"You punched Christmas Week in the face. Thou art the man."

Our Zone Leader told us this in our call in report this week. We had 6 member present lessons, 6 QGC and 6 New Investigators. This has been the best week of my entire mission.

So that's good. :)

(PS: Just for reference, Christmas week is usually the worst of the entire year, with the lowest numbers - you're considered lucky to get /any/ numbers...)

(And I'd be over the moon to even get one new investigator, or /any/ joint teaches, so 6 was amazing. Miraculous.)

I am over the moon. To be honest, Christmas and Boxing day were the low points of the week, and they were pretty darn awesome. (They were lowest because every other day of the week we saw blatant miracles.) So many times, the street we prayed over yeilded people who were prepared. e.g.: we prayed about a certain street, and the first person we stop that day said she lived on that street, accepted a return appointment for that evening, and became a new investigator then.

I am constantly amazed by the success we are seeing here. Previously, many had seen this area as dead, but it is so alive! Love it here!! Like our mission president said: "There are no dead areas, only dead missionaries."

I love it here and am so happy. :) Oh, and our bikes got robbed. (robbed, not stolen - the helmets and lights were taken off while we were away) but it was totally worth it - 2 solid QGC, one of whom was the cousin of a recent convert!! :D

Hope your Christmas break has been as good as mine!! ^u^

Cheers!!

– Elder William Kevin Black

Happy Christmas!!

Sligo is a beautiful ripe area. :)

Yesterday, we were chapping doors, and after a short conversation were let in, and were able to share a lesson, and we'll see him tonight!! We both really believe we'll be able to see so much success here! :D

And finally, we're past the winter solstice! so the days will get longer from here on out in my mission, which will be good for my happiness levels. ^0^ It didn't get light until about 9am here. 0-0 and it gets dark about 4, so we have very limited lighttime.

I really love Elder Møller - he has so much faith, and is just so pure and good. He's very obedient, and is a fantastic man. :) His father also seems really amazing, having taught him a lot about how to be a happy and successful missionary. I'm so grateful to be serving with him! :D He's also taught me a bit of Danish, which is really cool. I also learned that Afrikaans is pretty close to german as well, so I've gotten to speak some German with my South African missionary friend and my Danish companion.

Sorry I'm lame for Christmas and haven't bought anything. Between expensive postage and lack of time, I just haven't gotten around to it - too busy being a missionary. :)

I love you all, and am so grateful for you all! Cheers!! :D

– Elder William Kevin Black

Sligo for your Sins!!

...is the motto of Sligo area. :) It's in the middle of Ireland, and is wholly isolated from the rest of the missionaries there. I'm pretty excited to go there, seeing as Elder Walker (my third companion), served there, and I'll be serving with elder Møller, who served with Elder Goldie, my fourth companion. So that'll be really great! And I'm going back to Ireland!! ^0^

That being said, I'll be sad to leave here - I love the missionaries and members here... 

So it's been a great run here in Motherwell. :) So far, I've had four one-move companions, one two-move companion, and three three move companions. I can't wait to see what's up next. :D

Cheers!

– Elder William Kevin Black

Here's Elder Miller and I on the train from Glasgow, just before we got our call. Elder Miller is not happy. "I hates moves call night," he says from the computer next to me. He also kindly points out that it is not a flattering picture of himself. 

Last Easter

Here's a video of me conducting the Hallelujah Chorus in a fun way: https://www.dropbox.com/s/jd096nsfdel9tew/MAH01704.MP4?dl=0

Enjoy! :D

– Elder William Kevin Black

One of the best weeks ever

Okay. Starting from the top down. 

I finally spoke with a German!! "Sorry, I can't speak english that well. I'm visiting from Germany." My jaw dropped. "Deutschland?! Ich kann deustch!!!!!!" I had a good 5min chat with him about the gospel in German, as he couldn't really speak any english. :) It was amazing, getting to finally speak to a German in my missionary work! (only twice before, with polish people, at the start of my mission) So that was a miracle for me. :)

The choir was amazing. I've made so many friends, and am so excited to serve with and speak with them soon. >:) The choir was angelic, and I hope to get a copy of it for you all to see. :D Just to be clear, the stress is in picking songs and choristers, then preparing the music. I can wave my arms all day long, with no problem. ;)

I sent in this story to one of the APs: "Near the end of the St Giles Cathedral performance, as the choir stood to sing Hark the Herald Angels Sing, I felt impressed to have Elder de Vries sing [his solo, Saviour Redeemer, which he didn't have the words memorized. We had no hymnbooks. His voice could give way any second]. God, are you serious?! I already told them to stand, and announced it to the crowd! Then again:Have him sing. After a bit more arguing, I look up, motion for Elder de Vries to come forward. As I retreated to my seat, I (and probably most of the choir) prayed like mad for him... and it went stunningly!! I am so glad I listened to the promptings of the Holy Ghost throughout this concert - it has been truly amazing." 

*sigh* Though hectic, and many executive decisions had to be made, it was magical. Absolutely stunning. :) I'm so glad I had the chance to participate!! 

Hope you're all still alive and well! :D 

– Elder William Kevin Black

and sorry I'm still behind in emailing you all!! I'm working on it! :D

The Most Noble and Ancient House of Black

Christmas Concert part the second

So I only have about 15min to email today, so I'll not be able to email much. Sorry. :/

Choir is going well! I'm having a blast, and love these people so much! I'm stressing out a bit, but I have many friends here who are helping me!! :D So it will all be beautiful. :) By next Monday, I'll probably have post-traumatic stress syndrome. 

So don't worry about me, but prayers over the next 6 days would be appreciated! :D 

Hope you're all doing well! Cheers!

