July 31, 2017: Companion prank

Dear family and friends,

This week was a good one! I pulled the biggest trainee prank on my trainer this week it was hilarious! We have to proselyte here with certificates from the queen giving us permission for us to do what we do! We were out and I got one of the recent convert's friend who is a police officer to get in on it! Long story short I swiped Elder Stanley's proselyting  badge so when the police officer asked for it he was in a bad way! They put him in handcuffs and everything! The kid almost started crying😂😂

I am a great guy what can I say? We had alot of cool things happen this week! There is an investigator here in Bradford who's baptism was this week! The day before her baptism she got  got major cold feet! She had been investigating for a long time and did not feel she had gotten an answer yet! We did not think she was going to go through with it. Half way through our lesson she stopped and asked me to give her a blessing! In the blessing it talked about light and darkness and how when ever good things start to happen and we start to feel gods light, darkness starts to come! God then blessed her with the strength and the assurance that as she takes a leap of faith God will illuminate the way! I love this principle! When The children of Israel were carrying the ark of the covenant. They come to the River Jordan. 

The promise is, they will cross over on dry land but as they approached the river the water was still! When did the water part? The water parted as they acted with the knowledge that was given them and they started walking into the river! That is when the river split that is when God illuminates the way! The next day Sarah had every right not to go through with her baptism! It seemed like everything was just going wrong but she had the faith and was baptised and God poored blessing upon her! You could say in a figurative sense that the river parted for her! We also are teaching a family from Egypt right now! It's sick they only speak Arabic so we teach  him through a translator! We met this guy from France this week as well! Our teaching pool is quite diverse right now as we have people from Slovakia, France, Egypt, Africa, and Pakistan! It's cool! This week we got to see a wedding! There was about 50 cars there and everyone had a multimillion dollar car! There were lambs and bughatties it was crazy! We also went to a Sihk temple this week! It was very similar! I don't know if anyone knows what Sihkism is but a man I believe in the 1500s or so went to a field and prayed! He was visited by God and God told him that no one had truth but the truth would be restored later! God then told them to just do good and follow God as best as he can! So Sikhs to this day believe in no religion but in just going good! Little do they know God came and restored the church! I have actually taught a few Sikhs and when they find out about it they become so interested it is quite cool! Anyway love you guys! Hope you all have a great week!

Sent from my iPad

July 24, 2017: Elder Holland's thoughts

Hey familia!
Sounds like you all had an amazing week!  That is so awesome to hear about Leah! You keep reading that is amazing and Kai sounds like you had an awesome week as well! Efy is an amazing place! I don't have much time to write this week as we only have about 45 minutes in the chapel but I want you to know how much I love each and every one of you! My mind has been on a constant reflection recently of these past 20 years!  I can't believe it! It feels like yesterday I was just a kid growing up in Salt Lake in our old home! There has been so many good memories! I have been so blessed with such a great family and great life and although I have not seen him in person I have seen the lords hand in my life throughout! He's been there the whole time! I have been going through some hard times these past two weeks! I have been having some crazy dreams and some crazy feelings come over me! I do not know why?  I heard a quote from Jeffrey r Holland "To all of these and so many more, I say: Cling to your faith. Hold on to your hope. ‘Pray always, and be believing’ [​D&C 90:24​]. Indeed, as Paul wrote of Abraham, he ‘against [all] hope believed in hope’ and ‘staggered not … through unbelief.’ He was ‘strong in faith’ and was ‘fully persuaded that, what [God] had promised, he was able … to perform’ [​Romans 4:18, 20–21​]. …

​​​​“… Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, ​they come​” (​“An High Priest of Good Things to Come,”​​ Ensign,​ Nov. 1999, 36, 38)." I think sometimes in life we come to a halt in the road! We're are testimony doesn't start to fade away but your are waiting for blessings or needed strength for the moment that you are at in your life! As we hold on to our faith in these times and we are patient the Lord can humble is an mend us and sanctify us! 

I love you guys so much you are always in my prayers, love you!

July 17. 2017: Flat on fire and my love for Peter.

Hey family hope all is well! Thank you for all the pictures you have

been sending! They are awesome it's crazy to see how old you all look

now! Haha -well this week went pretty good!  This Sunday in church I had

to give a talk in sacrament meeting, teach the gospel principles

lesson, and teach elders quorum! It was crazy!  We did have a good week

though! The assistants went on exchange with us this week and I went contacting with

Elder Klingler.  While we were out this block flat caught on

fire! We were standing outside of Mike's flat (a previous investigator that

lived on the top floor), he went on to his balcony and shouted out to us elders 

"what's up??".. giving us a thumbs up.  But he was

completely unaware of the burning fire below him! The

firefighters ended up having to get a lift to get him down, he was

smiling the whole time! It was pretty funny! 

This week I was reading through the life of all the presidents of the

 church it was amazing to read and get to know all of them! 

They all were so valiant with their testimonies of Jesus Christ! 

