April 27, 2015

So this week was good. Monday we just emailed and shopped and then we went and saw Teresa. She texted us and told us that she had seen your comment on Facebook. So Monday and Tuesday were really good just going around to members so Elder Rogers could say goodbye.

On Wednesday we saw Peter in the morning and that was really cool. We talked to him and he said he loved church last week. He also taught us how to make those paracord survival bracelets and then gave both of us some paracord and little buckles to make some more. That was awesome. Then we went to Glasgow to meet up with everyone. Elder Rogers got right on a train and I stayed with the Paisley Zone Leaders for a bit. We stopped into a tartan store and looked around in there for a bit. Then we went and I picked up Elder Perkins. He is awesome, he is from Vegas and is a big football player so its a bit like being back at Snow with my roommate Jordan. Then the rest of the day was spent back at the flat so Elder Perkins could unpack.

Thursday we started off the morning by doing some service in another charity store that Elder Rogers volunteered us for. Then we went back to the flat had lunch and did weekly planning. Then we finished off the day doing some tracting.

Friday we pretty much just tracted the whole day until about 5 then we came back to the flat and had dinner then we had to go up to Glasgow that night and we slept over at the Zone leaders flat. That was fun. 

Saturday we headed into Edinburgh with one other sister because Elder Perkins got trained to be a district leader and the sister was getting trained as a sister training leader. So Elder Perkins spent the morning doing that and me and another elder, Elder Sorenson, got driven out to an area called the Meadows which is really good for just talking to people on the street or GQing. Elder Sorenson is so much fun me and him get along really well and we decided that we will be companions at one point! But then we had to be back to the mission home by noon so we started heading back and realized we had just about no idea where in Edinburgh we were. The Edinburgh zone leaders really just gave us a map dropped us off and wished us the best of luck. But we made it back on time then we had lunch and traveled back to Cumbernauld. Then we saw the Austins for the last time and they are still doing awesome. But they are now moved up to Glasgow. (When I was e-mailing back and forth with Mason he told me that the sister missionaries are already set to work with the Austin's in Glasgow so hopefully they will be getting baptized soon now they have moved.)

Sunday not much there - we had church then after lunch we kinda ended up walking around until we went and saw the newly reactivated member and then went back and had dinner and Elder Perkins started preparing for district meeting so it was a good week.

April 20, 2015

First off I am staying in Cumbernauld and my new companion is Elder Perkins.

So this week, Monday we really just stayed in the flat cause Elder Rogers still wasn't feeling well. 

Tuesday we had district meeting with the Zone Leaders this week that was fun. Then after coming back Elder Rogers went back to sleep, still not feeling good. So I cleaned the flat. Then when he woke up he was feeling better so we went out to an appointment with the Bishop but he wasn't home. So we went back to the flat had dinner then went out and tracted for the rest of the day. 

Wednesday we went on exchanges up in Airdrie. I was with Elder McAfee from Gunnison he is going home today so he was just done. We spent the whole day walking from store to store to find him the cheapest carry on case, cause he needed a new one. 

Thursday we exchanged back and had flat checks ours passed so that is good. We then had weekly planning. After that we went out to a small town called Banton to see an older man we talked to last time we were there. We helped him out a bit with his gardening and then had to get the last bus back and that took up the rest of the day. 

Friday we went to a place called Moodiesburn to try by some one but they weren't in. We then went and did 2 hours of service at the Salvation Army charity store. After lunch we went and tried by one of the families we are teaching that were referrals from a member in the ward. The husband Fraser had funerals to go to so this week wasn't good but we will be seeing them next week and have a BBQ with them so that will be fun. We then went to the Austins and spent the rest of the day with them since they are about to move. We taught them the commandments lesson and talked a bit about some concerns they had but it is going good. We then ended up having dinner with them. So that was a pretty good day.

