May 3, 2011

Hello Family!

Unfortunately I'm sitting at a computer that does not allow me to send
pictures and i just spent a considerable amount of time sharing family
pictures with Elder Jackson from California whom I am on exchange
with, so I don't have much time left. But life is good in the UK.

We got a call yesterday from our zone leaders telling us about how USA
killed Osama. We were advised to avoid all Muslim areas and if we ever feel in
danger to go inside and call President. It has thrown just a little bit of
added excitement into the missionary work, especially because there are
quite a few Muslims in the area. But there really isn't an issues and
most Muslims resent Osama anyway, so all is well and the work
continues.

We had another baptism this last week and her name was Ethel Happiness
Simpson. Ever since the baptism my companion has been talking about
how he will name his daughter Eden Precious Happiness Smith, haha. It
was a great baptism and Ethel actually came straight from the hospital
to make her baptism. She was helping someone near a street when a car
came and actually ran over her foot. Because of social health care (I'm
NOT a fan) she was waiting for three hours to be seen, when she
realized that she wasn't going to be able to make it to the baptism in
time. So she decided to come to the baptism, get baptised, and then
head back to the hospital afterwards. Amazing stuff. That is devotion.
I loved it.

The weather over here has been fantastic for quite some time now. In
the almost two weeks I have been in Rochdale it has drizzled once; and
that was when I was on exchange in Oldham. So technically I have yet
to experience rain in Rochdale. That is a miracle considering that
they call this place "Rainy Rochdale."

The missionary work is going very well. We have four people right now
that are totally set on baptism, but unfortunately only one of them is
actually going to be baptised in the near future. Still, I love
teaching humble, sincere seekers of the truth.

I will try to send pictures next week and have more time to email
properly. Thank you to everyone for the emails every week, I love
them. I hope everything is going well back home, and I'll be speaking
to you soon!

Elder Misbach

Transferred!!

Hello Family!!

I'm currently writing you from the ROCHDALE library!! I'm the new
Rochdale district leader. My father (missionary term for "trainer"),
Elder Kersey, is the new assistant to the President. I'm working with
Elder Smith from Washington D.C. who is only 4 weeks old in the
mission. We have 4 baptisms in the upcoming week, I have been asked to
get my drivers license, the flat here is beautiful and has a tub with
jets, it's a big city, and the weather is gorgeous. This is by far the
happiest I have been on my mission!! I am so overwhelmed it's
ridiculous, but I love it! Just great things are happening and I'm
loving it. I'm going to have to completely rely on the Lord for the
next couple of weeks to make sure I handle everything I need to. It
really is ridiculous how much stuff I have to remember to get done,
but, like I said, I love it! When President called me to extend the
calling of district leader he told me I was going to be sent to a
historically fruitful area. Rochdale is one of the most successful
areas in the mission. I really don't know what I have done to deserve
this, I am unbelievably humbled that the Lord trusts me here. It is
good times in the life of Elder Misbach!

It was sad to leave Colwyn Bay, but we had a great last day serving
there. Michael is now dated back in the bay, and should be baptized on
the 14th. It was particularly sad to say goodbye to Adam, Alex,
Jessica, Dawn, and Grace (the family we kept baptizing while I was
serving there). They made us an American "going away" meal of burgers
and brownies. It was delicious.

That is pretty much the update on myself. I hope to be reporting much
much more in the near future, but life is good. I hope everything is
going well for all of you and I'll be emailing again on Monday. I'll
be sure to send pictures then, but I don't have much time today.

Love,

Elder Misbach

Hello Family,

I enjoy giving a very basic overview of what happened to me in the past week, because then I don't have to type it multiple times and generally the things that happen to me aren't that interesting anyway. As for this last week, the best thing that happened was our new investigator Michael. He is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict. He initially didn't want us to come and set up a fake appointment, but he apologized afterwards and has been doing great. He reads the Book of Mormon and prays like 3 times a day. It's great!

Alex's baptism should be this week. Unfortunately he hasn't had his baptismal interview yet because our District forgot about it and didn't show up, so we don't know if he is completely ready yet, but he should be fine. We have also been going out in just our white shirts recently and it's been fantastic. The weather has been gorgeous the past couple of days. There were some moments where I felt like I was in California because of how it felt and because we were right next to the coast.

