March 21, 2016

So I am emailing from the mission home right now. We had to come down to Edinburgh  because our car is getting recalled, so we will be getting another teams car.

So On Tuesday we didn't have district meeting so that day was mainly driving around and finding. Until we went to the croft and did some more service. Wednesday it was finding nothing to exciting there. 

Thursday we went down to Inverness and blitzed the area. That was really fun, me and Elder Perkins had dinner with Gale which was great to see her again. She also gave me a present, and I am now a Laird which is the Scottish version of a Lord because I now own a square foot of land in the Highlands. How sweet is that. But then that night we went out and got some wood and we had a campfire in the back yard of the Inverness flat mainly because they had big marshmallows and we all got some stuff from the Jehovah's witnesses so we made some smores which was awesome. 

Friday we drove back up to Thurso and then later we had a lesson with the Billingtons (I told you about them in one of my last emails, the son is a recent convert). 

Saturday was service Saturday and then we got the call about our car. It was nice since it didn't rain for a few days so it was all nice and dry, well dryer then it has been, at the croft. 

Sunday after church it was cleaning out the car and getting it ready for the drive down. 

So nothing to glamorous here. 

Here are some pictures - the first picture is borrowed from Elder Kinville's blog and the last three pictures are from lunch today in Edinburgh - one of the members in Edinburgh took them to lunch while they were there and she sent me the pictures on Facebook.

 

 

March 14, 2016

Here is the e-mail from Mason - he has officially been gone 18 months and will be home in a little over 5 months - woohoo!!! The first paragraph of the e-mail he is mostly answering my questions - what did you do for your birthday? How is it having a car? How is Elder Kinville? 

So for the rest of my birthday we really didn't do too much. We went to a place called Wick which has a tartan shop and I got some navy color flashes and a blue tie to go along with my kilt, then we went to the church and I ordered an argyle kilt jacket. But when the jacket came it was more of a stage costume then an actual jacket so I'm going to return it today and get a better one. Having a car makes things so much easier and it would be very hard to get around here without a car. It's fun with Elder Kinville - we almost have too much fun, which saves us from going crazy up here. It would be nice to stay with Elder Kinville another move, but his driver's license expires right before this move ends so we probably won't both stay here. So anyway with this week we did a lot of driving and what not so I will give you the highlights. 

Tuesday we had district meeting which we had to Skype in for which was interesting. Then the rest of the day was try bys and chapping. Then for dinner me and Elder Kinville made pretzel bites that he got a recipe for and they were really good.

Wednesday it started of with some GQing. Then after lunch we went to some members, the Tolworthys, croft (a small farm) and did service for them. We were mainly mucking out one place but then when it got dark we went and had dinner with them then we got to brush their horses. They have a bigger horse which is a Cobb Cross horse and a big Shetland pony, I brushed the bigger one and Elder Kinville brushed the smaller one. 

Thursday we did some weekly planing then more driving and try bys and then we went and had a recent convert lessen with a family who's son just got baptized. The dad is a convert and the mom is a less active, but they are really cool and we get along great. 

Friday we had some less active lessons with a lady who is into the new age healing stuff and she kinda gently bashed some stuff about the church so that was very interesting. Then we went and saw another less active man who is an alcoholic and had some drinks before we got there. He kept talking about how he would like to get us stoned and see which one laughs the hardest. Me and Elder Kinville just laughed about the whole thing after, but something really funny he said was that we would be all like " oh Davy I'm in Britain" which has turned into a big inside joke now. 

Saturday we did service at the charity shop New Start Highland. Then it was over to the Tolworthys for some more service. We were just mucking all day which is kinda fun but we really need a shower when we get done. 

Sunday after church we went over to a member's house, the Winkles, for lunch and they are really fun, they also live on a little croft and we may start doing some service there as well. But I have got to say this is the nerdiest branch ever - everyone loves Lord of the Rings like crazy and things like that, so I get along really well with everyone. That was us for the week. Love and miss you so much.

This is a picture "borrowed" from Elder Kinville's blog of them eating their homemade pretzel bites - 

March 7, 2016

Here is the e-mail we got from Mason today - today was his 21st birthday so it was nice to e-mail back and forth a little on his actual birthday! And, he is in his new area - Thurso, Scotland.