Saturday we went to a place called Carikstone to see someone we talked to before that kinda bashed a bit with us. We talked to her husband a bit and they said they read a book that talked about the church called "cults and isms" so we corrected him on some of the very false doctrine in that book. Apparently it said that we believe that Adam is God so we told him whats what on that. Then we came back for lunch and listened to the talk by Bruce R McConkie "The Seven Deadly Heresies" and in the talk he talks about the "Adam-God theory" and says that any one who believes it doesn't deserve to be saved. So that was an interesting start to the day. We then went to a town called Cryston and while tracting there we helped an older man paint his fence. At first he thought we where just joking and was really surprised when we took the brush and painted. After that we went to a members house for dinner. After dinner I got a haircut from the the daughter Heather. Then Elder Rogers helped her mom with some family history stuff and I talked with our ward mission leader who was there as well. 

Sunday Peter came to church and said he really enjoyed it and will be coming back next week! So that was great. After lunch we went to try by Billy who we were going to see on Tuesday but wasn't in. He wasn't in again this week but we found out from talking to his mom who lives right across the street from him that he was at his friends house watching football. But we ended up talking to Billy's son for a while. That was pretty good most of it though was about like NASA covering stuff up and Area 51 but still good. We then went to the Austins to wait for moves call it was a lot more of just kind of hanging out with them. Then the call came. My new companion is also going to be the district leader.

So that was this week. We weren't able to see Jaz or any one else but still a good week. Also I found out there is a store in Airdrie called Braveheart and the owner sells kilts to missionaries for £15!!!! So if anyone back home wants a kilt now would be the best time for me to get them one. So might want to put that out to the family.  

Well love you guys can't wait tell we get to Skype - talk to you next week.

April 13, 2015

This is the e-mail we got today - he has been gone 7 months now!

Okay, so next time you need to give a lesson on the apostasy and restoration listen to the talk "Why 1820" by Hyrum Smith that has good stuff. Also we got a lot of talks a few weeks ago and Syd and Bryn should listen to the beginning of one of them. It is by Hugh Nibley and the title has managers in it - that is all I remember from the title, but at the start of the talk he explains what all the graduation cap and gown means and how they are "the robes of a false priesthood" so its pretty interesting. 

But this week has been alright, Monday we really didn't do anything. Elder Rogers told me that even when he was in Edinburgh and there was so much stuff to do he just sat in the flat playing his guitar. Needless to say if we where in Edinburgh and he did that the guitar would have gotten smashed so quick or I would have dragged him to every tartan shop. 

Tuesday we had district meeting up in Airdrie, Tuesdays are the second best day of the week because I get to be around other missionaries. But for lunch we went to this one all you can eat Chinese place; it wasn't quite as Chinese as I expected and was pretty good, especially the chicken balls. Then we went out to try by some people and we got a new investigator. Her name is Alison. Elder Rogers and one of the zone leaders found her while tracting and she has just been really busy lately but she was able to have us come in and we taught the restoration so that was really good. Then we went to try by a referral from one of the members, one of her good friends, Stephanie and Fraser and they where awesome and really excited to learn more so that was a really good day. Then we had ward council that night. So that was Tuesday.

Wednesday we saw Peter he is doing really good. We took the newly reactivated member with us again and they are still getting along really well. At the end of the lesson, to show his appreciation to us, he gave us uncirculated 1 pound Scottish notes. They really only use 1 pound coins here so a note is very rare. It is always really good seeing Peter and as we were leaving he pointed out that he painted on the wall by the door "may all who enter here leave as friends" and he said that was because of us coming over. Then we went back to the flat cause Elder Rogers wasn't feeling well again so he slept the rest of the day.

Thursday weekly planing took up most of the day so after that we really only had time to try by people before having dinner at our ward mission leaders house. That family is great so that was really fun.