Well I love you all and thank you for the emails. The pictures I'm sending are the birthday card that my companion made for me (he is an amazing artist) and the fantastically large pasta meal I made before starting my fast.

Elder Misbach

Update

Hello Family,

I thought I'd send a general update this week because I actually have a couple of things to say. On Tuesday of this week we went to the edge of our area to a town called Llanrwst. It was gorgeous, and we actually found someone named Alan. He not only listened to us in Llanrwst but he has taken the hour and a half bus ride to church twice this last week for a lesson and for church. He is doing fantastic. He is 76 and likes to tell us about all of the "young, beautiful women" he meets on the bus (these women are in their 60's at least). It's pretty creepy, but very amusing. He also has told us about how he prayed to know if the love of his life actually loved him back, which sounded pretty sweet until we found out that "the love of his life" was a woman with dementia that he met in a residential home. He went up to her and asked "are you married?" She responded "no" so then he asked "will you marry me?" and she said "yes". She no longer remembers who he is unfortunately (and not surprisingly). He seems to be bouncing back pretty quickly though, apparently the woman he met on the bus yesterday is his next prospect for marriage. I know he sounds really wacky, but he is all there and he is progressing great, I just wish he was married.

The other really positive note is that I have been running every day this transfer so far (except Sundays and zone conference) and I have kept to my healthy food. The only time I don't eat healthy is when members feed us.. Other than that, it's just the same good stuff here in Colwyn Bay. The weather is much nicer and things are starting to bloom, so that is great. Life is good and I'm almost 20. Woo!

Thank you for the emails and the love.

love,

Elder Misbach
Here is my new name badge in Welsh. I enjoy it.

baptism pics

A Night to Remember

Hello Family,

Well Dawn and Joan were baptised. Everything went perfectly. Many members from the branch showed up and Elder Hanks did as well. The only reason Elder Hanks was able to come was because Brother and Sister Preston offered to take them. Brother Preston is the next Mission President for this mission, haha, so we had my future mission president at this baptism! Adam had to baptize Joan twice because she didn't go all the way under, but he took it like a champ and nailed the next two baptisms. It was one marvelous night.

Elder Hansen confirmed Joan and I confirmed Dawn and it was great. The spirit was very strong, one of the strongest of my missions. Later that day Dawn and Joan held a little buffet at Dawn's home because they didn't have refreshments after the baptism due to fast Sunday. A lot of people showed up and it was just great. I sat there and thought about the first time I went to teach Adam with Elder Hanks to that moment when practically half the branch was sitting in Adam's home with his family and newly baptised mother and grandmother. Fantastic stuff. (Adam's brother, Alex, says he wants to be baptised as well).

Other than that, just the same old stuff. The weather has been beautiful and we are still seeing success. We had a new investigator come to church named Ian, so hopefully that will go somewhere. We have transfers next week, so I wont be emailing until either Wednesday or Thursday of next week. I could be leaving as well, so it's an exciting time.

Life is good and the gospel is true.

Love y'all!

Elder Misbach

PS: I just moved my mouse up to the "attach a file" button when I realized that I forgot the cord that I need to transfer pictures. Sorry about that. They are some really good pictures- I'll be sure to send them next week.

Hello Family,

I don't have an overwhelming amount of energy today, so I thought I'd send a mass email. I'll be sure to do better this upcoming Monday.

I have a new companion. He is Elder Hansen. He lived in Orem for the first 15 years of his life and now lives in Idaho. He is a very hardworking, obedient missionary and I think we are going to get a lot done.

We are seeing success here in Colwyn Bay. Andrew and Lisa, our dated investigators are doing well now. They dropped us twice in the past week for interesting reasons, but we talked to them about it and they are doing fine now. They should be baptized in about three weeks. We also taught Adam's mother and grandmother and they are fantastic. They just can't tell us enough about how great the gospel has been to Adam and how much he has changed (happier). They are very enthusiastic about the message.

The weather is starting to get warmer, but on this particular day is very cold and windy.

I don't really know what else to say except that I really need to start eating healthier, and judging by what I just bought for the next week, I won't be eating healthy for at least a week.

love you all,

Elder Misbach