Today we will be going to a tartan shop in our area in a town called Wick. We were going to be able to blitz Inverness tomorrow and me and Elder Perkins were going to have dinner with Gale but Elder Perkins called and said now he needs to go to Edinburgh for something and that he will need to head down Tuesday night so the blitz is postponed for a little while :(. But we don't really have anything exciting up here its just a bunch of small towns and what not. Our flat its an alright flat but it gets cold, and its nice we have the car now. The branch is pretty nice there are about 30 active members, it is a bit odd being in a branch.

So for this week Monday and Tuesday were just packing and saying good bye to everyone in Montrose.

Wednesday was a lot of travel we got on a train to Dundee in the morning and I picked up Elder Roach (Elder Barton's greenie) and then got a train to Aberdeen where Elder Kinville picked me up and then we drove and drove and drove. We stopped off at Inverness really quick - we got lunch at McDonald's then went to one of the tartan shops and I got a Macbeth Tartan tie. Tomorrow I will be getting a Scott Hunting tie in Inverness since we will be down for district meeting. Then we went and saw Gale really quick she was really happy to see me and it was really good to see her and Riley again. Then we drove another 2 1/2 hours to Thurso and shopped and that was it. 

Thursday we did weekly planing and drove around the area a bit and did some GQing in Wick. 

Friday we had a lesson with a recent convert named Theoden who is I think 9 his mom is a less active and his dad is a recent convert and former pagan priest so they are really interesting.

Saturday was all service. We started by going to the charity shop and after that we drove out to a small farm house where a member family lives and did some service for them. We were mucking out the horse corral and that was a lot of crap, then we had dinner with them. 

Sunday was nice. We had church and met the members in the branch who are really nice. Then me and Elder Kinville drove around the area for a bit just look for any new places to find. Then we had dinner and walked around Thurso for a bit. 

So that was my week. Love and miss you guys.

 

 

Here are some pictures he took with people before he left Montrose and a picture in Thurso and a link to a short video -  

 

The Dibdin Family

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ewarts

The Stronachs (former Bishop in Montrose)

Thurso

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Video in Thurso

February 29, 2016

This is Mason's e-mail from today - he is getting transferred! And, next Monday, March 7th is Mason's 21st birthday so I am sure he would appreciate hearing from anyone who has a minute to write to him before next week and wish him a happy birthday!! (His e-mail is mason.wynder@myldsmail.net)

Well I am moving back up to the Highlands but I'm going to the most northern part of mainland Scotland - Thurso. Also they are getting the dream team back together I'M GOING TO BE WITH ELDER KINVILLE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!! (Elder Kinville was his companion for one transfer when he was in Dublin). Which also means I will be going on exchanges in Inverness so I will get to see all the members there. We will have to see if we can talk the district leader into letting me have my birthday in Inverness because I think there really isn't that much up in Thurso. The Ewarts are sad that I am leaving I called them last night and told them and Allen said he was hoping I could baptize him. It is really crazy how little time I have left it is going to go by so fast!

So any way this week on Tuesday we had district meeting it was really cool we had three districts all together for a big district meeting. Then the district leader and his companion came up to Montrose and blitzed the area with us. Me and the DL went to Arbroath and just did finding all day. 

Wednesday we spent most of the day trying by people. Then we went and had dinner with a member family then we went and saw the Stewarts who are a less active couple who are really nice. 

Thursday we went to Arbroath and went by formers all day long.

Friday, we did some weekly planing and went back to Arbroath to teach another less active named Joseph who is interesting. Then we did some more try bys. And then went and saw the Ewarts we had a really good lesson with them, we will also be seeing them tomorrow morning before I leave. 

Saturday we did our service at British Heart and the manager bought me a birthday cake just in case I got moved and wouldn't be there for my birthday. Then it was off to Arbroath again (yes I know we go to Arbroath a lot) and went and saw a member who just doesn't retain anything so we have started to teach him. Then Elder Scharman was just super tired because of some new medication he is taking and so he called Sister Donaldson and then took a nap the rest of the day. 

Sunday we had church and then after that we went and tried by more formers until we got our moves call then we went back and packed. So that was us. Love and miss you guys!