Something president Lorenzo Snow said really touched my heart:

 

​​​​“If we could read in detail the life of Abraham, or the lives of

other great and holy men, we would doubtless find that their efforts

to be righteous were not always crowned with success. Hence we should

not be discouraged if we should be overcome in a weak moment; but, on

the contrary, straightway repent of the error or the wrong we may have

committed, and as far as possible repair it, and then seek to God for

renewed strength to go on and do better. …

​​​​“If the Apostle Peter had become discouraged at his manifest

failure to maintain the position that he had taken to stand by the

Savior under all circumstances, he would have lost all; whereas, by

repenting and persevering he lost nothing but gained all, leaving us

too to profit by his experience. The Latter-day Saints should

cultivate this ambition constantly which was so clearly set forth by

the Apostles in former days. We should try to walk each day so that

our conscience would be void of offense before everybody. … We must

not allow ourselves to be discouraged whenever we discover our

weakness”

I love this so much I love this example he used! If there is anybody I

feel like in this life it is Peter! To be fair after reading the New

Testament I think Peter has become one of my all time favorite! Just

because I feel I can relate to him so much! Peter loved the savior

so much and he tried his earnest to follow him, but fell short time after

time! One of my favorite examples of Peter I laugh at every

time  I read is:

Matthew 16;21,24

21 ​​¶ ​From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples,

how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the

elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be ​​​raised​

again the third day.

​​​​​22 ​Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it

far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

​​​​​23 ​But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me,

Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou ​​​savourest​ not the

things that be of God, but those that be of men.

​​​​​24 ​​¶ ​​​​Then​ said Jesus unto his disciples, If any ​man​ will

come after me, let him ​​​deny​ himself, and take up his ​​​cross​,

and ​​​follow​ ​​​me​.

I love this so much! All Peter wanted to show and tell the Lord is

that he didn't want anyone to hurt him, and he wouldn't let that happen.

But the savior turns around and rebukes him! He probably was like man

I can't do anything right! But that is why I love Peter so much he

stayed humble and stayed by the saviors side and was patient and

in the end he became one of Christ's greatest followers to ever walk

the earth! I love peters example and I pray that I may be just as patient with

myself! I have gained such a testimony that the Lord sanctifies our

afflictions, but I learned we must be patient

and humble enough to let him!

Elder Tuita

June 19, 2017: Being a missionary brings change.

Hey fam hope all is well don't have much time this week but I love you

all! This week has been a good one! We've got a lot of stuff going for

us, but with that there is a lot of opposition! I've been pondering

and praying a lot though for guidance! I had an answer come to me last

night the piano guys performed for us, I can't remember who said it and what was

exactly said- but it went along the lines of when you surrender your

life to God he will make more out of you then you yourself could ever

do in this lifetime! It hit me hard! I've come to notice that it's

easy to come out on a mission and just adapt or change your behaviour

for two years but when you go home nothing will have changed! I think

President David O'McKay said it best- the whole point of the gospel is

to make bad men good, good men better and to change human nature! Being

on a mission I have come to notice so much!  I have learned the difference 

between a change in behaviour, to adapt to mission rules, then to experience the

mighty change of heart and to have our fallen natures changed. I

believe a mission can help us learn the process better of

becoming good men, to having our natures changed by submitting our all

to the will of the Savior for two years! I have had a lot of ups and

down and trials and tribulations but not one of them I feel was for

vain! They all have contributed for my benefit for my eternal growth

here on this earth! I think in the process of life it is so easy to

always look for the next step and miss the crucial refining, process

that occurs in between them! My mission has been such a great learning

refining and growing experience I am greatful for this opportunity to

serve and minister to heavenly fathers children! I know this is his

work!

Elder Tuita

June 12, 2017

Dear family,

Hope this week went good for you guys! I saw those pictures they were

awesome so many good memories....where did the time go?  It's crazy to

think how fast time has gone! Well it's officially been 9 months now!

That's crazy! It feels like a life time! Things with Elder Stanley

are going good he is a fast learner! We are finding some good people to

teach as well! We have about 4 people that are on the verge of being

baptised! It stresses me out to the core! I don't know how Heavenly

Father does it man? This week we were teaching this bloke named

Robert! While we were talking to him somehow he fainted and we had to

take him to the hospital. It was crazy, when he was in the hospital he

told us he had this feeling that he needed to come to Christ! It was

pretty cool! Another girl named Kristina we had just had a great

lesson with her, but after the lesson she expressed to  us how she felt like

she couldn't go on and didn't have the willpower to go to work

anymore! So we told her to pray and ask Heavenly Father for help and

strength! That day at work power went off and her work sent her home! It was crazy

she called us in tears! Other than that everything is going pretty

well! I had this crazy dream this week though! In my dream I literally

went through all the major events in my high school life,  it

got to the point where I decided to go on a mission. In my dream I decided instead

to go to a year of school first! Nothing good came from it. The things happening
in my dream were nothing compared from the way my

mission has blessed my life! I think heavenly father was helping know

that I had made the right decision! I woke up in tears! These past 9

months have brought so much happiness into my life and have taught me

so much! I am so great full for this gospel and this plan we have to

come here to learn and grow!  I miss you guys a lot though! Just know

that I love you so so much

Elder Tuita

Elder Stanley and I

May 29 & June 5, 2017: Bradford and Training

Hey family  (June 5),

Sorry I have no time to write today we are on extended pday as well we

have just had a crazy day! Yeah so you guys found out I'm training now

it's crazy! It's really weird having a new missionary! He is really

innocent good guy likes to work hard so I'm exited for it! His name is

Elder Stanley he is from Eugene Oregon! He is 19 as well but he went

to a year of school first! He literally try's to copy everything I do!