Friday Elder Rogers slept all morning because he wasn't well again. But when he woke up he was feeling alright so we went and did some work out in a little kinda remote part of the area. Then we went to try by some less actives and one answered the door and we talked with her for about 2 hours. She really knows the church is true she just went through some stuff with some of the members who aren't at church any more so we will start working to get her back to church. Then we went to the church to watch the Sunday afternoon session of conference with one of the members

Saturday one of our investigators, Jaz, took us out to breakfast. We each got a large Scottish breakfast so it was two eggs, two square sausage patties, two pieces of toast, two pieces of black pudding, and a scone. So that was really good and we were able to start to teach the plan of salvation. So Jaz is moving along well and wants to meet up again real soon, he is just really involved in his current church. Then we went and did some service in the Salvation Army charity store in the mall for a few hours. Then Elder Rogers wasn't feeling well again so we went back to the flat and he slept some more and called Sister Brown about it.  

Sunday we had church then we had a lesson with one of the members cousins that went good. Then we just did some work around the area for a bit then went to the members house for dinner and that finished up the day. 

So this week was alright we didn't get to see the Austins cause they are getting really busy with moving but we should be able to see them this week. Elder Rogers really wasn't feeling good this this morning so I don't think we will be doing much today. 

But I'm hoping I get moved, moves call is on Sunday. Elder Rogers is really the only missionary who likes Cumbernauld so he would be happy just staying here until he goes home. But we will have to see. 

Love you guys I can't wait to talk to you in a month that is going to be great. 

April 6, 2015

This is the e-mail we got last week - I just didn't get it posted.

So first off, I got the package you sent on Saturday and just so you know I can't wear the socks you sent. Sorry but President Brown said only dark solid color socks, but I did wear the tie to conference I really like that tie so thank you for that.

So Monday after emailing we went and did our shopping and then ended up just in the flat cause Elder Rogers didn't want to do anything. But then we went and saw the Austins and had dinner with them and talked to them about conference.

Tuesday after having district meeting, I went on exchanges with the district leader elder Yates so it was nice to get away from Cumbernauld. With Elder Yates we went and saw a few members and then met up with the ward mission leader to go see some people. The first one didn't answer. The second one was in and we had a really good lesson with her, she is going through some hard stuff right now so it was kind of helping her work through it. That was a really good day.

Wednesday we went and saw the lady me and Elder Yates gave a Book of Mormon to, and she said since she was just coming back to church it wasn't really the right time to be looking at another church but she said she would keep the Book of Mormon and read it. Then we went and saw Peter with a newly reactivated member and gave him a church tour. He really liked it and got along really well with the member. We then saw the Austins again to work out conference a bit more.

Thursday Elder Rogers was sick so we didn't go outside at all. Friday he was sick again. In the morning he felt like he could go out and work but he soon realized he couldn't so we went back to the flat and he slept. Then we had a dinner appointment and he woke up and said he felt like he could go there. So we went and had a nice fish and chip dinner.

Saturday  we tried by some people and did some tracting then we saw a less active member and we were able to have a lesson with her because her boyfriend was in and we will be seeing her again later today. Then we did some more tracting after lunch then we went back and got ready for conference and the Austins really liked it. They said they really like Pres. Eyring. Then we went and had dinner with them in Glasgow then went back to Cumbernauld.

Sunday me and Elder Rogers, Keith, and David (the Austin's dad and son) went to the priesthood session and they really liked that session. Two members from Ayr were there so I was able to get a bit more filled in on what was going on down there. When I was talking to one of them he said I'm welcome at his house any time so its good to now that I am liked there and will be remembered! Then we went back to the Austin's and had lunch went on a bit of a walk with them and then watched the Saturday afternoon session. After that we went back to the flat and went to the church to watch the Sunday morning session but the computer was acting up a bit so we weren't able to watch it all. At the Austin's we also had a bit of fun after watching conference. David has a water balloon slingshot. So you put your feet in these straps and then pull it back and shoot a water balloon. That was really fun and eventually we where shooting apples and oranges out of it so that was really fun.

