Stay cool

Stake Athletic day

Raheel and me

hey there,

I have found it is a lot more difficult to be motivatied to email when you have nothing to reply to. Its good to hear that Preston is doing well. Cool new truck, looks like you can take Mike Jeff and Jerry out to lunch now with out having anyone double up! So things are doing really good on my end. at the beginning of the week i spent three days out of my area on various exchanges and left my poor new missionary companion to wonder around on his own. Well let me tell you how good he is when i got back to Hayes i found that those three days have been some of the most productive days for the whole transfer!! and the day i got back whe had somthing rediculous like 15 appointments schedualed! i think the area is going to do just fine when i get moved out! Saturday was a special day we had our stake athletics event. Basically it is a ward vs ward track meet with every event ( except pole vaulting:( ) so we thought it best to spend a day with the ward members at the event and we had a absolute blast!! Raheel came which was really good we had a good time together. Even though he threw up a couple of times. I lived up to the saying 'im not as good as i once was but im as good once as i ever was' and won both the shot put and discus events. then they surprised me and had me run the 100m twice! i almost died! i think my favorite part though was when we found and American football. oh good ole days. anyways to avoid feeling more trunky i will share a proper missionary success story........ if i can think of one... ummmm... ok got it!

1. earlier this week we taught this guy named Erfan he is from Iran. (by the way Iranian are the best second to chinese) He is super against organized religion because he had Islam shoved down his face since he was a kid so he is more then happy to learn but will not commit to anything. he has studyed various religions and Christianity is the one he said if he ever joined a religion it would be that one. so his lessons have been going pretty rough i felt, not really going any where and i couldnt really see him progressing. our first lesson we taught him how we recieve revelation throught the Holy Ghost then all the other lessons kept getting inturpted by his monologues about his buddist phylosopies. then last week the lesson was getting deeper and deeperand he told us that he would be Christian if anything. I asked why and he began to tell me how when he was younger he watched movies and about Jesus Christ and really felt drawn to him and would begin to cry with out knowing why. A massive smile crept onto mine and my companions faces. then he told us how he would watch American preachers on the God channel and he got the same feelings. Then he explained that he didnt know what that feeling was... before he was done speaking I busted out my little diagram of prayer and revelation and as soon as he was done I retaught him about revelation and we testified that what he felt was the Holy Ghost telling him that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and the Saviour of the world. Then Raheel (who had accompanied us) bore his testimony about being Christian in and Islamic country. Even though we were in the library and it was noisy the Spirit then took its turn testifying. It was so good! One day Erfan is going to be a great preisthood holder. It might take a little longer then some but I have faith that it will happen.
2. We set a baptismal date with Junes son Barret!!!!! he finally has made the decision to be baptised on his own with out us inviting him like we have a hundred times! he even woke up early got dressed shaved and came to church. Everyone at the church loved him and it seemed at the end of the block like he was a regular member Barret is really excited also to be going on the stake young mens campout this week. (that is IF the ward can scrounge up TWO leaders to go with them). Either way he is going to be baptised on the 6th of August.. two days after transfers i hope im still here but odds are i will not be.
3. Raheel recieved the priesthood yesterday! It is super hard to describe how happy i am to see these recent converts doing so well. it is a different kind of joy then i have ever felt. Soon after he recieved the priesthood one of the bishopric pulled him aside and asked him to go as a leader to the stake youth camp how cool is that!? (to be honest they just need bodies but still!)

yea so things are going really good here. i hope that all went well with sheldons camp and that he didnt flop. so elder browers grandpa owns this glass company in utah that do all kinds of temple work and church work (ie bullet proof windows in president monsons appartment and elder oaks home...little things) but he jokeingly said half serious that if i go straight home to utah and work for his grandpa then i could get sent to Itay to work on the Rome temple! probably wont happen but it was a cool thought.

anyways stay cool

Elder Solomon

pictures = Aidins baptism (i dont think i sent that picture yet)

stake athletics me with Raheel

and me with Raheel and the other missionaries

A week in review

Elder Brower

Me, whistling...nice glasses!

