Elder Talan David: From Canterbury to Cambridge

On Tuesday I went to Ashford which is in Canterbury. Canterbury is the southern most part of the mission and it is so beautiful there. It is about an hour and a half train ride and the whole time I was gazing at the rolling green hills that back up to the ocean. On a clear day you are able to see France from that train ride! It wasn't clear so I wasn't able to see it. While on the train we started talking to this woman and we were so focused on the conversation that we both left our bags on the train!! We just started laughing because we didn't know how else to act. We went and talked to the manager off the station and they sent the bags on the next train back to where we were. A little scare to start off our day.

From the Station we went drove to a place called Deal. It is where the white cliffs of Dover are!!! If you have not heard or seen them you better Google search it! I have a photo of it but it is not that great because I took it driving. I spent the remainder of the day with Elder Wright. Really cool guy.

The next day we took the train back into London for the 5 week new missionary meeting. This is where all the new missionaries and their trainers come back into London for the day and we talk about their experience so far as a missionary. It was so amazing to see how much these young missionaries have grown in just a few weeks. They all walked in a bit more confident then before and it was really great to see. Elder Jensen was there because he is training a missionary from Brazil.

Later on in the day we taught a Chinese Student named Raymond. He is so funny!! We were teaching him about the restoration and while we are talking about families he blurted out,"What about the disasters?" We were really confused but then he started impersonating the movement a T-Rex would make and then we understood he meant to say dinosaurs! It was hilarious! But the best part was when he said the closing prayer. He began to pray and it was such a sincere prayer then he said this,"I pray Father that you will bless Elder David and Elder Anderson with Girlfriends. They are really nice guys and deserve very beautiful girls. Bless them. Amen" He looked up with a big smile and said,"your welcome." haha it was the best prayer offered on my mission. We then asked, "Why didn't you pray for Elder Torres to have a girlfriend?" He then replied," I saw the ring on his finger so i knew he already had a girlfriend." Which is true. What an observant little fella.

On Thursday I went back to London North on an exchange with Elder Mortensen who will be my flatmate up at Utah State! It was such a fun day and I got to teach Juan Pablo again. He is preparing for baptism in two weeks. If you don't remember him, he is the kid come Columbia.

That evening Elder Mortensen and I went out to eat at a place called Voodoo Rays Pizza! It is supposed to be one of the best pizza places in London. After last week you would have thought I would never eat pizza again. I was wrong. It was good pizza. The next morning for exercise we went to play some baseball in the park! It was a glorious day!

Right after that exchange, on Friday morning, we met at Kings Cross Station because I was traveling to Cambridge for another exchange. While at kings cross we took pictures at platform 9 3/4. I will attach photos! I LOVE CAMBRIDGE!! It is the most beautiful part of England I have seen yet. The town is ancient! Everything is so old and the University has been around since 1209. I would love to study at Cambridge after being there. While there we went past the park where the modern rules for Football (soccer) was invented. We went by the tree where the apple fell and hit Isaac Newton on the head! So much history. I also met someone who was wearing a Denver Nuggets shirt. He was really cool and should be going to church there in Cambridge today. I took many pictures but on a different camera so I will get those before next week and send you all of them. Next Transfer Elder Anderson and I are going to take a P-Day up there and explore a bit more. There is a lot to see.

That was the week we had and was it crazy or what. I was gone the whole week just running up and down the country but I loved it!

Have a great week!

Love,

Elder David

Elder Talan Haynes David

England London Mission

64-68 Princes Gate

Exhibition Road,

South Kensington

London, England SW7 2PA