I don't think we will be doing much today cause Elder Rogers isn't feeling well today, and we are emailing at the church cause the library is closed.

So I realized something sad talking with Elder McAffee who is going home. When I go home I will at least be flying back to the states BY MYSELF and possibly flying back home by myself. All of the elders here in my group are English and the sisters that will be leaving the same time as me are from France and the Netherlands. That has got to be weird though for any mission only having one elder in a departing group going home to Utah by himself.

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

March 30 , 2015

Here is the e-mail we got from Mason today . . .

So this week has been pretty busy. On Tuesday we went and saw the guy Ryan and his family. His oldest son, Connor, sat in for most of the lesson then had to leave to do homework, then the wife came in and sat in for the rest of it. They really seemed to like the lesson and sent us a text saying they really enjoyed having us around and told us to let them know if we need anything. The lesson went for quite a while so that was about all we did on Tuesday and then we went and had dinner. Ryan said they would come to church, but some family stuff came up so they couldn't make it but we are still seeing them.

Wednesday we went on exchanges. I was here in Cumbernauld with the district leader, Elder Yates, from Logan - he is a real country boy. We did quite a bit of finding and we found a lady while we were tracting. We left a Book of Mormon with her and we will be seeing her on Wednesday. We weren't able to see Peter - he had some things he had to take care of. Then we had dinner with one of the families in the ward and as Elder Yates said "they are funny as crap," so dinner with them is always good. That was pretty much it for Wednesday.

Thursday we exchanged back and did weekly planning. We took a break halfway through to go and see a member who was helping a recently reactivated member getting started on family history. Then we went back to weekly planning. Then we went and saw the Austins and that was awesome. We got them all set with a date for them to get baptized and had dinner to that was really good as always.

Friday we went up to Airdrie because we needed to do another exchange. But the Airdrie elders had double booked themselves so we just stayed there. I was with Elder McAffee from Gunnison - he is pretty trunky because this is his last moves before he goes home. In the morning we went to a food bank and did some work there, but it was really slow. So after organizing stuff for about 2 hours we left to get some lunch. Then we went around to three appointments, but two of them fell through and we ended up walking about 3 1/2 miles and we actually walked out of the area. Then we went to an excommunicated member who is coming back to church that was really fun cause her younger cousin  and her husband came for the lesson and they are all just way cool. I would really like to just get area moved and go to Airdrie - the more people I meet there the better it gets. Then we had a really quick lesson then walked back to the flat. So, I think in total we probably walked about 5 miles that day so not too bad.

On Saturday we got a text from the Austins asking if we wanted to meet them for hot chocolate in the afternoon. So we met up with them and they asked us about what they needed to do logistic wise for their baptism so we talked to them about that and they were also wondering about how to tell their friends and family that they were joining the church. But then we had some bad news to break to them. President Brown said no to them getting baptized in Airdrie and that they would either have to get baptized in Cumbernauld or wait until they move towards the end of April. They said they would wait, but that is after moves so we will just have to see what happens.

Sunday we had the family history couple missionaries come to church and they spent the whole time talking about family history. Then we went out and did some more finding. It wasn't the most productive day but it was still good. So that is it for what happened this week.

Next weekend they will be having conference at the stake center in Glasgow on Saturday and Sunday and we will be able to go and the Austin's are going with us so that will be great. Love you,

Mason

March 24, 2015

We got Mason's e-mail today (Tuesday) instead of yesterday because they had zone development day on Monday. Before I post the e-mail Mason sent today, I copied a comment that was on the last blog post. Peter Blair is one of the people that Mason is currently teaching and he took the time to write this comment and it totally made my day.  So, Peter, if you are reading this, thank you, again, and I hope you don't mind that I am sharing.  Here is the comment he wrote (this week's e-mail is below the comment):