Elder Brower, Raheel Suliamon and myself

So we had a really good week this week! We worked hard and got more done then we have in a really long time. I think the highlight of the week was Saturday. Saturday morning we woke up and had absolutly nothing planned for the day. which is a night mare for a missionary because that means 10 hours of tracting and street contacting. so i did my best to put on a good attitude and we steped out the door. Elder Brower is learning how to whistle so we whistled as we worked all day. Our focus for the day was to follow the spirit in everything we do. every half hour no matter what we were doing or where we were we would stop and say a prayer then continue. We ended up having a great day! We found a ton of new people to teach and actually got to teach four people unexpectedly through out the day. it ended up being a more productive day then most days that we have chalk full of appointments! It is amazing the things that the Lord does for you when you serve him. Saturday we found this really good girl named Zenah from Ivory Coast, Africa. We taught her briefly then invited her to church. Sunday morning our bus was late so we missed sacrament meeting but we still had an amazing day! We traveled with Zenah and planned on teaching her after church. well after church she was no where to be found and we thought maybe she had had enough and ran away after relief society. but we found out later that a couple of the African sisters in the ward took her out to lunch! that is propbably better then us teaching her! Also a members wifes cousin (from china!! oh yea!!) came for the first time and was supper intrested in learning more. I sat down with her after church and taught her about revelation and prayer. I think my favorite thing ever is witnessing a chinese person pray for the first time. each time it is a witness to everyone in the room that God really is there. Amber came to church finnally again. Unfortunatly it was for the last time because she will be moving back to Taiwan on Friday (im super gutted about it) But she brought a friend who was visiting from Taiwan. It was really good for Amber because she showed her friend around and taught her everything that we had taught her and bore her testimony about prayer and receiveing answers. Im sure that her testimony is stronger for it! ok i love you all and am going into London for pday today so i dont have much time.

Be good stay cool and press on

elder solomon

Update!

So sorry i havent had proper time to sit down and email things have been crazy latly. Last p-day i had to travel into London for a leadership training meeting which lasted longer then i wanted to so i didnt have time to email when i got back. my bad. For my fourth of july i had a bbq pulled pork sandwich. it reminded me so much of Taylor rodeos and heber fireworks. then i whipped my face and when back to work. in my last proper update i believe i told you about Susie and June right? well to update a bit more on them. The ward is doing amazing at fellowshipping them and being friends. at church yesterday they both were given a calling, contaced by visiting teachers and interviewed for a temple recommend! They are both so excited to go to the temple this weekend. Even though they will only be visiting the visitors center. i bought them their own quads this week and Susie said in a text about it 'thanks so much for my bible it truly is the best gift ever!' Im cant not tell you how happy i am with how good they are doing! Susie is a great example of faithful loyalty. She has recieved extreme opposition from her mother and has even been kicked out of her home! Thankfully she will be getting her own place now this week.

elder Brower is awesome! I've been telling every one that i trained for about a week then he has taken over as senior companion. Honestly he does so many things better then i do. however, his American accent is still way to strong and is rubbing off on me, and he still has his volume turn up to the normal American level 10+. its great the whole street gets preached the gospel and we only have to knock on one door!

Last week end we had two more baptisms. I dont remember if i told you about them yet or not... First was Raheel Gill. Christian kid from Pakistan his parents sent him here to pursue a football (soccer) career. when he had been here for five days late at night this scary African jumped out from behind a tree and scared him and his friends. after his friends ran away Raheel began talking to and laughing with Suliamon who invited him to church the next day. Raheel came that tuesday we invited him to be baptized an he accepted! teaching went smooth and he was baptised. Just the other day i found out that his parents were against his baptism because they said we didnt believe in the bible or Jesus Christ. He told them 'they teach me About Jesus Christ from the Bible. i know what they say is true so im getting baptised!' I really love this guy! he is just 20 years old. i hoping to get him on a mission.

