was the first time in my life I have felt like that. Great memories came back while at that meeting. 

The days following were some of the busiest of my mission. We were in meetings and in the office all day long with President and working through lunch and past 10 at night. We are preparing for the Mission Leadership Conference next Wednesday. I never knew and took for granted how much goes into these things. We have not had much time to go out and work. We take 30 minute "breads" to go outside and talk to people and teach them more about  Jesus Christ. You may think that is not really a break but believe me it is. My brain was pressing against my forehead when on the computer and in meetings for that long. It is great to get outside and be a missionary. 

The Lord had truly blessed us though during our sparce finding time. We are proselyting assistants so we have our own area we are responsible for. A double portion. In those short breaks we have found many great people. We stopped a man who was having a really bad day and invited him inside the chapel to see last years Easter video "Because of Him" at the end of the video we look over to see tears fill this English Rugby players eyes. We hear him bare his testimony about Christ and how he would like to strengthen his relationship. We will be seeing him next week to help him out.

It is nice to be in a trio. We can get a lot more done. We teach three different people at a time and are now able to travel more frequently throughout the mission to visit the missionaries and see how they are doing. It is a lot of fun and will share more in a week! Love you all and talk to you then.

Elder David

MOVES CALLS

Yesterday we had moves calls and Elder Adriano and I had no clue what was going to happen to us. We could either stay together which would make a total of 6 months with one companion which would be insane but we would have loved it. Or one of us could have left. SO...... I am.... MOVING!! President Jordan has asked me to be his new Assistant. I will be in a Trio with Elder Anderson from Utah and Elder Torres from Brazil! I was their Zone Leader last transfer and now I am with them! I am really excited and feel extremely humbled by this opportunity to serve the missionaries in the England London Mission. I have butterflies touring in my stomach because of the nerves but am pleading with the Lord to qualify for my new responsibilities. I am in the Britannia ward in Hyde Park which is a YSA ward. So I will be teaching people only between the ages of 18-30 and yes that means tons of Chinese! I am excited to practice and learn some new phrases. I have now served in every ward in the Hyde Park building. Going to church will be like a reunion of all my past areas haha. Elder Adriano will be training a new Zone Leader. His name is Elder Mortensen and my mom already knows who this is! So that will be cool. Elder Adriano found out this week from his parents that he will be attending Utah State University to study to become a Professional Pilot! Elder Mortensen is also going there! It will be one big reunion! 

This week was great! IT SNOWED!! The first time ever since I have been in London. It was beautiful and we took pictures. I live with 3 people who live in warm climate countries so they acted like little children watching the white flakes fall from the sky. It was just precious. 

So I want to tell you about three people! 

Omoyeni: She is from Nigeria and we met her on the bus. She comes to London two times a year to buy clothes for her shop in Nigeria and then goes back. We were teaching her while she was here and the missionaries in Nigeria will continue to teach her. She Is great and loved the gospel. She said she will send photos when she is baptised there. 

Antonia: Antonia is from Angola and speaks portuguese! She is preparing to be baptised next Sunday and is the sweetest woman in the whole world. She owns her own restaurant and asks us to come eat there everyday because she doesn't trust our own cooking and we are servants of the Lord and we need to be healthy! We went to eat there today and she make some great food! She came to church on Sunday and said she has never felt the spirit like that before and loves the church. She is just the best and so I took a picture with her and will attach it after! I will send a pic when she gets baptised! 

Juan Pablo: We are teaching tons of Spanish and Portuguese people! Juan Pablo is from Columbia and is 15 years old. We were look for a woman in the ward that we have never met and were going to visit her. She wasn't home but we stopped Juan because he lived in the same flat complex. He knew her but said she moved. We then scheduled an appointment to see Juan the next day. We were not too positive if he was going to show because he is 15 but to our surprise he was waiting for us and said he was looking forward to it all day. As we taught him about the restoration his face lit up. He told us that he felt like Joseph Smith. In fact last week he was praying on which church he should join and that he was confused because there are so many. He said we are an answer to his prayers and he is preparing to be baptised in March. He reminds me a lot of Aj and Dalton. I love this Juan Pablo and he is such a humble and spiritual young man. He was so sad when we met with him tonight to tell him I was leaving. He is a huge kid for 15 and swallowed me up in his arms with a hug and said we better keep in contact. Tears were shed with Antonia and Juan.  

I love the people here and it is so sad to move on but I will remember them forever and keep in contact with these people!  I love you all too and hope you have a great week!

Juan Pablo and I 

                           

Antonia and I at her restaurant tonight

Saying goodbye to Omoyeni before going back to Nigeria

                         

                        

--

Elder Talan Haynes David

England London Mission

64-68 Princes Gate

Exhibition Road,

South Kensington

London, England SW7 2PA

Just Try It!!

This week was a busy week full of meetings! I am starting to get used to this life of meeting since I have been doing for a year straight now! I enjoy it so much. 

This week we met many amazing people! Here in Lea Valley there are many Africans and boy do they have a lot of faith! I love it and I love that they show it. There are so many missionaries from other faiths as well in this part of London! On Sunday morning is a great sight to see everyone dressed for church! It is not usually like that in other parts of London but here that is how it is. 

After talking to many of these wonderful people I love that they have a strong testimony in Christ but I wish they would try the Book of Mormon. A lot of people are unfamiliar with this Book and only have heard either what the media has said about it or what their pastor at church has told them. None have tried it for them selves to test its truthfulness. I know that it is true only because I have tried it and tested the promise it contains, which is to ask God. Everyone who is christian knows the Bible is true. It is just a common belief that one grows up with. What if this world grew up with the Book of Mormon and we as missionaries came to teach on how there was another Testament of Christ called the Bible! People would then have to read and pray about this amazing book as well and try their faith to see the fruits that come from it! 

I love the Book of Mormon and I wish the people here would give it a try rather than listen to someone elses opinion of it. Some woman told us of her pastor who told her all about the Book and how it comes from the Devil. Of course a pastor would say that, his payroll is in jeopardy. Just give it a try and try to find how the bible and book of Mormon don't go together. You won't be able contradictions, only clarity and a strengthening belief in Christ.  

I will now send some pictures! Next week is moves week! Any predicitons? If Elder Adriano and I stay together that means that we will spend 6 months total of our missions together! 1/4! So we are not sure if President will do that! It would be so much fun though!