– Elder William Kevin Black

I almost thought I was done early...

and then I forgot to write this. :/ Mer. 

So! This week has been hectic as. Heaps of business for the choir, heaps of AUFs. 

AUF=Adress Unknown File. This company looks for members who fall through the cracks, and don't get picked up by the new ward once they move. So we go out, see if this person is the person, and see if they want to get back into church. 

Whelp. I'm tired of explaining that. 

Hmm... 

Have a story about cutting hair! 

Back in Kilmarnock, I needed a haircut. So, a member offered to cut it for me, and I gladly accepted. :) But we didn't see her very often, and when we did, she didn't have time to cut my hair. But! After several months, our schedules finally synced up, and she cut my hair. But, she being unexperienced, didn't do a fantastic job. As I sat there, I thought I could really do a better job myself. And then I thought, well, I really could... So why don't I cut my own hair? and ever since, I've been doing my own haircuts. :D 

Meh, it's not really the best photo of me, but here's my haircut anyway. :)

​Hope you're all doing well! :D 

And hey!

I'm an uncle!! WOOOOO!!!!!!!! :D :D :D 

– Elder William Kevin Black

Missionary Choir in Edinburgh

So yesterday, I travelled up to Edinburgh for a missionary choir practice (like last Easter and Christmas) It will be performing the first week in December, and will be brilliant! 

Sunday night, we caught a train into Glasgow and stayed at the Chinatown elders flat, then travelled into Edinburgh by train in the morning. Then, as we were last ones out, we just got a train into Glasgow, arriving about 9, so we stayed at Chinatown's flat again. Then, we had a district meeting (in Glasgow again) for which I was exhausted. But there was a fantastic training given by Sister Hobbs. She had everyone in the district be very hard-hearted, while my companion and I tried to talk with everyone. After ~8 times of being rejected, I started feeling Charity - that is, the pure love of Christ. As I talked with the last two people, I had such a burning desire to help them come to the joy that I had felt, it being compounded by how stressed and sick I felt recently. The penultimate person broke character, saying she felt horrible rejecting us, and the last one being genuinley interested (as she was meant to be). I felt the spirit so much, stronger than I had for weeks. :) It was so powerful for me. As I had been away from my flat the last 2 mornings, I had rubbish personal studies, and felt spiritually exhausted, untethered from God. I realized this morning how much our physical and spiritual bodies correlate: we must eat to get energy to exercise to grow physically - so it is spiritually. Though we may be spiritually strong, if we don't eat (read scriptures &c) we will become weak, and eventually die. So that was a really powerful lesson to myself. :) 

Right now I'm a bit snuffley, feeling a bit congested. But! I'm doing well enough otherwise. :) 

Thanks for all your letters! 

Cheers!

– Elder William Kevin Black

New Companion, Old Problems

So I have a fantastic new companion! :D He's from PanguinSandwitch (Panguitch), a wee town in UT. He's really diligent and obedient (and clean! ), which makes it really easy to get on with him. 

The old problem is that of having no one to teach, but we're both confident the Lord has people prepared for us here! 

I am so grateful to the Lord for all the people I've been given as companions. They have helped me change my nature for the better, for which I will be eternally grateful. I can see why I was placed with each of my companions, and see that it's no coincidence I'm placed with them. 

Dixon, Luna, Walker, Goldie, Wilberg, Ward, Schippers, and now Miller!

Thanks for your letters! I'm grateful for your suggestions and stories, and love just hearing your voices. :)

Ta!

– Elder William Kevin Black

Fwd: Hi missionaries!

Have some photos! 

Here's one of my favourite elders, Elder McAllister, who left for Ireland a few days ago! 

 

Here's me now, as I email! :D

...and here's my companion: 

​We get on great. :)

The poppy on my coat is for rememberance day, where the war veterans are all remembered. 

Cheers! :D

– Elder William Kevin Black

Fwd: The Eternal Rain

Every time it starts raining, I worry that the clouds will never break. 

Here in Scotland, winter is definitally on its way - misty rain for hours on end, blustery winds... That's Scotland for you! 

Here's a great shot of my back, as I was going to take a picture with the Nessie bush! XD

​So! This week has been pretty cool! We met heaps of new people, which is pretty exciting. It all came due to our diligence and persistance in talking with as many people as we could. 

As far as my status as a person goes, I'm doing well. :) 

I had an epiphany about depression a few days ago! 

Depression is a tool to help us work on our shortcomings. Faults which usually would be unnoticable come to the forefront and can be either dealt with or ignored. If dealt with, it may be resolved and fixed. Depression brings out our faults because it increases our desire for immediate satisfaction. The times we cave / reach a breaking point often come compounded with other emotions, e.g. sadness or rage. The distance of our breaking point shows us how strong character we have. When depressed, the drive to choose immediate satisfaction is much higher, since we desire it much more. As most all sin comes under the category of choosing immediate satisfaction over long-term satisfaction, people often make choices they regret when depressed, which depresses them more, leading them in a downward spiral which can be destructive. 

I recently had a dream which taught me an important lesson. I was a bird, and was anxiously trying to reach a destination. There was a bit of a tailwind, which wasn't helping me move any faster. In fact, it was hindering my progression. I remembered how bird have to take off into the wind, so I turned to face the wind, and opened up my wings. As I did so, the wind carried me high. I turned then about face, and pulled in my wings to dive, gaining speed rapidly, flying faster than I ever had before, getting me where I needed to be. 

As I wrote down the dream, I realised it was a metaphor for the trials we face in life. They may seem against our progression if we fight against them, but as we face them with God's help, we can make the most of them, to gain the spiritual height to go where God wants us to go. They give us the spiritual traction we need in life. 