Second was ANJ(name changed for privacy reasons). ANJ and his wife Nancy (named changed for privacy) are from Iran. Nancy's sister was baptised almost 4 years ago then Nancy followed and was baptised two years ago. at the time ANJ was in Malaysia studying acitecture. She told him all about it and he began attending the small branch there and read the Book of Mormon twice! he came here for a month between semesters. Elder Browers first proper lesson on a mission was ANJ's first proper lesson with the missionaries. We set a baptismal date! We taught ANJ everything that he needed to know. got him interviewed and baptised. We know that we had to be quick about it because ANJ was going back soon we just didnt know when. i was gutted the next day at church right after we confirmed him he had to leave to get on a plane! The baptism was super spiritual and emotional. President Patch came which was really exciting for Nancy because he attened her baptism as well. Marjan was in tears the whole time and the whole family had a massive family hug with Sister Patch when Elder Brower baptised ANJ, ponytail and all.

I have been thinking alot about the mission experience and how it prepares people for life. Rather it gives a person the best opportunity to make the correct desicions that will shape and mold his character that will see him through for the remainder of his life. Serving a mission isnt what makes the difference, the difference is in being a good missionary. Does that make sense? if not ill tell you about it when i see you. :)

I had to give a talk in sacrament meeting last week. it went quite well surprisingly of coourse it was on missionary work. it was really fun to be able to stand infront of a ward and teach/talk rather then sit in a smoke infested living room with a smelly dog at my feet.

I enjoy being a district leader. it is fun organizing things and setting goals. it is even better to see people reach these goals and reap the blessings from it! I enjoy being engaged and concerned about the other missionaries areas and being a part of there success. One of the best part is having contact with them a being able to hear all of there amazing success stories that happen everyday which unfortunatly never make it into the journal.

Have a good week!

Love Elder Solomon

ps Preston, when do you get that little bat with legs? Thanks for the letters / drawings they made me smile

2 Baptisms

Me, Elder Bowers, and President and Sister Patch

We had a cool experience this week. Elder Browers first proper lesson we set a baptism date for this coming week end. this guys name is Aidin he is from Iran and he really is one of the coolest people i have ever taught. for the past four years he has been studying arcitecture in malaysia. during that time his wife was baptised. she told him all about it and he started going to church here and has read the book of mormon twice now. We are really excited cause this weekend if everything goes alright we should have two baptisms... Raheel remember him? guy from pakistan? yea he is cool. well im out of time again enjoy yourselves and be good!

Hello family,

Hey I've had a really good week I hope the same for you. The last couple of days with Elder Smith were really slow he just could not get up and get working. It has been a bit hard to recover from it. Ok so my new companion is Elder Brower from utah he is really cool adn im excited to work with him.