As Mason said, the town he is going to, Thurso, is the northernmost town in the United Kingdom. He said there is a branch in Thurso - all of his other areas have had wards. Oh, and I forgot the best part - it is an area with a car! He was pretty happy about that . . . and the fact that he is back in the Aberdeen zone and will probably be able to go on some exchanges back in Inverness! And he found out the district leader for his district is Elder Perkins who was one of his companions in Cumbernauld almost a year ago and he is excited to see him. He will leave Wednesday morning for his new area. Here are a few pictures of Thurso that I found from Google images -

This is a map so you can see how far north he really is - right now he is in the Dundee zone so he has a little ways to travel. Mason thinks all of his areas have been bigger than Bryn's whole mission and he is probably right!

Castle of Thurso

Thurso Town Centre

The main street in Thurso

February 15 and 22, 2016

There were some problems with MyLDSMail last week so Mason sent an e-mail but we never received it. So today he sent the e-mail from last week again and another short message for this week.

February 15, 2016

This week was alright. Tuesday we went to British Heart because we were supposed to go on exchanges on Saturday and there is a new rule that we are now only to go and work in the leaders area for exchanges. Then after lunch we went to Arbroath to try by some less actives none of them were in and then we did some GQing on the high street, and that was the day.

Wednesday we did some finding in the morning and early afternoon, then we had dinner with the second counselor in the bishopric. Then we went to a little town north of Montrose called St. Cyrus and went by some more less actives both were in and we had a chat with them so it was alright. 

Thursday We did some weekly planing in the morning then we had to go down to Edinburgh since Elder Scharman had a doctors appointment so that was the whole day. 

Friday we went to Arbroath and saw a less active named Joseph it was alright he is old and a bit crazy. Then on the bus back from Arbroath we got a call from our district leader cancelling exchanges because there was an emergency move, I don't know why, so now we are going on exchanges tomorrow. We also got to see William and Shannon, they moved in with her parents which is just to crazy to go and teach so we more then likely not be seeing them again tell they move out. Then we weren't able to see the Ewarts this week because they got sick. So we finished off the day by going through the area book. 

Saturday since we didn't have exchanges we went and did service at British Heart then we went to Arbroath and did finding out there and tracted into this one girl who we are going to see today. Then we came back and had dinner.

Sunday after church we went to the Stronachs for lunch. Then we went through the area book. We also did a little video on how we celebrated Valentines day so I will put that on the Dropbox. So that was our week, love and miss you guys.   

This is the link to the Valentine's Day video they made -  

February 22, 2016

This week nothing too exciting happened - just a lot of less active try bys and lessons. Elder Shcarman likes working with less actives so that is mostly what we have been doing. We saw the Ewarts and they said they were thinking maybe April for their baptism so I might be gone for that, we will just have to see what next week brings. But they are still doing really good, they did talk about how they are a bit worried about the time commitment of callings and all that but they know it will all get sorted out. Sorry this one is a bit short but their isn't too much really going on right now other then finding and going by less actives. But we did go to the Arbroath Abbey last week and took plenty of pictures. Love and miss you guys. 

Here are some of the pictures from the Arbroath Abbey. Arbroath Abbey, in the Scottish town of Arbroath, was founded in 1178 by King William the Lion for a group of Tironensian Benedictine monks from Kelso Abbey. he Abbey, which was the richest in Scotland, is most famous for its association with the 1320 Declaration of Arbroath. They are wearing monk robes they have at the abbey.

This is just a random picture with some horses they saw - 

February 8, 2016

This Wednesday will be Mason's 17 month mark, but we think he will be home on August 17th so he really only has a little over 6 months until he is home - that doesn't seem like too much longer! Here is the e-mail we got today . . . 

So this week has been really nice. My new companion is Elder Scharman and he is from South Jordan. He is really cool and fun and he has been out one move less then me, so he still has about nine months left.

So this week, Monday night we went down to Dundee and stayed over with Elder Benton and Elder Parsons. Tuesday morning the Zone Leaders came and picked up Elder Johnson. Then we went and taught some of their investigators and then that night we went over to another investigator's who they have become best friends with, the sister trio came over as well and we had a pizza party. It was a great time - so much fun. 

Wednesday morning we got up at 5 am to run the Tay Bridge but I was not told of this so I only had my pajamas and steel toe boots, so I just walked it. It was a massive group though three teams of missionaries, 2 members, 1 recent convert, and Jack who we had the pizza party with. Then we went back to the flat got ready and Elder Benton left for the Shetlands. So me and Elder Parsons had some time together before our companions showed up. Elder Parson's new companion is Elder Crowe. Then we got on the train to Montrose shopped and cleaned and Elder Scharman unpacked. 