Hi, I am "Peter", I hope you don't mind me saying that Mason is a truly inspirational young man, it is so refreshing to find a young man with so much faith and passion for the church. He is a credit to you and you should all be very proud of him & the work he is doing. Mason was at my home tonight and I thought as a parent it would be nice to let you know just how hard Mason is working teaching me about The Book of Mormon & sharing the word of the Lord.
As Mason has told you I have a friend who is a member of the church and have never been interested in learning more about the church. That soon changed & I welcomed Mason into my home after I noticed the Elders go round the homes in my street trying to share their knowledge yet unfortunately receiving rejection after rejection. Somehow Mason continued to knock each and every door and introduce himself with a smile. (That in its self is a testament of how resilient Mason is)  When I opened my door to the Elders I was initially going to turn them away, however Mason's ability to smile and remain positive intrigued me and made me change my mind.

I am now slowly rebuilding my faith by reading The Book of Mormon and through the Elders teachings the bible is finally beginning to make sense to me.  I look forward to seeing him again next week. 

Here is the e-mail we got from Mason today - I feel like he is finally starting to get the hang of writing and letting us know a little more what is going on - I guess it just took a while!!

Hi -

So last Monday was really good hill walking with the Austins, it was really fun. We went on a walk around the Banton Loch then got lunch at this cool little pub then walked back and played in a park by where their car was parked. Then after that we went and got changed and did our shopping then had a lesson with them. One of the members from the Airdrie ward came with us and it was a really good lesson.  The member kind of took over but he was awesome.

Then on Tuesday we really just spent the day doing AUF's because we needed to get those done, but not much happened. Then we had ward council that night.

Wednesday at zone conference was really good. It seemed to go really quick and a lot of the instruction was about getting members involved in missionary work. We did get a bit about the missionary dress code from President and Sister Brown and I got used as an example of what is good.  Then we got back and had a lesson with Peter and he is doing really good.

Thursday we did weekly planning and did some more AUF's and had dinner with one of the members then it was back to more AUF's so not the most exciting of days.

Friday we saw a recently reactivated member that has been struggling with quitting smoking, but he is really getting there. Then we did some service at the salvation army charity store in the town centre. After that we went out to a small town and did some AUF's out there but we got a bit lost looking for the second one so we decided to do some chapping (what they call tracting here) and we met a guy named Ryan who invited us to come back and we left him with a Book of Mormon and we will be seeing him tonight.

 Then on Saturday as we were walking to try by some people not too far from our flat, we walked past a memorial garden for World War I and saw they were doing some work digging holes for planting trees and hedges, etc. So we went back to the flat, changed into service clothes, and went over to help. The guy in charge of the project told us what he was doing and that families who lost people in WW I would be planting some of the trees and we dug the holes for them. After about an hour and a half of that we went to an appointment we had with a guy who talked to the missionaries before. But when we got there, someone else opened the door and gave back the Book of Mormon we left with him and said "not interested" and shut the door. So we went back to help out more with the memorial garden. The guy in charge told us to plant one of the trees in memory of the church. So as we were starting to plant the tree, we started to think of a famous church member who did something in Scotland, so we planted the tree in memory of Orson Pratt.

Then Sunday we had church and then we had lunch with the Bishop and his family and then did some work out around there. Not too much on Sunday.

Monday was zone development day and it was way fun. My zone (the Glasgow zone) combined with the Paisley zone (my old zone).  We played a bunch of outdoor games on a field like capture the flag, but it eventually got to where the people who didn't want to play just hung out with each other while some of the other people kept playing. But I got to see Elder Campbell, and the missionaries from Ayr so I got to hear what is going on there.  Alistair is still doing really good and he even taught part of the priesthood lesson one Sunday. But I also found out that Brother Gilardi has opened up a restaurant that has fish and chips and other stuff and missionaries still eat there for free. So, if I am ever back in Ayr I know where I am going!! But after we played games outside we went back to the stake center and had a dodgeball tournament. It started off as districts vs. districts until the winners from the Glasgow zone were against the winners from the Paisley zone. My district was the team from the Glasgow zone, but we lost. Then we had a giant zone-on-zone game and we ended up doing a best two out of three and the Glasgow zone won. Then we had Costco pizza for dinner and watched The Best Two Years. That movie is almost exactly what a mission is like.  We were all laughing so hard because now we all know missionaries like the ones in the movie and I really like and appreciate that movie so much more now. The zone has a new sister from the Netherlands who translated some of the Dutch they spoke and laughed really hard at the greenie trying to speak Dutch. So it was a great day.