(there is a similar metaphor often used by missionaries, where a kite is flying high, and a child wishes to cut the string to help it go higher. The father teaches the child the string tethers it, thus allowing it to go even higher. So is it in our lives. The commandments God tells us, including those promptings he puts in our minds are made to give us new height - but the height only comes with the winds of trial.)

So I've recently come to a much better understanding of trials in life, and am finding it a lot easier to face times that I'm feeling down. 

But all in all, I'm happy. :) I have a fantastic district I'm very close to, and am so grateful for their love and support they give me. I have a companion with a drive to do God's will. I have a loving family, and so many loving friends who support me, and I have a loving Heavenly Father. I have felt his love, and heard his voice through the Holy Ghost. I feel awakened - my spiritual eyes and ears opened to the things of God. I am so grateful for Dave and Ruth (who I got to see today!! ^0^) and the love they show me. 

I love the Lord. I love light. I'm so grateful for everything God has done for me, and really want everyone else to feel the same joy that I've felt. I testify these things are true in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

– Elder William Kevin Black

Also, I've recently been impressed by the spirit of Elijah - I have come to know that it is the Holy Ghost, testifying of the divinity of temple work.[oops, meant to write family history, but temple is the more accurate term] I have felt it as the Ladels (Senior couple serving as FH consultants) testified of the divinity of this work. I'm more anxious to continue with my journaling, to keep a good record of all the things I've learned so far in my life. *sigh* love you all! Ta!

Sunset

Yeah, I love it here. :)

​

– Elder William Kevin Black

Upon the Top of the Waters

Recently, I had a fantastic personal study, as I read Ether 6. I saw the parallel between the Jaredites and the Nephites, then that parallel to my life. The Jaredites couldn't see where they were going, and had no compass. They wholly put their faith in the Lord, and sang the entire journey to the promised land. The Nephites could see where they were going, had a compass, but murmured and were miserable the entire journey. The Jaredites had to exercise more faith, and had a brilliant journey! Then, as I read that the winds and waves pushed them to the promised land, I saw how our trials and afflictions push us to be who God wants us to be. 

What surprised me most was when I saw an Ensign talk the next day, where someone else with depression wrote a similar article! [here]

It's been a good week. Ups and downs, but without them, we wouldn't have a heartbeat. :)

I'm happy. :) Though I was stressed this morning / last night about helping the district, I realized I was sad because I couldn't see my efforts taking effect. I'm happy now, because I've realized that I should measure my success by how much I'm trying, not by the fruit (which I won't see anyway). 

Thank you everyone for your prayers and for writing me! :D I love you all, and am so happy to hear from you. 

Sorry I haven't replied to all of you - I was a bit swamped. :) and sorry in general for failing at replying to letters in general... And it probably won't get better over the next year, but I'll keep trying. :)

Cheers! Ta!

– Elder William Kevin Black

Lord it's hard to be humble...

...when you're perfect in every way!

It's a song a member sang to us. XD ahahah it was great!

But this week has been good. :) 

Because I'm lazy, and don't like retyping stuff, here's what I wrote pres: 

The highlight was when we were inspired to go by Jonathan, a LA since he was 14, who still has the aaronic priesthood and a burning testimony! We taught the restoration and plan of salvation so powerfully, and felt the spirit strongly this whole time! It was a marvelous experience for us! 

 So we're doing well. :) Life is a bumpy road, but we always get through it at the end! :D

My favourite talks from conference were from Elder Jorg Klebingat and Elder Lynn G. Robbins. Brilliant. "That is Apostacy!" Oh, I loved it so much - the straightforwardness of Robbins was so refreshing. :) 

Love you all! Hope you had fantastic weeks! Remember: the dawn will always break! :)

Cheers! 

– Elder William Kevin Black

Ah, life is crazy. :)

Uhm... 

Well. 

This week, we have been blessed with meeting several really cool people!

AH - WAIT! I just remembered a great story!

So! On Thursday was new leadership training, in Edinburgh, an hour or so away by train. So we had planned out how to do it all on our own, then later realized higher-ups had planned for our travel already. We were planning to arrive Wed night, and asked the Zone Leaders for directions. They told us to take a 7:18 train, arriving at Glasgow; followed by an 8:00 train headed for Edinburgh. So! We get up to Glasgow and call the other team we're meant to meet up with. When we find out that we weren't meant to leave until the following morning. *facedesk* So we sleep over at some other missionary's home in Glasgow and leave the following morning. 

And goodness, the training was wonderful! I had felt so poorly before, and by the end I felt so uplifted! :) I'm so grateful for President & Sister Brown and our APs. *sigh* They are all lovely people. 

So it's been interesting being a district leader. In some respects, it's not that fun - you're constantly judged and used as a standard, but it's good, as it pushes you to work harder. 

So life has been good. :) I'm a bit tired, but feel sustained. Everything will work out. Everything will be okay. :D That's been my mantra for many years, and has so far proven true, so long as I enjoy life, and don't stress. (ahhaha I stress a lot, but that's alright...)

Love you all! Thanks for writing me! :D

Cheers!

– Elder William Kevin Black

Propaganda!

Here's one of my favourite signs, which went up a few days before: 

– Elder William Kevin Black

Sea World!

Last Monday, we visited a sea world, which was fantastic! 

It was gorgeous, but ​I wasn't feeling that great, so my smile came out as more of a grimace... 

Still was a blast though!

– Elder William Kevin Black

Motherwell has been a weird one...