Thursday was weekly planing so we did that in the morning. Then we went GQing and found this one really cool guy named Martin - I'll tell you more about him in the Friday part. Then we went over to the Crawford's for dinner which as always is really good. 

Friday we went and saw Martin who I will get along with very well. He is a big movie nerd and he had a few swords one from Game of Thrones, one from Conan the Barbarian, and one from Kill Bill. Also the pillows on his couch were Game of Thrones. We started teaching him but he talked most of the time which was really good. We are going to see him again on the first of March, cause he works on the oil rigs so he will be off shore until then. 

 

Then after that we meet up with Brother Crawford because he was going to come teaching with us but the potential wasn't in so we went and saw a less active family named the Stewarts. Man do they talk fast - I could hardly keep up with him and then Brother Crawford said that he has heard him talk even faster. But we should be seeing them again sometime this week. 

 

Then it was off to the Ewarts and it was really good. They were praying about a date to be baptized so we asked them to pray about the 27th so we will see what the answer is this week. 

Saturday we went to British Heart were I got a new kilt for 7 pounds and it is a proper kilt -100 percent wool - so it was a real deal. Then we spent the rest of the day going by less actives only one of them was in and she wasn't interested. That was Saturday.

Sunday, church was really good and right after the Bishop's daughter got baptized. The Ewarts came and really liked it. Then it was over to the Stronach's for lunch then we spent the rest of the day going through the area book and calling people. 

 

This was a really good week. Love and miss you guys. 

 

 

This is a picture of the Tay Bridge that Mason talked about - it goes between Dundee and the suburb of Wormit across the Firth of Tay and it is 2.75 miles long.

 

 

February 1, 2016

Here is the e-mail (and pictures) we got from Mason today!

So I am staying in Montrose and my new companion will be Elder Scharman. I've never met him before and I really don't know anything about him. Also Elder Barton (from Cottonwood) will be my zone leader again. Elder Johnson should be going to Edinburgh on Tuesday but we may need to go to Dundee and stay the night there. It is really cool that Bryn is getting her mission papers all in but just remember Mom  the glass is half full - by the time Bryn leaves I'll only have 3-4 months left. 

 

So this week nothing too exciting happened the first half. Although we did go over to our bishop's house for dinner and he plays the card game Magic so we had a few games with him and his second oldest daughter. It was really fun although I got beaten so bad by bishop every game - he beat me before I could do anything. Thursday Elder Johnson was packing for almost the whole day. Then we went and had dinner with the ward mission leader, and that was it. 

 

Friday our district leader Elder Benton insisted on going on exchanges, so we exchanged in the morning and we went out with Brother Crawford, the ward mission leader, to go see some less actives. Then it was finding until the Ewarts. They are doing really well and they now have a framed Family Proclamation and said they completely agree with every thing in it. We didn't get too much teaching time because there was another older couple and they talked a lot and Elder Benton was mostly drawing with Vincent and Ramsey, but still good. 

 

Saturday we exchanged back and Elder Johnson needed to do a final round of things to get for his family so we went to the tartan shop here in Montrose, where I found a nice ex-hire vest for 20 pounds so that was a really good deal. Now all I need is the jacket, flashes, and knife and I'll have a complete kilt outfit. Then we went over to the church to help set up for Burns night (Burns night is a holiday that commemorates the life of the famous poet Robert Burns). Burns night was really fun I wore the vest I got and my Scott tartan tie. I got some videos of Brother Glanville piping in the haggis and Brother Crawford doing the salute to the haggis, good luck understanding it. The Ewarts came and had a great time, it was just really fun and Really SCOTTISH.  

 

Sunday after church we went over to the former bishop's house for lunch and after that Elder Johnson continued packing. So that was it for this week. Love and miss you guys

 

Here are some pictures from the Burns night party at the Montrose ward . . . 

 

Mason's new vest and his Scott tartan tie - ready for the Burns night ward party

 

 

The traditional Burns night supper is haggis, neeps, and tatties (neeps is some kind of mashed turnip kind of vegetable) and tatties is mashed potatoes)