I just read President Brown's e-mail and JEFFREY R. HOLLAND IS GOING TO BE SPEAKING HERE IN SCOTLAND!!! I just need to be in or around Edinburgh in June because only the more local missionaries will be able to go see him in person.

That is all for this week. Love you.

Mason

And we also got some new pictures today . . .

This first picture he took with the Austin family (mom and two of the kids) while they were hill walking last week.

He bough some Haggis flavored potato chips (I thought that sounded gross - but he said they weren't too bad) - I guess he thought he better document the purchase.

This was at their zone development day and these are missionaries who he was with in the MTC that were in either the Glasgow zone (blue) or Paisley zone (red).

March 16, 2015

Here is the e-mail we got today . . .

We are e-mailing a little earlier today because we are going hill walking with the Austins so that will be really fun. (When I e-mailed back and forth with him for a few minutes I asked him if hill walking was just walking in the hills or if there was more to it and he said it was pretty much just walking in the hills.)

So this week not too much happened. On Monday we took one of the young men from the ward out tracting with us. We did try by a few people but none of them were home.  Tuesday was pretty good. We did a lot more tracting and we found a street that missionaries had knocked on before and some people were more than happy to have us come back. Then we had dinner with a family and the daughter is a bit like Bryn - just wild and crazy - so it is always fun to go there. It was just the mom and her daughter, Heather, so one of the guys from the ward was there, too, and Heather kept threatening to punch him in the throat. She is a redhead and it is really easy to wind her up so it is always a lot of fun.

Wednesday (it was moves day so at least part of Wednesday was another p-day) we went to the church to use the computer to put the CDs of talks you have sent me on to my iPod. Then we spent the rest of the day having lunch with a family in the ward then we had ward choir practice and then dinner so not much happened that day. Thursday we got a new investigator, his name is Jazz and he is a born again but seems interested in learning about the church so that is really good.  Friday we did some service at the Salvation Army charity store and saw a less active person who is working to come back to church so that is great. Saturday was a lot of tracting again - nothing too exciting. Sunday after church we went to find some people that are on church records but have moved and didn't tell the church - they are called AUFs - Address Unknown Files. But while we were doing that, we saw and got stopped by a group of like 12 year olds smoking trying to be tough. I just ignored them but one kind of tried to burn Elder Rogers badge so that was crazy stuff. But, there really wasn't anything to worry about because they were 12 and like 4 feet tall so I wasn't worried. Then we had dinner with Heather and her mom again, so that is my week.

Also, we haven't been able to see Peter because one of his boys got sick and then he got sick so not much going on there. This Wednesday we will be having zone conference so it will be good to see other missionaries and then next week we have zone development day again but it will be combined with my old Paisley zone so that will be really fun.

This is what he wrote about zone development day in the e-mail he sent to Dru. For the next zone development day we got challenged by my old Paisley zone to a battle for the River Clyde so that will be really fun. Then last night we got a voice mail from Elder "Bane" (someone doing a Bane voice) and he just gave this big monologue about how they are going to beat us. The best part was he said "You think you can defeat us - a zone so secret we aren't even in the mission song." That bit had me laughing because when I was in that zone and we sang the mission song we would all say Paisley at one point instead of one of the other places in the song. So this next week is going to be good and I'll be getting to see other missionaries.