I AM NOT TRUNKY!!

Let me just put down a preliminary note... I'M NOT TRUNKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And all the invitations and exhortions not to be are not helping. if anything they are just reminding me that could justify having a reason to be the 'T' word. So for future references please don't ask me if I am missing home, or longing for this and that yet because I am not. My head is 100% in the game and my heart is too. There never was a time in my mission that i was more deticated then now. I feel that I have lost time to make up for.

anyways.....

I've had a good week. Yestderday was fast and testimony meeting it seemed like only all the super solid people in the ward bore there testimonys. It probably helped that there was an area seventy there. Personally I think Bishop assigned people to get up and bear testimony. Anyways it was great. So yestereday was like the sixth week in a row that we didn't have any investigators at church. Quite frustrateing to say the least. We found out this week that our only investigator (who were are only seeing about twice a month) fell pregnate with the guy that is keeping her from being baptised. Hopefully having another child will facilitate a paradigm (thanks for the word mom I love it!) speaking of words. One of our district leaders (Elder Thompson.....) is super intelligent and it seems like he is the only person that I can have proper intelligent converstion with. We trade words all the time and are continueally philosofising and and hypothesising. Oh man it is great! Well lessons learned this week.... Don't rely on someone else to remember something you can remember your self. Being happy is contagious (visa versa). When in a bad mood I can best serve the world by locking my self in my room.

We had our exchange with the assistants this week. went again into London with Elder Giboin (Scotland) I had a great time with him. It was so refreshing for my spirits to teach chinese students again. Its like stealing sweets from a baby. So it may sound like I'm lazy and I like teaching them because it is so easy but the truth is that i love teaching them because they are so innocent and eager to learn that the spirit is so strong whenever we have an appointment with them. I had a great time street contacting with Elder Giboin. The assistants serve in the only singles ward in Europe. So walking around the streets of London we are primaily looking for student YSA age people. Its tons better then talking to all the grouchy old 'ducks'. I'm getting a bit tired for them telling me to get a real job.

Well life is great

Elder Solomon

Volcano

If i could describe this week with a geological feature it would be a volcano. Volcano's are amazing. they are constantly moving growing and evolving. the volcanic ash can kill off civilizations and at the same time provide the most fertile soil the earth has ever seen. Also volcano's are know for their violent eruptions. I don't know why but i have had a building pressure of frustration recently in my life. This week there was a few preliminary tremors, and eruption and after post eruption tremors. Nothing serious at the worst I broke a dysfunctional pen by throwing it at the wall. I've learned a few good lessons though. I have learned that I need greater patience and humility. I have learned how to study the scriptures (took long enough eh?) and I have learned some important principles about how God works with us. I don't remember who said it but i remember someone telling me that the scriputres are very specific with their phraseology, for a specific reason. The Lord knows the reason and it is up to us to find that reason. then they gave me an example 'for instance why did the Lord say line upon line precept upon precept instead of precept upon precept and line upon line?' I left the question at that and didn't think much about it but treasured the lesson of the importance of scriptural wording. Well this week i was studying 2 Nephi 28:30-31, and I learned the reason why. So the Lord teaches us by degrees, milk before meat. He gives us understanding and light as we are able to comprehend it. this is the line upon line. He gives us knowledge and teaches us until we understand the principles of the gospel. 'knowledge is power' Sir Francis Bacon is one of my favorite quotes I quote it all the time. but why is knowledge power? Because the greater the knowledge the greater the ability to act. I remember growing up with dad working on the weekends. At times there was frustration because my dad would ask me to do a rather simple task. I would hum and ha about and never get started and sometimes if i did start i never finished. most of the time it was because i didn't understand his instructions or understand how he wanted something done. I did not have the power (or did not perceive it in myself) therefore I felt that I did not have the power to act. Knowledge is the power to act. Lines proceed precepts. A precept is a rule of behavior. God teaches us the principle an then teaches us how at act and apply that principle. Then as we do so we receive and new line. line upon line, line upon line, precept upon precept, precept upon precept. I'm out of time I guess I'll just have to pontificate next week. Brigg Love brother enjoy the MTC sounds like it is just one big party. Sheldon I'm so happy you are my brother. Your a good kid and I am grateful for the influences you have had on me.

Love Elder Solomon

Angels in the Lord's Hands

Hey Y'all,

On my end life is great!

first a bit of business.

the ~Nicholls gave me an address to forward to you for skypeing it is charlotte_nicholls1.

