Kinda Scary

in the Zone

OK, so I really have been writing for a half hour but pressed the wrong button and erased it all. So I will summarize what I was going to say. I'm not happy about your Christmas plans (going snowmobiling in Utah) because I wanted to skype but, oh well. The latest I will be able to call will be 1330 for you. That’s 2030 for me. Just tell me when before then would be alright and I will do it. If you could get a hold of a computer/laptop with skype that would be even better.

159 Henley Road is our current flat but, due to bad neighbors and no hot water, we will be moving to 12 Conduit Road with its jet tube bath. That is in Bedford, Bedfordshire.

It is great being with Elder Rallison. He is proper redneck and we get along very well. We have so much in common it is scary. The only difference is he is in 'survival mode' and has no motivation. Its ok though cause I get an extra three hours in the morning to do my personal study while I wait for him to wake up. Pray for him and me. And us. Please.

Funny stories from yesterday. While tracting we had and angry lady send her very large husband on us. Kinda scary. We also went to Mount Zion Pentecostal Church were we bore testimony and I read to them from The Book of Mormon. Then the preacher delivered and hour and a half Sermon from Galatians 1 and boldly taught false doctrine condemning himself; he taught that every one that taught a gospel that was not a Gospel that Paul taught would be accused. All of his comments were directed indirectly at us. We laughed and cried because of the true lovers of Christ who he was blindly leading astray. We were nice and cordial to him after the service. And wished him a happy journey to Jamaica that he is due to depart on... tithing in good use.

This place has been nicknamed Deadford. I don’t believe it. President Patch pulled me aside on moves day after I gave him a very nasty look for moving me. He said he was sorry. Then explained the challenges that I will have to face this transfer with the area and with my companion but then also explained that he was confident that I could handle it and even make the situation better. I need a miracle. Faith precedes the miracle so lets see what happens after all I can do. I'm looking forward to see some cool things happen.

I love you all and keep you in my prayers always,

Elder Solomon

No harvest, First snow, Things you already knew

Castle on the hill.

The Hunt Family (Ward Mission Leader)

Sister Gipson (Hawaii), Edler Volpe (Italy) and me!

My companion Elder Engelbrektsson, the Swede.

Snow!

Ok, first I have a few additions to the Christmas list:

1 leather bound journal. (Mine is almost full; I have all ready written over 200 pages!)

2-powder Ranch mix

There was more I just know it!!

I will be sending a package home of stuff with a few Christmas presents. Since no one told me what he or she want you can’t complain about what you will be getting. Ill just try to include anything that is extremely English.

Ok, so serving with Elder Engelbrektsson is a bit like serving with Sheldon's buddy - You Know Who. I often used the line 'your perception of the obvious is incredible'. We had some good laughs but I got pretty annoyed whenever he would correct me on everything that I ever said. Even when I was right and mostly when it didn’t even matter. We were tracting yesterday and got a call from President Patch. I answered and he said, 'let me talk to your companion so that I can tell him that you are getting transferred'. I said, 'you just broke my heart'. He laughed and said, 'well someone had to'. Elder Engelbrektsson will be training and I will be transferred to Bedford in the North Hampton stake. So at least I will be going into the midlands for winter. I’ll be serving with Elder Rolleson? Supposedly a proper redneck from Idaho. So, I’ll be on my fifth companion. Still haven’t had one for more then six weeks.

This week was crazy. On Monday, Julie was visiting the Canterbury Cathedral and went for a trip down the stairs and broke her arm. The Archbishop of Canterbury (second in charge of the Church of England (next to the queen), sat her down and offered her a cup of tea. She refused and said that she only drinks drinking chocolate!! But because of it her baptism will have to be moved back. She is amazing though, and is already a great missionary. We teach one of he daughter’s friends and will start teaching this man named Peter who has kinda adopted her as his daughter.

Amber we haven’t seen for a while. So nothing to report there.