So I started off being emergency-moved here, then my district leader was evicted from his flat. Now, all the missionaries are being removed from that ward, and I'm being called as the new district leader. So it's been a weird few months here... XD

I'm really excited about everyone in my district, because I already know all of them!! Not usual at all, considering we're getting two new areas added to our district, with the two others being removed. Anywho. Hopefully all will work out, and it'll be a party! :D

I don't remember if I said last week, but most of our investigators have stopped investigating, but we've been blessed to meet a few new people, who seem really promising!!

Okay, more on the building I mentioned from last week: I saw in my mind's eye a building which extended many stories into the sky. As it grew higher, it pierced the clouds, and more light came to it. The building was built stone by stone, but only when the resident was looking at the light could he properly build it. Other people were building towers as well. Some people looked down, and stopped building - some of these went down stories in their houses, allowing the upper levels to fall into disrepair. Only those continually looking up were able to build higher. 

I understood this building to be a metaphor for our spiritual progression. As we look upwards, that is, seek revelation from god, we know how to lay the next stone, but we cannot lay stones without surrendering our will to gods. Each stone is laid through our obedience and subjugation to Christ. The light that comes to the building is a natural consequence of being higher, but the people had to see from a higher perspective to see how to lay the next stone. Thus, only God, from a higher perspective, could instruct how to build next. We can only be built upon as we yeild our will to God's. As we reject the light, or inspiration, given us, we look down. As we sin, we go down stories in our lives, going against the light given us. 

There was a bit more to it, and as you can see, that was a bit scattered, but I really feel it was inspired of the spirit. 

Love you all! Cheers!

– Elder William Kevin Black

Building our Faith

To be clear, the loss of weight is a conscious battle on my part. I love the food here. For the most part, I just stopped overeating and put good food into my diet. Easier said than done, but there it is. 

So I organised a missionary choir of 8 for our stake conference was held - Elder Jose L. Reina of the Seventy was the presiding authority Saturday night and Sunday morning at the sessions us missionaries were privy to attend. It was brilliant! It struck me when he said that the things the Spirit tells us become personal commandments for us. 

Here's something I wrote my mission president about:

(QGC is a key indicator we do here - "quality gospel conversation", which includes a return appointment) 

Yesterday, we had a miracle. As we walked home, we spoke with everyone. There was a man leaning against a building, smoking. We could have easily passed him by, but we were prompted to speak with him, which led to a solid QGC! Then I heard a rattling of chains from behind. Oh no, I thought, another ned. /Talk with him./ So I did, and we had a fantastic conversation, and nearly got a return appointment! Finally, near the flat, we stopped a girl who was interested in learning about the afterlife, and got a QGC! We know it's only a tender mercy of the Lord that so many people spoke with us, but we know that once you do all in your power to serve, you are blessed. 

(Two QGC in one night is very unusual here - we've had one (a shaky one at that) in the last month or so, maybe three in total over the 9 weeks I've been here.)

So I had just been on an exchange with our DL and spoke with everyone, even on the high streets, which motivated me to speak with every single soul, not just the convenient or obvious ones. 

Herm... My time is short, but I had a cool image come to mind earlier this morning. It was of a building, stretching into the sky, built by our sacrifice to God - when we give up our will for his. There was more to it, but I'm out of time. 

Love you all! thanks so much for your love and letters! :D

Cheers!

– Elder William Kevin Black

And last week...

Here's me at the falls of Clyde. Do I look great or what!? :D

This morning, I was finally below 80 kilo, having lost about 20lbs since coming out on my mission. 

Love you all! Cheers! :D

– Elder William Kevin Black

This has been the best morning of my life.

Here is the run Elder Facer and I did this morning: 

5.3 miles!!! (we walked the rest of the way home) It was the most glorious thing I've ever done with exercise. We goth were pretty tired, and were saying about 3/4 of the way through that we couldn't have gone this far without each other. Working seperately (e.g.: in a relay race) we wouldn't have been able to go as far as when we were running together the whole time - we provided motivation for each other to push on, even though we were both tired by the time we had gotten halfway up the loch. (which was beautiful - there was a glorious pink sunrise reflecting off the misty loch)

Then I had the best companion study of my entire mission. It's too special to go into depth here, but know that we both sought and followed inspiration for our personal studies. As we shared our experiences, it brought the spirit so powerfully into our companion study, and gave us energy for the day. It was really miraculous. We revel in feeling the spirit, and our hearts are moving towards Christ. I love this quote I heard earlier in my mission: "Build relationships on spiritual experiences."

I love you all! Thank you all for writing, and for being my friend! :D 

Cheers!

– Elder William Kevin Black

The Atonement

I was asked recently how to use the atonement, specifically, How to use the atonement to find relief from trials, and here's the answer I gave. :) Quite chuffed that I can now write this:  

How can we use the Atonement to receive help in our trials? I am mastering this still, but can certainly give you some pointers. 
1. What is the purpose of trials? What is the purpose of exercise? To tear muscles and let them grow stronger. So it is in life. Patience is never given, it is exercised. 
2. What is the purpose of the Atonement? What is its function? In the Atonement, Christ suffered all. Due to this action, he perfectly understands our lives. This is what gives us the light of Christ. As we prayerfully and humbly submit our will to His we are led to take the most Christlike path. Following the promptings of the spirit increases the light of Christ in us, and makes it easier for us to recognise and follow promptings. 
3. Here is my suggestion. If you don't already have a journal where you keep all your revelations, get one. Kneel down with pencil in hand and pray. Ask what you need to do, and write down the thoughts, images, and words that come to mind. You will be led. You will be guided. Read Alma 7:11-13 with the intent of understanding the Atonement better. As he experienced all of our lives, he knows how to best deal with our trials. He knows how we are to grow from them. Trust in Him, and he will deliver you eventually, but as a weight lifter needs a heavy weight to gain muscle, so do we require a load to grow. 
4. It is my personal conviction, knowledge, testimony, that as we rely on the Saviour, we will be led for good. Our paths will be put in the way our Father would have them go. We can feel the influence of the spirit always in all things. Don't worry if you don't understand what's going on. You can know what God would have you do if you pray. 
5. Trust in the Lord and in His timing. Know that deliverance will rarely be immediate. 