So calling brigg. I will call Wednesday morning your time if that does not work then Brigg (brigg only so i can talk to the rest of you on christmas morning at 8 your time? ) can call me Tuesday morning (your time) It will cost me only five pounds to call y'all from my card.

I Have ten mintues to go. Brigg i look forward to talking to you before you go. I've been trying to gather my best advice and everything that i wish they would have told me before i went to the MTC. It would be great if you prepare a list of things you would like to know. Or we can just throw that all to the side and just tell eachother how much we love each other........ but thats kinda a sister missionary thing to do.

So inlight of the season President Patch allowed us to have another zone meeting. So we had one today. I organized it a bit different so that instead of training on skills the whole time it was a bit more spiritual. My frist baptism was Hubert Borges De Silva in the Ilford Ward. I called him and invited him to share with us his conversion story and talk abit about how the missionaries (previous to me) impacted him. It was amazing. I'll always remember that he descibed us all as angels in the Lords hands sent to answer his prayers. by our words and by our deeds. Thats what you are getting into Brigg... Are you ready? President Patch also attended our meeting and gave some excellent remarks about change. I love the work that we are engaged in. It is the Lords works.

Love Elder Solomon

If there is any confusion about calls or anything and you need to get ahold of me just drop a message to the Nicholls via facebook.

New Comp- Elder Potts

Elder Potts from Pennsylvania, looking chappy the Brit way!

Hey Thanks for your email dad. I love your emails. I had to cringe a bit at the story of Coon's Bluff. I'm really glad that you didn't send any pictures. I don't blame the poor young mens for not wanting to go down after that. So it's now the most wonderful time of the year. we are now within the 12 days of Christmas and within 10 days of Briggs departure! I would ask that you please include in your email what time it would be best for me to call him and on what number! So with dads story running through my head i have completely forgotten what i wanted to say in this email. I've included a picture of my new companion. Elder Potts. So we have had a great start to our time together. Elder Potts is on fire and super motivated to work hard and do the Lords will. Its a bit refreshing to get a companion that will work without being pushed and will push me if necessary. So Im emailing today because yesterday was a bit manic and we ended up not haveing anytime to do it. Yesterday was our zone meeting. and of course being zone leaders we had the responsibility of organizing the whole thing. Yesterday ended up being full of sacred experiences. So you know how the Lord says that who He loves he chastens? Well I know that the Lord loves me. On Saturday we had a Zone Leader Council (Jedi Knight Council as Elder Potts calls it) and right before the meeting the Lord began chastening me. One weakness another, one sin after another just kept reeling through my head. Then President Patch gave his opening remarks and I just wanted to hid. I just wanted to run out of the room and go sit in some dark corner. Now i haven't done anything horribly wrong in fact most of it was is what i haven't been doing. So i was feeling a it down for the rest of the day. Truly humbled and a bit sad. Then Sunday was the complete opposite. As i read the scriptures during the Sacrament it seemed that the Lord opened my view and I was able to see how i could become and how i could over come all these weaknesses. Well Monday morning we were about to start the meeting and the assistants called to get the weekly report. Elder Potts did the report and i decided to sit down with the zone and have a bit of a study. Together we read through D&C 6:29-37 and discussed each verse. It reminded me of a time in the priest quormn that we sat down with Brother Dees and Brother Anderson and read 3 Nephi 11. The spirit was present and spoke to each of us individually. it was amazing to see how each person in the zone was receiving revelation to help the with there personal concerns. Well then zone meeting began and the trainings were fantastic. We gave a training of having a vision of who we can become and how through the grace of Christ we can become that person. Its hard to describe really what happened I think it was one of those 'hd to have been there' things. The words that Elder Potts and I were saying were not our own. It was the first time I have gotten emotional while teaching on my mission. the healing power of the Atonement is real. Christ is ever near. Even standing at the door. If and when we let Him in He will come and heal us (2 Nephi 26 8-9). I know it. I've seen it. I have felt it. Well after the meeting one of our district leaders pulled me aside and asked for a blessing. He is serving in a really tough area and at moves call when his companion found out that he was going to stay for another six weeks he kinda shut down. The ward its self is about to die. The stake has had to 'call/assign' members from other wards to go there and help them out. Basically he was just feeling a bit overwhelmed and had no idea what he was suppose to be doing in that situation. I think I will always remember that blessing. I testify that the power of the priesthood is real. That God does inspire men. Each word was given to me and I spoke. I will not relate what I said, but through the inspiration I receive I was able to figuratively see into heaven and gain a greater understanding of our purpose as missionaries. We are about the Lords work. This is His work. This is not just another 'American church' set up by a farm boy. This is the Kingdom of God and Christ stands at its head. All miracles and blessing that once existed in the primitive church are found and are abundant today.