Chris Anstice, the oldest of the Peruvian family, made my week on Thursday. We went out to lunch with him and had a good chat. We talked about everything under the sun and he really opened up to us and told us all kinds of stuff that he hasn’t really told anyone else. We talked about missions and how to prepare for the future. He decided that he wants to go on a mission and agreed to be baptized in January!!!!!! I'm so happy! Then he has been amazing at all the other lessons we had this week. Finally after nearly three months of visiting them we are getting somewhere! Just in time for me to Freakin leave. I hate my luck.

Jim the guy who met President Hinckley is also being prepared to be baptized but it won’t be for a while. We also had a really good lesson with him. I'm so upset that all these people I have found and taught will be baptized AFTER I leave. What the heck man?

Anyhow. My biggest trial in this area was building the relationship with the ward back up. My first comp in this area kinda ruined it and destroyed any trust they had in us. I feel I was a bit of a success in that area. This past week we had 8 meal appointments with members and did 2 different service projects. I honestly feel that I have dug around the tree, pruned it, and watered it and now when it is time to harvest I get moved. That greenie Elder Engelbrektsson will be training is freakin lucky.

It was so good to get updated on the happenings at home. It was so funny that you got snowed in! I miss the cabin I just dreamed about it last night! How weird. But four days ago we had our first snow and I have never been so excited in my life! It was one of the best days so far everyone was happy and carefree and we set up a lot of appointments (all of which hosed us). But funny enough here in England the whole country SHUTS DOWN when it snows. During church it was snowing and the bishopric decided to cut church short. So after the first two hours we ended church so everyone could get home safely. Well, as soon as church was out there was about three inches of snow and we all had a huge snowball fight! It was so fun! I love my mission.

I finally got Preston's wedding invitation... its still really weird for me. But I'm happy for them.

Thanksgiving was amazing. We ate at a member’s home and we were on a work over to get me away from my companion for a day. So Elder Ashby from Utah came with me to the dinner and we enjoyed two hours of American jokes. It was hilarious. I have learned just to laugh about friendly fire, over spending, airhead girls, pompous politicians, huge food portions, and a lack of socialized heath care.

Life is really good. I'm excited to start out in a new area and finally have another American companion. Honestly serving with Europeans has been bad for my speech. I often times find myself speaking in broken English just because it is what I am use to hearing... kinda embarrassing.

One of the greatest things about serving a mission is learning things that you already knew. It’s like gaining the testimony that you had in primary. It’s amazing what happens when you begin to walk by faith and trust in the Lord. I'm really trying to learn humility but it doesn’t matter in what way you do it humility is one of the most difficult lessons to learn. I hope that this email finds you all well.

Much love,

ELDER SOLOMON

P.s. tell Zach not to get shot!

Here are as few pictures of the snow and me

Elder Engelbrektsson

Me Elder Volpe (Italy) and Sister Gipson (Hawai'i)

Me and the Hunt family (ward mission leader)

Oh My Days!

Oh my days!! It is so good to hear from you all! I'm getting a bit confused. They say you are most homesick for the first three months, then you get over it. That wasn’t the case with me, but now with Christmas season rolling around and all that comes with it in our family, it is starting to get a bit harder. It is so weird. I keep having dreams where I’m home for a week or to for the holidays then I have to go back on to England. Preston seriously I know you couldn’t really wait any longer but did you really have to add another significant day to December? It will be safe to say that December will be the most loaded month for our family forever. K question. Are you going to be home on Christmas? If I'm still here in Deal I will try to SKYPE home. Will that work for you.

Ok, so Julie is doing great! We are teaching her, her three children and one of their friends. However she is getting more comfortable with us which means she is talking more and we get to teach less. No disrespect to her at all but she is the biggest airhead I've ever known! It is hilarious she is always roeing with her 13 year old daughter to prove who is more intelligent. The lessons are progressing very slowly. One principle per lesson, it will be 42 lessons.... forever... before we get through them all. It will be a miracle if she can pass her baptism interview. I think I need to buy a white board and start drawing pictures.