Hmm. Upon reflecting on your original question, I realized I'm answering a slightly different question. How can you use the part of the Atonement that helps give us relief in our trials? I suppose the answer to that is the question above. The way we are to get relief in our trials is to rely on the lord. Ask him what we are to do, then follow that instruction. Your footstepswill be led, as you prayerfully and humbly submit your will to his. 

Hope you get something out of this. :) Cheers!  

– Elder William Kevin Black

PS: Why they were evicted

ha ha

We don't really know. 

They got a letter a few months ago which explained that they would have to leave the flat by a certain date, but never opened it. As 99% of letters marked "Tennant" are junk, missionaries tend to just bin them. But this one was sort of important... 

Out of the blue, in their perspective, they got a call a couple days before the date, saying: "hey, are you ready for the two new beds to be put in?" Oh, were they surprised. So they had to high-tail it out of there, which required the help of a member, a senior couple, and us. he he he

So that was quite the adventure for them!

Funny for us, pretty stressful for them... 

Cheers!

– Elder William Kevin Black

EVICTED!

The missionaries in East Kilbride (a city near us) were evicted from their flat, so Tuesday afternoon/evening and Wed morning, we helped them clean and move out of their flat and into ours. (which by our reckoning really isn't made for 4 people.) But it's all working out nicely! 

I got to go running with Elder Facer (my District Leader (another missionary in charge of the local stuff)) this morning, and saw the ruins of a roman bathhouse! It was brilliant. We stood on the edge of it, and preached to the roman spirits lingering about, (wish we had Paul's sermon on the Unknown God) and ran back. (which was death - probably the longest run I've ever been on - about 4.5mi XP)

Good week! We're teaching a girl named Annie who was found by East Kilbride, but lives in our area, so we're her teachers now. It's going great, and she'll be baptised this Saturday! :D

Uhm... Nothing overly exciting otherwise. :) All is well. 

Despite trials we go through, we can overcome them and do what god requires of us. Pray and ask what to do, and you'll be told. :) Simple enough. 

Cheerio! :D

– Elder William Kevin Black

Phwew...

This week was great! In some ways, that is. I'm happy, and we're having fun doing the lord's work. 

(see my blog for my latest adventure)

Uhm.... Well.... I have little time left. I suppose this will always happen if I do this near the end. But know I'm happy, am having fun, and enjoy eating fruits in the morning!

I heard yesterday that I am to arrange a missionary choir for a stake activity soon!! :D So I'm over the moon about that! I love singing, and love directing. :)

Hope you're all well back home! I'm so happy you send me photos of your life, and for all of you who write me, even when I'm not perfect at writing back. 

Cheers! :D

This is a guy on our high street who was once playing this awesome instrument! I heard it from afar and thought - it has to be a wind instrument - but then heard three notes at once! It's a mix between a violin and trumpet, it looked! But I didn't hang out long, he just kept asking for more money... 

– Elder William Kevin Black

Fwd: Speaking of Miracles...

​Today, just a few minutes ago, we were walking down an alleyway, and heard someone calling out. Turning around, we met this man - Sylvester Kipre - from Finland. He called up his elders, who told us how he had been taught for several months, and was a golden investigator. Though he had to run, he asked for our number, and said he wanted to meet up with us!! It's times like these that it's easy to see how it's only a tender mercy of the Lord that we have investigators at all!

– Elder William Kevin Black

(pictures courtesy of the Sister Adams, who saw us from the library across the street)

Fwd: YO

Here are some photos of my chilies from elder Ward! :D

– Elder William Kevin Black

mormon.org works!

We got a refferal from mormon.org a wee while ago, which was over-the-moon exciting! It's the first real one I've ever gotten as a missionary. Entering his flat, he sat us down, and said basically: Go! So we taught the restoration, later plan of salvation, both of which he really enjoyed! He said it [this new religion he was learning about] was like a newborn baby - when you look at it, you imagine all its potential, and dream of what it could be. 

So that was amazing! 

We saw Nathan again, who gave the most sincere prayer I've ever heard in ages from someone we were teaching - he thanked the Lord that we were forgiving for his being late (only 30 min!) and thanked us for teaching, for his chance to meet us (very coincidental - neither of us would normally be on that path where we met him), asked that we could meet up again... It was absolutely stellar. 

That was about it, as far as exciting things go. 

I swallowed my pride a few times, which was good for me. :) At the start of my mission, I'd be happy to carry my pride to my grave, so it's been such a huge shift in mindset for me. Not that I'm anywhere near done in that, but I'm getting better! :)

I realised this week that there are many things that I considered my weaknesses at the start of my mission that have now become strengths. I wrote a list a few weeks in to my mission of my greatest weaknesses, which I looked at last night. I was so happy to see how many of those have become strengths! Especially in my diet change, exercise change, decrease of pride, increase of spirituality... I love changing my nature! It's amazing to see that we really can change who we are. It was something that I had to ask my Father in Heaven for a lot of help with. Having depression, it's really hard to stick to goals, as I get to be a bit self-destructive whenever I'm depressed. (not like cutting or something, but like purposely doing things I know will anger my future self, like eating a lot or breaking other goals I have) So I've really only been able to change because I really believe my Father is rooting for me - that I know he's there and is helping me to do what I really want to do. 

Whelp. That was a lot longer than I anticipated. 