Elder Solomon

Elder J counting down

Elder Jankowski and Ben Beechey

Monique Plane

Ties made out of wood!

Hey Y'all,

(I'm still a bit of a hick)

It seems like this whole week i have had a clock ticking away constantly reminding me that soon Elder Jankowsky will be leaving. After three months I'm not sure how I feel. He has been a great missionary and has left a great impact on the people he has served, served with, and around. But is time that he go. I was really sad to har about the Mustang, but all is vanity at the end of the day. However I am really happy that Sheldon was ok, that looked like a nasty wreck. Inpatient drivers suck. They do no good to anyone includeing themselves. Well Brigg you have about fifteen days left. That is crazy!! I got permission to call Brigg before he leaves. When would be the best time? Could you call me on your way to the airport or something? Also since you are going to be home for Christmas ( thats a wierd thought) Can you fix the skype? I'm going to try to skype from bishop nicholls house.

Ok let me tell you about my life. This last week was pretty cool. Unfortunatly the focus was a bit distracted due to upcomeing departures but we still had out baptisms!!! Ben Beechey and Monique Plane were baptised on Saturday. The service was a bit crazy (started half hour late) but the ordinances were great! I forgot to turn off the font water so it overflowed when Ben was baptised but that was just a minor detail. Ben has a great story. We first met him at Natalies second lesson. He was there for all of her lessons and at her baptism he really felt something different. He quite smokeing that and wanted lessons for him self. At our first proper lesson with him we invited him to be baptised. After a long pause he gave the best answer ever. 'You know, i've been thinking about it and praying about it and I really think I'll be ready to be baptised on the 3rd of December.' We had no complaints. He has been solid ever since. He loves reading the Book of Mormon even though he is a dyslexic. On Sunday he asked me to confirm him and then he also asked me to confer on him the priesthood. That was a realy cool experience. Monique is just so lovely. She is twenty and has a four month old baby. This baby has been the greatest tool for fellowhipping. every mother or want to be mother is just queing up to hold him. When we first contacted monique we thought she was already a member of our church but when we had our first appointment with her she told us 'I've always wanted to be baptised but i just haven't known how.' Well we could help her out with that no problem. She progressed at a steady pace and a she began reading the book of mormon she really came to feel that these things were ght. she said last night that she cant understand why no other christian churches dont have a temple. Whichi reminds me. Bishop and our awesome Welsh Ward Mission Leader have organized that all the new members are going to do baptisms for the dead tomorrow. I'm So excited for them! Sunday evening was the stake christmas choir concert in Romford. It was incedible! I completly enjoyed it even if I had Natalies kids slobering all over my trousers and shoving biscits in my mouth like i was some kind of parrot. At the end our new stake president had all the full time missionaries stand and told the whole congregation that instead of appaluding the choir to show appreiciation they should invite the missionaries into there home. That was really cool.

Moves calls brought some intesting news. My new companion will be Elder Potts form Pennsilvania. Elder Potts and a bit of some kind of mental break down about six months into his mission. He is coming from and area called Kings Lynn. In Kings Lynn is a church phycologist who is really good at helping missionaries. Elder Potts has been there for Six months now. I have no idea what to expect. I have no idea what the Lord wants me to learn. I have no idea even about what i think! Christmas holidays are great and im excited for all lthe jollyness.

Be Good!

Elder Solomon

Something in the air!

Ok so i think Christmas season is finally here I can't really deny or delay it any more. It is so crazy how there is such a different feel about the air and people just have a general different attitude. So this week was pretty loaded but slow at the same time. We had zone conference and stake conference and Elder Jankowsky spent two days ill in bed.