Weird experience this week. We are teaching this lady named Amber who is a bit off her rocker. Mostly because she carries baggage of an abusive child hood. We came by this week and wanted to begin a lesson with a prayer as we always do and she didn’t let us. Then she told us that she was a psychic and that it is enhanced every time we or she prays. Then she started telling us some really weird stuff. Like for instance, she says she can 'pick up' on spirits. She claims that every time we come around there is the presence of a little girl with us (I hadn’t ever told her about London). She can sense people’s emotions concerning their past and also have premonitions of the future. Now, I would have thought she was full of a load of crap until she started talking about my past. Kinda creepy but I used it to my advantage. I told her when I gained a testimony and started living the gospel by my own choice and not because I was forced. Then I asked her to tell me when I was happier and she said after I made this conscious choice to change. I said 'that’s right', then ended up tell her that she needed to live the gospel to be happy. It turned out really well. The spirit guided everything I said. Elder Engelbrektsson so completely lost and had no idea what to say the whole time, so I was all on my own. We gave President Patch a call afterwards to see what he had to say about it. It was awesome he basically said, “boldly teach her about the priesthood and invite her to be baptized”. I'm excited for our next lesson.

Ok, I am learning patience but it has almost run out. I was always taught if you have nothing nice to say don’t say anything at all. My tongue is getting quite sore and covered with teeth marks. Transfers are next week and I’m crossing my fingers. Pray for me.

Ok, so Christmas list as much as I can think of right now:

Thermal bottoms.

Ranch dressing.

Raspberry chipotle sauce

Reese’s peanut butter cups

EFY CDs

It would be amazing if you could put all our Mo Tab music one to one of the scan disk that I send home then send it back. I had problems with the ipod and will be sending it back, but I bought a picture frame that plays music off of the scan disk from Elder Gallagher which works like a pro, plus I can show pictures on it. Novel idea right?

.... Brain freeze...

I was talking to Brother Fultz right after I got my mission call and I remember him telling me how all that Brock asked for was money for Christmas and I laughed but now I see the wisdom behind it. (P.S. Brock goes home tomorrow!)

You need to let me know if there is anything that anyone wants from here so I can send it. I'm already getting a box together but I still need to fill it up.

I'm so glad that everything is doing well at home. I didn’t even know that you were going to do a London’s Swim but good job! Now I have something else to brag about!! Seriously it might be a sin but bragging about my family is one of my favorite things to do!

Dad. I was just thinking about when we went to California together for a couple of days. That was so much fun. I really wish that I had spent less time trying to impress people and more time with my best friend. I probably would have learned a whole lot more.

Send my love to everyone who prays for me:)

Elder Solomon

Unlike Anything

Typical gray day.

We tracted this house out of envy!

My new coat - warm!

Ok, so life is great. I can’t say much more then that! Julie and her family are going to be baptized in December! It was so cool when she described her experience at church! She said that it was unlike anything she has every experienced. She felt a certain peace she had never known in her life. She talked about all the other churches she had gone to and how she would be happy there but would always come away feeling like something was missing. She said that she felt fulfilled when she came to our church! Unfortunately she went to the stake adult dance Saturday night and forgot to set the alarm so she wasn’t ready to go to church yesterday:( I finally got myself a winter coat, which is huge, and warm I love it! I look so funny with my flat cap scarf and huge coat!

We had zone conference this week and it was amazing! One of the Greenies right now is a sister from PAKISTAN can you believe it? And there is another one coming in a few months! President Patch is amazing. He is so funny he use to be a secretary to the Presiding Bishopric and he loves numbers. He told us all about the averages and percentages of missionary work. The LDS population of the British isle are .25% id say we are few in number... but the coolest thing that I learned is that the gathering of Israel isn’t just the Jews going to Jerusalem but the converting of the elect of God. He told us something Russell M Ballard said. 'The day will come when people will flock to the church as a last beacon of hope. It will happen in your lifetime and it will happen in mine' Big things are about to happen and I'm so excited to be apart of it.