Things are going well here in Motherwell otherwise! (no pun intended) 

Enjoy Life! 

Cheers!

– Elder William Kevin Black

My companion doesn't have his bank card in yet, so he owes me about £35 (about $60) so when he found this on the path, he found it quite fitting. XD

​

Choir

Also see this article, on page U5: here about the Easter Choir we had! :D

– Elder William Kevin Black

Progression

This week was better, and we had a cool success! 

Walking down an alley, we stopped a man from Uganda, who was way friendly! After chatting for a while, we asked if he'd like to go on a tour of our church. "When are you free?" "Is now alright?" Ha ha ha Grinning ear to ear, we took the bus with him up to the church, gave him a tour, and taught the restoration!! When we entered the chapel, he said he felt felt like he belonged. (which he does!)

In other news, I'm staying with elder Schippers in Motherwell, Scotland for another 6 weeks. E-move companion becomes normal companion. Well, as far as normal goes out here... he he

On Friday, I got to go on exchanges with the "Zone Commander" (as a certain member calls them) Elder Henrie and I had a great time, found a few people... We got to see an older man named Wally, and I was able to tell him how much I really loved the Book of Mormon, and what a change it has played in my life. We felt the spirit strongly testify of it, and the sunset was wonderful! (Though camera can never quite catch the full colour of it all.)

Thank you all so much for your prayers, and I hope you all have / have had a wonderful week! :D

Cheers! 

– Elder William Kevin Black

The Library!

Awesome engraving above the Library I'm emailing at: 

Amen.

– Elder William Kevin Black

Motherwell

I had a wonderful exchange with our district leader, elder Facer. He is very converted, and I was taught much. I told my mission president: 

I felt the spirit so strongly on my exchange with elder Facer, learned so much! Not just knowledge, but the spirit taught me a lot of principles that I understand emotionally as well. I feel like that's the way that god really wants me to learn. I loved it so much!

I have been privy to learn several things from the spirit over the last few weeks - things I've come to know in my heart, not just in my mind. Verily, this is how spirits communicate - by the spirit - conveying thoughts with emotions, rather than sound waves. It's cool. :)

At the start of my mission I had a "bite-the-bullet" approach, where you do it because you're supposed to. Over the last few months, my nature has really changed. I've come to love the gospel, and love sharing it. I want to make the most of my time, rather than just fill time. I'm confident the change I've experienced has been because of my deciding to follow Christ, rather than myself. I'm not trying to see how much William-time I can have, but want to be the best Elder Black that I can be. 

– Elder William Kevin Black

Running!

Here's me with my running shoes! :D

 

They're just a little bit worn... 

​

Aye right, a lottle bit worn. 

​And that's after trying to fix them up a bit with superglue. XD

Thankfully a member here happened to have a pair that fit me perfect they were willing to split with. 0u0

– Elder William Kevin Black

Fwd: Zone Conference Pictures

Here's our entire mission, when President Dyches (sp?) visited us!

– Elder William Kevin Black

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Alan Henry Brown <browna@ldschurch.org>
Date: 21 July 2014 11:14
Subject: Zone Conference Pictures
To: Scotland/Ireland Mission <2018500@ldschurch.org>

PS – Elder Frost who returned home early due it health issues recently has asked that we pray for him – he had hoped to come back out but he is on a long waiting list for treatment and is fearful that he may not get back.

 

President Brown

 

AAAHHH!!!! O-O

Well, we got a surprise call from the mission president yesterday morning. I was asked to move to Motherwell, in Glasgow Zone. A missionary there was having a hard time with the area and needed to move, so President Brown prayed about it, and felt he should move. He looked at the board of missionaries, and my face stood out. 

All right... So? When do I move? 

I thought P-day would be best. 

So tomorrow? 

Yup. 

So! I'll be heading out to Glasgow (to the West!) in just a few hours. 

BUT! In even more exciting news, MARY CAME TO CHURCH!! 0w0 =D *squee!!*

She is the most solid person I've ever found. She is so open-minded, happy, excited to learn everything, and really wants to know the truth. She is drawn by our love for everyone (not condemning people e.g.: homosexuals) and how happy we are, as a people. :D

She'll get baptised. :) 

This week was hard, starting last Sunday, until Saturday, when we saw Mary, as I was quite depressed. :/ (Just waving between depression and being normal throughout the days) But Mary actually lifted me out of it! I had felt so weighed down (literally) from my depression, but I testify that prayer helped me get through it. 

Elder Ward and I gave talks yesterday, and I had felt earlier to speak on how trials are part of god's plan for us. How fitting it was! My personal study on Sunday was completely focused on it, as I was really seeking comfort from the scriptures. So when I gave the talk (without notes, as usual) I talked about how depression has been a blessing in my life, then sprung the news on the congregation that I was moving, surprising everyone. 

One of the members afterwards mentioned how she wasn't going for a temple reccomend, because of her struggling faith, but I had mentioned in my talk how depression attacks your faith. She said It hadn't registered in my 40 years of having depression, and my 30 years in the church that that struggle was because of depression! So I touched at least one person in Gala. :)

I have loved serving here in Galashiels, and will miss it dearly. :/ I've spent about half my mission so far in it, but now I'll hit my year mark in a new area, with an Elder Shippers. 

So! Press forward, trusting in God, and everything will work out for our good. :)

Love you all! Cheers! 

