Pictures from last week

(sorry - they didn't process right last week)

There are now 3 that have germinated! Only two that really look like they'll survive... 

– Elder William Kevin Black

[Scotland>Galashiels] 1/3 Mark!

Notice: With the 1/3 mark on my mission having passed, I'd like to ask a favour of yous. Don't bring up how close I am to going home. Not that I'm anywhere near it. But generally, at the 1/2 mark, missionaries get heaps of mail about how close they are to home. It is much more of a distraction and not a happy thought. I really enjoy being out here, and don't really want to come home soon. Being a missionary is great! I am excited to see you all, but please don't bring up home unless necessary. 

Blech. Okay. Business out of the way. 

We had a great week! 

Here's an excerpt from my email to the mission president: 

"We had a great miracle this week: We were on our way to chap a street, when on the way, we felt we needed to chap an apartment building by the way. Halfway down, we found John. After a few seconds, he let us in, and we were able to teach him the Restoration then and there! He said if he knew it were true, he would be baptised, and asked us to still keep coming, even if he weren't converted by our second visit. X) So we are very excited to see him tomorrow! He is also about our age, and is /awesome/. Not even on drugs. Or crazy."

So that was really exciting! He's into Doctor Who as well, and realised there was a lot wrong with the Church of Scotland [the protestant church most church-going people go to] and took up buddhism. He's great! :D

We also got to paint a hallway for some of our friends, Una & Mark, who came to church this week! :D They're preparing to do the 15 step stop-smoking program! (You can learn how to teach the program at http://www.ldsstopsmokingprogram.org/ )

We also cut down a tree with a chainsaw, and elder Wilberg got to skype home on british mothers day. 

In Kilmarnock, Dave is finally ready to be baptised! He's scheduled for the 11th of April. :) 

Anywho, life is going great. Elder Wilberg is a great missionary, and has stong desires to work hard, which makes it really easy to serve with him. 

Oh! And we were mentioned in our mission president's weekly email!! See http://williamblackmission.blogspot.co.uk/ for the quoted bit. :) 

Faboosh!

– Elder William Kevin Black

Excerpt from our weekly letter from President Brown (Mission President)

My Dear Elders and Sisters,

This past week I have been led to ponder more on the great sacrifice you have all made to serve as missionaries. I have thought over all the things that you give up and leave behind for the period of your service – of the things you do each and every day to search for those people who are ready for the gospel. My son Sandy recently remarked that his mission in West Africa was easy when compared to serving here – he even said he didn’t know if he could have done what you do! So basically what I’m trying to say is that I continue to stand in awe of the strength of your dedication and commitment to this work. These thoughts lift, inspire and keep me going in my futile attempt to try to match your diligence. It is much easier for me at my age and stage in life to be here because I’ve done all the other stuff and am heading for the twilight years – not only that but I have the best companion in the mission, and I get to be with her for the whole three years – not to mention the little matter of eternity! 

A wee while ago I received a letter from an investigator, and this is an extract from it;

“I want to write to express my gratitude for the work of the LDS missionaries in Scotland. In this age of secularism and materialism it is heartening to meet young people who are committed to putting spiritual priorities first in their lives.

Their lives of sacrifice and service have been a great inspiration to me and my family; even helping us with our allotment which is essential for feeding our family. Thank you for sending them to this area.”

So, you see that I am not alone is my appreciation for what you do for the Lords children in these lands amongst my countrymen.  I share below an extract from my journal dated June 12^th 2012 just a couple of weeks before we left for our mission. Apologies for the pre-mission language – I learned pretty quickly under the tutelage of the Assistants, Elder Costley and Elder Bland to drop the “Awesome” “Guys” etc.!!

The letter was from our investigator Wesley! So we got a shoutout from President Brown! Very exciting. :) 

– Elder William Kevin Black

My creations!

So! Scotland has some funny pronunciations: 

Edinburgh : Edd-in-burr-uh

Hawick: Hoyk

The hill I climbed a week ago was called Meigle hill: like eagle with an M. Or Smeagol without the S. X)

We volunteered at the British Heart Foundation, a charity shop - it'll be a regular thing, helping out weekly. 

Below you can see my journal for which I made a tartan cover! Also, my Chilies, given me by a member. After a conference, we came back to see the two seeds germinated! ^0^

Stake conference itself was fantastic! When you listen to the spirit, you can receive personal revelation from anything. And wow. It was on missionary work, how members should be sharing the gospel with their friends, and it was amazing! Several recently baptised members talked, and you could feel the spirit bear witness of the truth of their testimonies. It was such a powerful and positive experience! :D

I hope you all have a fantastic week! Thanks for all you do, and especially those of you who write me! Sorry if I take a while to respond! I promise I do love you! :D

Ta ta for now! :) 

– Elder William Kevin Black

But really

I've got a great companion, and the area is fun! I'm glad to be here! 

We got to see Jedburgh Abbey and Hume Castle, both of which were spectacular. I love the gothic structures! 

We had a wild drive out to give someone a blessing, but she wasn't there. BUT! In the process of going out, and thanks to poor instructions, we met someone (Karl) who was buddhist, but really interested in the book of mormon, and was excited to get a copy for free! 

I love yous! Thanks for being my friend! :) 

I've got some gorgeous pictures for you, but probably won't get to show them off until I'm home... 

Here's Hume castle's side, and the house labeled school we found Karl the Buddhist in! He was really nice. :) 

Cheerio! :D

– Elder William Kevin Black

[Scotland>Galashiels]

Hello all! time is short, so I'll be brief. 

Life is good. 

that is all. :) 

Cheers! 

– Elder William Kevin Black

To the Gala! (Formerly to be titled "of Death Threats and Baptisms")

So I'm tearfully leaving Kilmarnock, and leaving for Galasheils, locally called Gala. Someone must really need me there to tear me away from Dave and Ruth. Which, by the way, went WONDERFULLY!If she looks nervous in this picture, you're right. She was very nervous. But it was an amazing experience for her. She told us when she went under the water, she felt like she was dead - she felt nothing but peace - the shock was when she came out of the water. From then on, she was so happy, and still is! She's really just felt so good since! And Dave will follow closely behind her hopefully. But he's gutted (as I am) about moving. 

In other news, I got to play a wargame (called dropzone - I won! ^0^) with less active members and nonmembers. Dave felt the spirit - saying it was like a warm hand over his heart that he felt sometimes while reading the book of mormon, or when us elders said certain things. He also says he believes 8/10 that there really are modern day prophets!! He is just so close to getting baptised, it's really heart-wrenching I'll have to leave before it happens. 

And yeah. Death Threats. Someone who was friendly with us for the months before has now been on the drink, and called us up, threatening to kill us, trying to get our mission president's phone number, and so forth... So he told us (by text - I actually couldn't understand him on phone. Not that it's a piece of cake when he's not drunk, but it's impossible when he is.) that we had better get out of the UK. So I've officially been threatened by death! I consider this quite a life achievement, probably going up a few ranks in the echeladder. (180 points to anyone that gets that reference!)

So it's been an intense and long week. I love you all, and hope you're all still alive. :) 

Cheerio! 

– Elder William Kevin Black