Got the package thank you so much! Christmas list is on the way. Out of time.

Love you all forever,

Elder Solomon!!!

600 something days to go

Family,

I think its a bit unfortunate that my p days are all on a Monday because Monday follows Sunday and Sundays are the most stressful frustrating day of the week. So, I'm still trying to wind down from this week. Our Ward Mission leader in priesthood announced the goals that we came up with for the month that we want to focus on. Bishop didn’t like that and pulled us aside and rebuked us for not involving the Ward Council in our goal setting. I was really confused because that had never been the case and amidst all the confusion and lack of communication somehow the entire fault fell on our laps. Kinda frustrating. On a brighter note we did have four investigators at church. Elisa, a retired dancer, has a year long commitment at 'her church' so she wont be baptized for a bit but comes to church whenever occasion permits so she was able to be there this week. Then we finally got Julie two of her daughters and one of her daughter’s friends to make it to church. They had to get a ride with our ward mission leader (Brother Hunt) in his 17-passenger van. The three-year-old daughter isn’t good in cars. Some time on the 20 minute ride to church, the 3 year old up chucked all over the 13 year old. So, when they did make it to church they were in a frightful state and the teenager was crying and wanted to go home. Props to mom though she made them all stay. Granted, Brother Hunt I'm sure, would not have taken them home anyhow. Last Sunday we all moved the clocks back an hour for 'daylight savings' and now the sun goes down at FOUR o'clock in the after noon. By six it is as dark and lonely as midnight. People yell at you for knocking at their doors at half past five and none of the investigators want to see you past six. I love it. Especially since my body is conditioned to rise with the sun and set with it. I'm going to have a lot of adjusting to do.

Sheldon-Congrats on 2^ND [at State in Diving]! That’s awesome! It was funny- I saw that the winner was from Arcadia and I had this odd feeling rivalry stir in me. (Those pretty boys from Scottsdale always put up a good fight but we always beat them.) Will you be doing club is ASU? I'm so excited for you. I think you should do all you can to get into the 2012 Olympics in London! That would be so cool to be released from my mission and then come back a week later and watch my brother dive. So in all the town centers they have these huge TV screens that show local news and BBC broadcasts. With the news there is always a count down to the Olympics. I have realized that the Olympics start around the same time that I leave. So I have a constant reminder of the limited days I have to serve in England. Its kinda sad to see that I only have six hundred something days to go.

Brigg

I'm so happy that you are going to mission prep! That class became the highlight of my week. Ok, so the First Presidency has given us all eight specific lessons/ training that they want to incorporate into missionary life. These eight lessons will become the primary focus of all the MTC Classes around the time that you will be going out. I'm going to mail you a copy of the outlines of these lessons. Do with them what you would like but I would suggest that you study them. Add scriptures of your own to them and share them with the class. They started teaching us the lessons a couple of weeks after I got into the field and I have found that they have been a great help. I'm so sorry to hear about your knee. Its can be so frustrating when you do all that you can and wait on the Lord only to realize that He has something else in mind for you. I’m so happy and proud that you are taking the proper and positive attitude with these things. Life sucks but all the trials with are worth it if we remain faithful to the Lord. That is the lesson that I am learning. I know that the Lord has GREAT things in store for you. Although I am 6000 miles away with the little contact that I have I can see that you are changing and the Lord is beginning to shape and mold you so that you will fit the job description that He needs you to be. Never underestimate the power of your influence. You are in such a wonderful position that so many people love you and look up to you. Never forget it. You never know maybe a week before you leave on your mission someone that you never thought would will come up to you and ask you how soon they can be baptized. Brigg, I love you. Your email hit me right to the heart and for the first time in a long time I started to tear up. Right here in the Dover public library. I never appreciated the person you are. I’m sorry that it took me so long to be the brother that I should have been the whole time. I hope that above everything else you remember who I was for the last six months before it left. In begging for your forgiveness I want you to know that I forgive you. I hold no feelings but love and admiration for you. I often study and read about Joseph and Hyrum Smith. What an amazing relationship they had. Together they were ordained and set apart as President and Assistant President of the church. Everything they did was in harmony with each other. Even in death they were not separated. I feel that bond often when I think of my brothers and I think that there is no one in the world that it would have been better for me to grow up with then the three brothers I have.

