"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