– Elder William Kevin Black

Thought by my mission president in his weekly letter:

"In my study last week, as I continued to seek to more fully understand the principle of faith, I noted that in the world we have a saying "Seeing is believing" but perhaps it should be "Seeing is knowing" because knowing doesn't always motivate us to change or do anything. Believing on the other hand can lead to action. The exercise of faith is a powerful motivator whereas just knowing something by sight doesn't change our heart's desire. Laman and Lemuel "saw" and because of that they "knew" but no change of desire resulted – Nephi saw and knew but he also believed and exercised faith unto repentance – he allowed himself to be changed – he desired to change and do the will of God. It is my earnest hope that you will have faith unto repentance – sanctifying yourselves to a purer way of life which will bring the spirit more into your planning and execution of your plans. When the Lord is invited into open hearts and minds, the work will go forward more effectively." 

[emphasis added]

– Elder William Kevin Black

Sheep Crossing!

Scotland may be one of the few countries that have half hour breaks in traffic to let sheep cross the road... Cool! But inconvenient. xD

In other news, this week has been mostly uneventful. We had a car again, as you can see, but just from last tuesday until tomorrow. :/ But that's life. It's going off to a senior couple that's coming in. So hopefully they'll enjoy it. Not have to use crutches... 

Nothing overly exciting happened this week - at a charity shop, we got to sort through books in the basement, which was nice and cool. ^-^ It was pretty sad to be discarding so many books, and reminded me of how much I really love books... *sigh* I miss reading. But I love reading the scriptures too. I've been enjoying it a lot more than ever before. 

Currently, I'm in Helaman, where Nephi has a huge growing experience. After telling a huge crowd about a murder that happened, listing specific details about how to catch the murderer, he goes home pondering what happened, pretty surprised about the whole situation, it seems. He then gets rewarded for his preaching and listening to the spirit, getting told his word is law, since he wouldn't do anything god wouldn't want him to. I want to have that sort of trust from the Lord. So I've been trying hard to listen to the spirit, and follow its promptings promptly. :) My prayers have also become conversations; rather than just sending off a telegram to god, I converse with him. 

I'm so thankful for the scriptures and for prayer. 

Keep going everyone! Keep finding! Keep teaching! Keep keeping! 

Chirp Chirp Chirp. (We've been throwing bread into our back garden - the birds love us!)

Hope you all have a fantastic week! 

Cheers! 

– Elder William Kevin Black

Eternal Daylight

So being farther north is cool. The following picture was taken right at our bedtime, 10:30 As you can see, it's still pretty bright - the color in the sky was just about the same as in real life - pretty bright. A few days ago, I woke up early at about 3:40, and it was just about as bright! So we get an eternal light during these summer weeks. :) 

– Elder William Kevin Black

GRAR.

Sorry! I forestalled this, so I have no time to write!

Suffice it to say: the church is true.

I believe that more than ever. I know that god's grace is real, and I am so thankful for it. 

Keep on praying with god! Keep studying your scriptures! Keep seeking inspiration from church! These are the basic bread and water for your spiritual health. 

Love you all! Cheers! 

– Elder William Kevin Black

Equines, Eating, Emotions

A list, not an event... 

This week was great. We got to finally see the children of a lady who hasn't been to church for a long time, but is really friendly to us. They were wonderful, and are stellar kids. That makes a total of 3 new people we're teaching for this moves! :D

Our branch president was having a bit of a hard time physically, since he collapsed earlier in the week, but he was right as rain on Saturday. He is an amazing chef - he made us some apple pie for dessert, along with cinnamon rolls and banana bread. We love him to bits. But more so because of how much good he does for all the people in Gala. He really cares a lot for them, and is still able to have everyone rolling in laughter! 

Since the commonriding was on in Hawick, We had a lot more unscheduled time, in which we got to see a lot of people we'd been meaning to see for ages. 

But that's not overly exciting. 

I decided this week - Oh! I've lost 2 kilo! I can now eat unhealthy food whenever I want! 3 kilo later... :c Turns out it does matter what you eat, and you can't just magically loose weight on a seafood diet (I see food, I eat it!) 

I love being a missionary. I'm having a ball, and feel on top of the world! :D

Thanks for your prayers and your letters! 

Keep on being missionaries yourself!

Keep seeking truth!

Cheerio!

– Elder William Kevin Black

Now, time for Chef Black! These were both from scratch, improvised recipes! 

Here's some pasta bolognese I made. You're seeing it fresh out the oven, covered in bread crumbs. >:D

This one is some bread I threw together one night when I was stressed. It smells like Christmas, since I added some Peppermint to it. ^u^

Wrong paths, and 2nd-hand alchohol

Well, this week was pretty exciting! 

On Friday, we got onto a bus to go straight south to Hawick for an appointment. After 40 min, I looked up. Hmm... That hill looks familiar. Like the one outside Edinburgh... (mission HQ, 30 miles to the north) My heart sunk when I realized it was. So! We quickly got off the bus, in the middle of nowhere, and waited for the next bus coming south. So we were a couple hours late to our appointment. '~' That night, we realized the irony of it all: we were going to share a talk titled: "Let's not Take the Wrong Way." XD I died when I realized that... 

Later that day, we went to someone's house, and were parched, having walked across the whole town to get there. They offered us water, which we gladly accepted. It tasted a bit funny so afterwards my companion asked me what I thought of the water. I knew it wasn't clean, and thought it was maybe soap or something. "Yeah, that was alcohol" My jaw dropped. So! You've heard of second hand smoke, and now I've experienced second hand alcohol! Not an experience I am keep to repeat. XP

Otherwise, we had another great Zone Development, where we played ultimate frisbee, and did another murder mystery! :D We had a blast, and I didn't die! So that's a success in my book!

We've found one new person to teach, which is the first new in many months. So that was really exciting! He's a born-again christian who was once in the phillipines to convert catholics, and did door-to-door proselyting like us! So he's the first born-again that has ever really listened to me on my mission yet, and seems to honestly be seeking truth! :D

Thanks for your prayers, letters, and support! 