Dad,

Love you to bits. But I never took you as adrenalin junky. I will not preach but I would like to share my testimony. I know that the Lord watches over us. Intently. He has promised us through His servants that all things work together for good for those that serve God. I know this is true. It is too burdensome to take upon us the responsibility of others actions. I have recently learned that it is not considered throwing someone under the bus when they themselves were jay walking. All men will be responsible for their OWN sins and not for Adams transgressions. I don’t know if it is the motto or slogan of the mission but it is a line that I often times heard you quote to me form Joseph Smith. 'We teach them correct principles and they govern themselves' I love it! Thank you for teaching me correct principles and then allowing me to stumble my ways to where I am now. Therefore my dearly beloved brethren let us cheerful do all that lies in our power and then stand still with them utmost assurance and the salvation of the Lord. Ok I didn’t have my scriptures with me but I tried to get that right. Love you dad you are the second greatest dad I have ever had and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Mom,

Press on. Thank you for all the care and kindness you have ever shown me. I have learned to recognize and predict the 'natural consequences' of my actions and have learned simply that obedience is life; disobedience is damnation. I often hear some of your stupid little phrases that I hated as a teenager run through my head. Almost every time I make my bed I pray. I should change that almost every time I pray I make my bed :) cuz now I pray all the time to an 'influence for good' in the life of others.

I'm out of time but thank you for all that has not yet been mentioned.

Much love,

Elder Solomon (yes like that one king in the Bible)

Life is Amazing!

Me and Angel Rickard

My Pumpkin...get it?

Big Ben

November 1, 2010

Family!!
Life is amazing! Angel Rickard got baptized this week, which makes the first person I officially taught as a missionary to be baptized. Of course it didn’t count as a convert baptism but still it was really cool. The Peruvian family is doing really good. The Anstice children are amazing and I have figured out how to work with them. It is the easiest thing. I am just myself! I have just begun to act like the teenager that I still am and we get along now! Of course I refrain from certain things cause I still am a representative of Christ but I have found how to keep their attention and motivate them selves. I was having a chat with Chris the oldest son walking back from the church the other night after an activity there and he explained how the missionaries use to come around but they hated it because they were SO boring. Then the 13 year old told me how she use to stay at school extra long cause she knew that the 'Mormons' would be at her house that night. It is amazing how people can get more excited about the gospel when it is relevant to them! We have started reading with them from the war chapters, which are a bit more excited then, the allegory of the olive tree. Elder Engelbrektsson and I have been able to masterfully weave in spiritual messages amidst all the gore and blood shed of the stories. The other night I almost shouted for joy when I walked in to the house and saw Tiffany (13) with the Book of Mormon open on her lap looking for the answer to the question I had left them with! It is our plan to slowly introduce more the spiritually uplifting chapters once they are a bit more excited about reading the Book of Mormon. I can’t wait to keep working with them.

My heart dropped when I heard about Brigg’s knee. What a shame but I do know that miracles do happen. Look at me the doctors told me that after my junior year of football I would need surgery to fix my ACL then after the season the MRI showed that my knee was perfectly health. You have my prayers little bro. Ok I will think of my Christmas list as soon as you send my yours:) Sheldon good luck at state! Knock them dead in that flashy Speedo of yours! Kallen called me from the mission home of Friday and I got to chat with him for a bit it was soo good I'm so happy that he is getting ready to go on a mission. Thank you for the package but it will probably sit in the office for another two weeks before I can travel in there. I noticed this week that my body has become conditioned to constant work. I almost went crazy when I had to waste an hour waiting for a train. Two years is too short to idle away time. I am going to do better at that.

As always I love you all and hope and pray for the very best for you! Always remember there are greater things to come!