have a good week

elder solomon

new week, new transfer, new companion

First and for most! We had two baptisms this week!! YEA!!! Susie Jones and June Tapper. So let me tell you about them. Susie is basically the coolest person I have ever taught. She reffered herself to the church. for like 4 years she has not gone to church because she got kicked out of her last church for being a single mother. so she began emailing churches asking if they accepted single mothers. we got the message invited her to come by and she came and was blow away by the spirit. Basically for four weeks in a row every talk and every lesson given at church was tailored (by the Spirit) to her specific needs and concerns. Her and I are currently racing to read the book of mormon and we are both stuck on Jacob chapter 5. our lessons with her are completly amazing she knows the bible better then anyone i know and in fact we had her teach us a lesson last time and the whole time elder smith and i were taking notes. She is the first person that I found, taught and baptised in one transfer. Then there is June. June is from South Africa and basically came here to live off the social system. But she is lovely and super kind. She was introduced to us by her friend in the ward and the teaching process went great. we had to push her baptism date back a little cause she could never get up in the morning. but now she has been for a month in a row so she is in the swing of things. She is most excited about doing family history work and when we brought our family history consultant to her to teach her about it she asked him if someone could go to the temple every day! Her son is Barett he is a full grown man at the age of 17. He really loves us and the church the only problem is he spends 12 hours a day on the xbox and the other 12 sleeping so he has no time on Sunday to get to church. but we are working on him and he really wants to get baptised before i leave and he goes into the army. he is a great kid. just loves sleep more then church. It was Elder Smiths last week. kinda sad. we spent most of the week traveling to and from teaching appointments and did about half as much work as we normally do in a week. We also had to travel to the other side of London (back to Ilford!) to get a baptism dress big enough for June! But we have a really good week set up this week. Big news by the way. I got a call from President Patch yesterday. Next transfer he has asked me to be te district leader. I was realy surprised by the call and tried to get out of it but he wouldnt let me. He said he has been training me for this for the past six months. As well I will be training next transfer. Im super nervous about that but i got some really good advice from yous so i just have to give it a read again! Who ever my next companion is is lucky cause of how good the area is doing right now! we hopefully will be having three more baptisms in the next six weeks. so he wont have to wait until nine months to see his first baptism like me. And we are getting on really well with bishop now! in Elders qourum he took five mintues to tell everyone how good we are and admonished every brother to come teaching with us! He said that we were the hardest working missionaries he had seen in the four years he has been here. this is a huge progress seeing how when i first came bishop was cancelling baptisms and the high priest group leader had told everyone not to help us get people to church! Bishop even invited us over for dinner this week! I really hope that things keep going this well. Elder Jacob taught me somthing that I really focused on this transfer. He said 'how you are in the valleys of your mission will determine how high the peaks are and how long they last' i miss him. He did a lot of good for this area and for me. Oh i also found out some good news! Three people that i found and began teaching in Ilford and now since been baptised! basically I've had a really good week.

hope y'alll are doing well. and i really hope that qc doesnt end up in the burn:/

love Elder Solomon

Life is Amazing!

it was so good to hear from y'all this week. dad i really enjoyed your email! i had to laugh when you told me about Preston and Hilary's dog. it sounded like it was something you weren't to bothered about but mom said to mention it then you did then you talked about Brigg's new pig as if it was the coolest thing that had happened this week! I was surprised at how sad i was to hear about the Forrest fire.... that sucks you mentioned that the hikers dogs were like fried chicken and i got hungry.

We have had a really good week this week. i had a companion exchange one day with the current assistant to the president. the reason for it he said was to have the 'birds and the bees talk'. i was confused until he told me in not so many words that I'm going to be training. i kinda rolled my eyes and said to myself 'not this again, watch i going to have another dying companion next transfer.' let me share with you some of the high points and low points of the week

• Amber had her roof collapse on her and had to miss an appointment cause she wasn't feeling well.:(

• Amber has been trying to give up tea and coffee for a couple of weeks now with out us teaching the word of wisdom cause she wants to be baptized. :)

• Amber went to Greece for the week:(

• June passed her baptism interview and is geared up for her baptism this Saturday:)

• We don't have a baptism dress big enough for June:/

• Susie passed her baptism interview and is ready for this Saturday:)

• Susie told her mother (who is completely against her being baptised) that she would rather obey God's commandments then make her mom happy:)

• One of my favorite investigators has been disowned by her family for turning her arranged marriage husband in for beating her :(

• Bishop gave us a huge complement in PEC for how well we are doing.:)

• President Patch invited Barett (Junes son) to be baptised and now he is more determined to work for it.:)

• One of our Recent Converts from Iran brought her husband to church for the first time and now he wants to be baptised.:)

• A Chinese student stopped me in the street and asked me if i could teach him about God.:)

• This Chinese student wont be back from China until September:(

and the end of the day we had a really good week. Bearing in mind that incremental progress brings great success let us press forward searching for ways to accomplish our tasks rather then allow excuses to facilitate failure.

Love you all!

Elder Solomon