Zone Conference on Tuesday was pretty crazy. It was a 10-4 one rather then the normal 10-2. We had a visiting Area Seventy and he was really excited to be there. So excited that the conference lasted until 5!!! Elder Wright in just a English guy who has been about the Lord business since he returned from his mission. He served as a bishop and stake president before he was called to be an Area Seventy. Through out the day I really enjoyed his teaching and comments. Zone conference was like a spiritual oasis in a dry desert. As missionaries you spend 100% of your time worring about, planning for, and teaching other people and sometimes it is really nice to get it in return. Elder Sheppard (my latest companion) shared this feeling abit when he told me that the thing that he was most excited about going home was recieveing home teaching visited and letting someone else nurture him. So zone conference was a bit like that for me. We (elder jankowsky and my self) gave at training on extending baptism invitations in the first or second lesson and man I really felt the Lord put words in my mouth and testify of what I was saying. I know that should be happening every time that i teach but for some reason it was really strong that time. The general theme as it were of the conference was gaining a vision of what the Lord wants of us. Elder Wright invited us all to study Numbers 13-14 and look for what made Caleb and Joshua different then the rest of the spies sent to scout out the promised land. I took that direction us this morning and had a wonderful study about it. It is intesting what the Lord said about Caleb. if i remember right it said something along the lines of 'he fully followed what I said and had another spirit' this is what set him apart from the others. So he was 100% obedient and therefore had a different spirit then the other spies and was able to see the potential of the land and have confidence that the Lord would be able to deliver the land into their hands. The others did not see this. The reported that the land was good. But when they saw the giants and the mighty cities that were already there they changed there report and turned the people to rebellion. So lesson learned. Be obedient and you will be about to see with an 'eye of faith' (Ether 12:19) and gain a vision of what is possible with the Lord. What a wonderful blessing for all of us and especially with missionaries. Having a vision of the possible builds hope and hope leads us to act in faith then faith brings miracles. I love the simplicity and depth of the gospel!!!

So then Elder Jankowsky was sick and we didnt get much done this week. I lied I got to clean the flat... then rearragne the furniture, then clean the flat, and put up the Christmas tree. I still however have not decorated it. That won't happen until December. Stake conference was great. Our stake presidence was rearranged so we got a prominate member in the ward back and then lost another one to replace the first! it was cool. I think that the best part of he weekend was that we didnt have to organized any lifts for Sunday. our amazing Bishop did it for us! Ben and Monique are doing great! both past their baptism interviews this weekend and are set for the baptism on Saturday! We have taught them everything and they have loved every little bit of it. I'm so happy that they all have a wonderful support group. So our new assistant ward mission leader (Vijay) was baptised a little over a year ago and never fit into the ward. because of drama he went less active. When i came he went on a trip to Utah to visit the old missionaries who had taught him. (among the was Elder Gallagher my trainer!) When he came back he started comeing out bit by bit. Well we started baptiseing and all the people who have been baptised recently are forming this perfect fellowshipping group. Vijay now has the support he needed and is back in full activity. The best part about it is that he is now prepareing to go on a mission!!! How awesome is that! I was so excited when i heard that he was working on his papers.

Well bottom line. The Church is true. The Atonement does work and Salvation is possible through Jesus Christ

Love,

Elder Solomon

ps Hey Brigg I sent you a little surpirse that has some few things to help you out on your mission. also in it is chocolate (to share) my journal (keep it safe) and a letter for you (inside the front of the journal). Let me know when it gets there.

Enjoy!!! :)