It's quite funny! He also ask me permission for everything! Like he

asks permission to use the toilet! I love him though! I'm not gonna

lie being a trainer is a daunting experience! I didn't expect

president to call me to train! There was only two elders coming into

the mission so I though president would of just had someone a lot more

experienced do it! But it's been great experience I have really felt

the lords love during this time! I pray a lot that he may help me! As

far as safety goes, you don't need to worry! Bradford is like all

Muslim! Like I don't think you understand it's like I'm serving in

Pakistan right now! Like for everybody is Muslim or Iranian! Like out

of 10 people 7 of them are Iranian here! We eat Pakistanian food like

I kid you not! So with that being said they

wouldn't try anything here in Bradford because they would harm to many

Muslims! Like I'm probably in the safest part of England right now!

Trust me and with that being said I'm still being very cautious! Well

I love you guys so much! I wish I could only express to you how much

you all mean to me! I love you family have a great week!


Dear family:  (May 29)

I love you guys hope this week went well! England is crazy right now

and I'm right in the thick of it! There are a lot of things going on

between the Muslims and the white people right now! It's crazy Leeds

and Bradford have some big threats going on right now!  We were

walking through this community and people were yelling Muhammad at us

it was crazy! We have gunners on like every street corner! We don't

proselyte in town anymore or go to places where there are a lot of

people! It's crazy though because being in Bradford it's like the

whole city! For some reason through all of

it, I've felt completely safe! We went into this food place, there

were about 30 people in the store and we were the only non Muslim people!

These people started yelling at us and then the other people protected

us and threw them ouT! It was funny this guy was yelling at me and

elder Livingston telling us we don't follow God and he told us to

prove it by showing him that we were circumcised! He was yelling in

the store pull down your pants show me your dick right now! In his

Iranion accent ...it was so funny! I have got so many crazy stories for

you guys when I get home! Just know I'm safe and you have nothing to

worry about! Love you guys

My three roomates, two are zone leaders that live with us, and Elder Livingston is my companion on the right of me.  He is the future quaterback for BYU!

May, 1 2017: Good news from Grimsby

Family,
Man Bradford is just great right now! I really love it here I had a pretty cool experience happen to me this week that was a real testimony builder! A while backwhile I was serving in Grimsby, I got a call from one of the young women in the ward saying she needed a blessing.  I'm like okay... we'll be over in an hour!  We started over on the way there, and I got a call from bishop telling me the situation Sarah was in! He told me that her mission call had just been appealed because of a health issue and that she was trying to get it reinstated! Bishop said the chances of this happening and getting her papers reinstated weren't the best and was very unlikely, he told me not do or say anything crazy during the blessing, having been told this I got there confused and kind of scared! I talked to Sarah a little more about the situation and her hopes weren't the best! She told me she basically just wanted a comfort blessing to comfort her! I asked her to see if she thought there was any chance and she didn't really seem too hopeful! She said she had been going through this whole long process of interviews and it wasn't looking too good! So I basically went into the blessing with the mindset that this blessing was just a comfort blessing for her to find peace from this hard time! I placed my hands on her head and started giving her the blessing! Half way through, I got the strongest impression to tell her that she was going on a mission! I'm like there's no way? I pushed the feeling away and continued on.  Sure enough the longer I went on with the blessing the stronger the impression came! Finally it came to the end of the blessing and I was about to close and the impression came again stronger than ever!  So  I paused for a second and then it just came out! I can't remember exactly what was said but I remember saying that soon she would be walking amongst people in a foreign land serving the Lord as a missionary for his church! That there were people that the Lord was preparing right now that are waiting for her! When the words came out I remember the spirit just being so strong! She was sobbing I remember my companion looking up and staring at me like what did I just do?  But I remember in that moment the spirit whispering to me that that was what needed to be said and that is what the Lord wanted to tell her! I closed the blessing and right after the blessing was shocked!  She asked me if I was sure? I told her that I didn't say it the Lord said I was just his vessel! Even Elder Mcctavish thought I was nuts! Anyway about a day ago I got an email from her and this is what it said:

"Dear Sister Duncan,
You are hereby called to serve as missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. You are assigned to labour in the Canada Edmonton Mission.
You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 (the day of my birthday). You will prepare to preach the gospel in the English language."

OH MAN IM SO EXCITEd!!!!!!

I was so happy for her! I learned just how powerful his blessings can be!

Elder Tuita