[SENT MARCH 6, 2017]

Alec and Elder Nelson

Familia,

Hope you had a great week!

Miscellaneous

We had interviews with President Stevens this past week! It was wonderful to see him and Sister Stevens again. 

We tried by Brunel University for street contacting, and it seems like there's some good potential there. 

The Ward

We've been welcomed into the ward very well. We had a lunch appointment on Tuesday with the Szabos, dinner on Thursday with Kapansas, dinner with bishop on Friday, service with Bishop on Saturday in his garden, and dinner with the Muhongos on Saturday. 

Cool experience, we had lunch with the Szabo family and asked them for names of people they could invite over for FHE. They gave the name of 'Szabina', someone who actually shares a flat with them. They planned to invite her over. We left, and on the way out we bumped into Szabina, talked with her and set up an appointment! Pretty cool miracle. Sadly that appointment didn't happen either. But it's still a miracle in my eyes. 

Miracles going the long way

Last P-Day we did lots of cleaning. In the evening we went outside, just talking to people from 6-9pm. I twas super cold and rainy. At the end of the evening, we went down a back path to our house, then had a prompting that we should go back and go the longer way. We then bumped into a guy named Ryan who was into drugs, had a court case the next day, and "didn't think his life was worth living." There was a reason we bumped into him! Sadly, we haven't seen him yet, but we're still holding out hope.

Yesterday we went out to talk with people on the way to a potential investigator appointment. As we left the flat I had a prompting to go out the long way. I almost ignored it, but decided to go. We talked with a couple people that weren't interested. Then we came across a man that was hurrying buy. I asked him how he balances work and family life. He stopped from his rushing, and talked. He said he has 4 kids, a part time job only working fri-sun. At one point, he expressed "I'm struggling" and broke down in tears. His name is Adam. We bore testimony to him, and will be seeing him tomorrow. 

Spiritual

Yesterday there was a  wonderful broadcast to Northern Europe. L. Whitney Clayton, Linda S Reeves, Timothy J Dyches, and M. Russell Ballard all spoke. Sister Reeves spoke of how she made a list titled "Why I know", making daily notes of things that have bolstered her testimony. I began mine last night, and hope to keep that up each day. She also mentioned how a friend of hers studies general conference talks and underlines invitations, testimonies, and promised blessings of the church leaders so she can act on them. Something I'd like to try doing!

Elder Ballard began his talk speaking of Sequoya Trees near BYU. These live to be 1,000 years old, and grow to be very tall. One of them died and was subsequently cut down. The reason: The aquifier had been moved due to construction somewhere else, and the roots were cut off from the source of water. In the same way, "the very elect" can fall away if we cease to nourish our roots. He referred to his message as an epistle, like unto Paul the Apostle. Simple we need to Pray sincerely, fast faithfully, study and ponder scriptures, make the sabbath and the sacrament a delight, attend the temple, and reach out to the needy, poor and lonely both near by and across the world.

My feelings

Every night I go to bed exhausted. After we're in the flat by 9pm, we can go to bed any time between then and 10:30. We often go to bed early and it feels so good :) I think something I'm meant to learn in this area and with Elder Nelson is patience; with myself, with my companion, with the ward, with the work, with everything. It's my choice to be happy, and have a good attitude no matter what happens, and I'm determined to do so! 

I love my mission and I love the people here. The ward is wonderful, the people are great, and I know there are many prepared to receive the gospel here, and in every place in the world! We just need to open our mouths, follow the Spirit, and find them.

Love you all!

Elder Withers

P.S. We will go mini golfing later today, so I'm looking forward to that. Love ya!