Much love,

Elder Solomon

P.S. So in my spare time I have begun to pursue one of my dreams. I'm writing a story that I will publish and make millions. OK, maybe it won’t be that good but I’ll send it home when I can and let you judge for yourself.

The Spirit Is Amazing!

Ok I am so happy right now!!!
I didn’t have time to email in the library today. Just enough time to print off the emails that I had received last week so I was kinda sad, then all of our appointments cancelled for the night so we went over to the Elder Quorum president’s house and are using his computers.
I cannot tell you how happy I am to receive the wonderful news from the families. Dave and Nancy’s emails we particularly good. I loved hearing about their mission experiences. Especially Dave’s although he told them twice it was so good to hear about them I really hope that I will be able to one day come back to England and visit some converts and have similar experiences. The new training that the first Presidency is stressing for missionaries is brilliant. It really helps us understand what the missionaries and the investigators need to feel for conversion to take place. The spirit is an amazing thing I absolutely love how it feels and directs me. Today we went bowling with the zone and at the alley they were playing some worldly music and then I was getting quite competitive with the game and it was amazing how horrible I felt when I lost contact with the spirit. I felt so lost and even had a bit of a panic attack. I truly felt helpless! It was so silly cause I was just bowling and I wasn’t really in a situation that I was relying on the spirit to teach or anything but I felt so alone it was incredible! I have really been focusing on putting off the natural man lately and I was getting frustrated because I would often let myself get distracted by different things but that experience today kind of helped me see the difference between who I am and who I was and how far I have come. I can just see y'all rolling your eyes at my story... I think it is funny myself. But the spirit it so necessary for the teaching of the gospel. I never really paid attention to most of the doctrine and covenants because it was always addressed to random people going out on missions so now it applies so much to me and I cannot get enough.

So Elder Engelbrektsson... my days! Love him. He grew up with five sisters... need I say more? He is a very nice sensitive guy who is soft spoken and enjoys long walks on the beach... Ok, he never told me that but I'm just assuming. He is a really good missionary though. He is even softer then Elder Enenkel. It is so weird cause he is the district leader but acts like the junior companion. Its like pulling teeth to get him to say anything in a teaching appointment. I have so much to learn from him and I cannot wait to see how this transfer goes!

So investigator update the Peruvian family is doing well we always have amazing lessons with them but we just cannot get them to keep any commitments! The mother is good though and has gone to church three times now but we can only get the kids to the Friday night sports night at the church. I guess we are facing the same issue as almost every parent in the church. 'How do I get my teenagers interested in the gospel?'

Mom and dad, thank you so much for your thoughts it is so refreshing to know that my family is so strong. That they do read and pray together AND go to church. That is almost unheard of here. I was so happy to hear about Brigg and Sheldon preparing the sacrament. I was so proud I started tearing up here at Brother Trice’s home. I love my family. I can attribute all of my good qualities to my upbringing. Today at zone meeting I was talking with the zone leaders about how our parents brought us up. I decided that if I were to use the same means as dad to teach lessons I would probably be put in jail. I remember one time as we were walking to the hunted house one Sunday evening I was not listening to dad and he was getting frustrated with me. He put me in the ditch and held me under the water just long enough to get my attention. If I were perfect I would say that from that day on I always listened to my dad but that was not the case. But it did impress the importance on listening to dad. I believe that I was placed in this family to help me be in the most successful situation. Life is a funny thing. It can be the cruelest thing you have to go through but it is the greatest gift we have been given.

It was funny that you mentioned Regan and sister Clifford. I was in someone’s home the other day and their surname was Clifford and they had the names back ground and history written out in old English on the wall and after I had read through it I remembered that I knew someone named Clifford. I'm glad to hear that she is doing well.

Thank you Meagan, Lindy, Kassidee, Taylor, mom, Jamie and Taylor for you post (letters) over the last two weeks. I am working on a reply but I currently have no stamps so don’t expect anything for at least two weeks!

With all the love that I can send over and email,

Elder Solomon