Keep Calm and Ride On!! (Hawick Commonriding is on this week! ^0^ Not that we'll get to see it, seeing 90% of the entire town will be drunk.)

– Elder William Kevin Black

Conversion

This week was pretty good. 

Elder Ward and I have been getting on well, and have been helping each other a lot. On days that I'm feeling down, he can help me, and visa-versa. It's great! 

We've been talking of conversion, and how we are to be converted, and I really feel the best way to convert yourself is to ask God what he wants you to do. As we prayerfully submit our wills to His, I know that we can change to become the people He would have us be. But we have to ask, and be willing to do what he asks us to do. 

I love you all, and am so grateful to be able to serve a mission! I love helping people come unto Christ. I'm so thankful for your letters and emails of support!

Cheers! 

– Elder William Kevin Black

PS: There will be another ZD day next week, so I'll be emailing on Tuesday rather than Monday. 

Here's the view I woke up to this morning: 

[Story!]

We were sent yesterday to go give a lady the sacrament. She had been in a car smash with one of the young women (the only one, actually) in the branch. She was shaken, and had her heart set on never coming to church again, or ever seeing anyone from the church again. 

Last week, we saw her for the first time since the accident. We prayed that we'd be able to follow the spirit, and be guided to know what to do. She opened the door, and said "You're not getting me back to church." I explained our job wasn't to get people to church - it was to nurture them spiritually. We offered her a blessing, and she said she didn't have faith to be healed. I explained that she could be healed through the faith of the giver as well. With that, she let us in, and I gave her a blessing. 

Someone called her when we were walking up the hill, letting her know we were coming. It was raining quite a bit, so we were soaked when we made it up to her house. She wasn't planning on letting us in and certainly not taking the sacrament, but she took compassion on us, and just let us in, still not planning on taking the sacrament. We listened to Uchtdorf's talk on gratitude the branch president had left her, and she decided she would take it after all. When she said that, she immediately felt the spirit, which she hadn't felt since the car crash weeks earlier. 

I sang a sacrament hymn for her, and we administered the sacrament. She immediately felt physically lighter, as if her burdens were being lifted. She said that Matt 11:28-30 came to mind - "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, . . . and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." It was fantastic. She said that every time I talked, she could feel the spirit lifting her. She said, speaking of the blessing we gave, that it was the first rest she had had in weeks. Her mind had been clear at night, and she slept for a full 12 hours. She knew the blessing had worked. 

We'll keep helping her recover. Though it will be hard for her, I know god will be leading our actions. 

The Spirit is Real

By the numbers, not all that much exciting happened this week. 

But wow. The branch president is hilarious. President Kelly has a talent for balancing his serious side with a humorous side I love seeing him - it feels like leadership training every time we go, but he balances it with humour, and we always feel uplifted visiting him. Here's one of his jokes, paraphrased: 

A man has a 'Mormon' dog, and invites his friend to come see. "Okay Rover, Alma 41:10!" *dog flips through pages, pauses on a page* RUFF! "Wow, it really found it!" The dog finds a few more references on command. "Your dog is really impressive, but can it do normal dog tricks?" "I've never tried anything else... Go ahead!" "Rover, heel!" *dog places paws on the man's head*

But in all seriousness. I've been growing a lot with elder Ward. We've been relying heavily on prayer, and have been focusing on improving ourselves to improve the area. The more diligent we are, the more I feel we have the spirit guiding us. I've felt it much more often here than ever before. I love this area - the countryside is beautiful, and driving from town to town is a really relaxing experience. 

Thank you for all your prayers for me. 

Cheers!

– Elder William Kevin Black

P.S.: I'm a runner! Ever since elder Wilberg, I've been running every morning and loving it to bits. I wrote my dad this: "I enjoy running now, and find it to be a faith building exercise - Joseph Smith said 'When a man works by faith he works by mental exertion instead of physical force' Running, I have found, is solely dependant on how much I push myself, and has very little to do with my physical strength. (though it did for the first week or so of running) I've enjoyed pushing myself, and changing my nature." So now I thoroughly enjoy running, and actually look forward to it in the morning! I love pushing myself - telling my body to run faster when it tells me to give up.

In other news...

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org.uk/article/mormon-missionary-choir-sings-at-edinburgh-cathedral 

That was the choir concert I was in! Pretty poor quality photos, but I'll have better. 

In a kind of wild escapade, we ended up at a dirt bike course, and I got one of the most epic pictures ever of me: 

... Which isn't loading. A zipped file is attached. :) 

I love getting answers to prayers. It's probably what I've been learning the most on my mission - that you can ask questions in prayers and get answers. If you haven't tried asking god a question recently, give it a try! Even if it's just, "are you there?"

Hope you're all enjoying life to the fullest! :D Keep up the great work!

Cheerio!

– Elder William Kevin Black

Fwd: Emailing: Duo, harpist closeup, harpist, Missionary choir harp, Missionary choir St Giles, Missionary choir St Giles_1, Missionary Choir-1, Missionary Choir-2, Missionary Choir-3, Missionary Choir-4, Missionary Choir-5, missionary choir-6, Missionary Choi

Pictures from the Choir

– Elder William Kevin Black

Duo
harpist closeup
harpist
Missionary choir harp
Missionary choir St Giles
Missionary choir St Giles_1
Missionary Choir-1
Missionary Choir-2
Missionary Choir-3
Missionary Choir-4
Missionary Choir-5
missionary choir-6
Missionary Choir-8
Missionary Choir-9
Missionary choir10
Piper
St Giles flags
St Giles small group
St Giles stained glass
two trumpets
Violin