Learning My Lessons

Right, so there was so much to that last email and i think that i read it to fast........ So let me talk about my life then i can talk about yours. My life is good. I'm learning a lot of lessons on the evils of self righteousness. For some reason i feel that i have these lessons all the time and although i feel like I'm 'learning my lessons' there is always a new lesson to learn and deeper understanding to gain, a different perspective to see and such. So Being with Elder Jankowsky has been a quite humbling experience and just recently the Lord granted me a bit of an insight to how i have been acting... When i was a child i distinctly remember in elementary school misbehaving and the teacher telling me to change my behaviour card. then i remember sitting back and mentally beating myself up for acting stupid. i didn't want to do it, i hadn't planned on being naughty, in a moment of distraction i stopped thinking and acted on impulse. this is how most of my schools years went. That is how i felt the other day. Why was i acting like that? Did i have any idea what i was really doing? What message i was sending? so what brought this realisation? In a recent letter i received a friend told me about how some people close to her were attacking her for her beliefs. It really got me upset. Why would people do that. It is totally unfair to do that. How can someone become so bitter against something that is so good? Then the answer came loud and clear. Maybe not completely applicable to this specific case but i feel that the answer that came was a cause of similar results. Self righteousness. Not necessarily a 'holier then thou' attitude but more of a judging condemning attitude. Such as 'You do not do what i know is right, therefore you are a sinner.' That is not what Christ taught. Christ taught us not to judge but to love and pull out our own 'beams'. I have pondered this question for a while. 'God holds us accountable for the knowledge we have and what we do with it. Does spiritual confirmation play a factor in accountability concerning following spiritual truths?' For instance will a person be held less accountable if never received a spiritual witness that it is right before God to live the Word of Wisdom? So then who are we to judge if a person has ever received a spiritual confirmation concerning a truth. It is interesting how Alma (Senior) counselled the teachers and priest of the newly organised Church of Christ to 'teach nothing save it be faith and repentence' not hellfire brimstone and damnation. I feel and have noticed that people for the most part always make the best decision in their own view, according to their knowledge. So how can we expect someone who understands nothing of spiritual sanctity and Family importance to abstain from sexual intercourse until they are married. Especially since all they have ever been taught mocks the very idea. How can we expect a person who does not have an understanding of the fallen and carnal state of man to accept whole heatedly Christ as their Redeemer. We can't. Of course people must feel the spirit and act in faith and then gain a testimony, but to have an enduring testimony which doesn't shrink or go away in the face of temptation and its ugly brother persecution a person must understand the principles of the gospel on an intellectual and spiritual level. If they do not then they will not have any reason to continue to fight up stream. motivation comes from aspiration. So then why would we be motivated to live the life of a disciple of Christ with all that it implies if we did not have a hope to receive a fullness of joy? I feel it all goes back to the Quote from Joseph Smith 'We teach them correct principles and they govern themselves'. Knowledge is power. Power to act and choose the more excellent way. Why is it power? Because it provides the motivation and the vision to see through, and endure valiantly through the temptations of life. Where am I getting with this? It is not our place to judge. It is not our place to condemn others because of the knowledge we have. There is always the solemn reminder 'unto him who much is given much is required'. Our responsibly then is to 'waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light the hidden things of darkness wherein they are made known unto us from heaven' (D&C 123:15) To teach and to instruct in a loving manner that thereby we can give people the power and motivation to return to their Father. With out love all other efforts are for nought. (For if i have not charity i am nothing. and am as the sounds of tinkling brass) Everything in this existence responds to love. Pure love casteth out all fear and then infuses faith and confidence. Brigg if there is any other advice i can give it is to love as Christ loves and teach with all diligence. Then you will have the greatest possible influence on your Argentinean brothers and sisters and the Spirit will guide your words and back your testimony.

Anyways

We had a great week. Did alot of teaching! Super happy. So Ben and Monique are solid as ever. We went over the baptism interview questions with them this week and heck i would pass them. It is so cool to see conversion take place. it seems at first that every one begins investigating almost casually and doesn't really know why. then there is a change (usually soon after they agree to be baptised) and it all becomes very real. They recognise and relish the Spirit. Their minds are enlighten and they begin to see life from a whole new perspective. They repent without invitation and seek to improve their own lives. Basically they become new creatures. It is cool I love it!

Brigg My timberland shoes have really served me well. they are 'Sunday' style shoes but are hiking appropriate. I would say bring bare minimums for the MTC then buy the majority of your stuff in the Field. You will probably find that they have a different style and dress standard there so you will want to fit in. For every day use just get a plain watch that you would wear running or working out. leather bands are not a good idea. (sweat really makes them mangy). And above all else be ready and excited to adjust. dont be surprised to live in a one room flat. and bring a brand new set of scriptures. dureable big ones to study and maybe a mini quad to take teaching. make sure that your study scriptures are not all four in one. that makes it hard to flip back and forth compareing scriptures. also being a person hard back Book of Mormon. I have two and they are my favorite :)

DAD STOP GETTING HURT! It sounds like there isn't going to be anything left of you when I get back. take up knitting or something productive like that. (on second hand maybe not you might hurt yourself with the needle thingys)

Hey Sheldon!! it was good to get your little note on Kassidee's letter. I kept hearing about this little brother that i have it was good to get a bit of evidence that he really did exsist.

Mom please know that your emails letteres and packages are better then anything i might receive from any girl.

Thanks for the package. Honestly I don't have any Christmas requests. I'm just happy that ya'll love me enough to send me something

Love,

Elder Solomon

ps my prayers were heard!! They are now selling Reeses Peanut Butter Cups in English Stores!!!!!