Coming Home!!!!

 

We'll Leave a Welcome

 First things first...

Leannes wedding was amazing yesterday. We started at noon and she had way more family show up than she originally planned. The bishop conducted the wedding, the primary president sang a solo, and I was the wedding photographer.

Three and a half hours after her wedding about 20 members of her family had stuck around for her baptism and tons of members showed up as well as the AP's, office elders, and even President and Sister Gallacher.

Leanne was absolutely glowing after she was baptised. She also got special permission to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost that same day. Yesterday morning she video called us from the plane as she was preparing to take off on her honeymoon that her mom bought for her. She thanked us again for what we did to help and we thanked her for being so amazing. Her husband Layton thanked us too. Leanne has been teaching him quite a bit so I imagine he may start showing up in Sundays here soon as well.

I have felt a lot of peace and satisfaction as my mission slowly comes to its end. Words cannot describe how grateful I am for my family, the things they taught me to get me out here, and the support and love I feel from them each day. My knowledge of the gospel has tripled, not that I know so much now, I simply didn't know too much back then. 

I will deeply miss the people of England and Wales, but I look forward to seeing you all again (and driving on the right side of the road). Until then,

Have a great week!

Elder Desmond Killian

Pic #1 - the Swansea District making Thanksgiving dinner, I provided the turkey and the Yorkshire pudding

Pic #2 -left to right , elder Caldwell, Layton, Leanne, yours truly. This was taken right after they tied the knot

Pic #3 - tradition holds that any elder who hits his two year mark needs to burn a suit, lucky for me, there was an old, battered one sitting around

"Jehovah's or Mormons"

 With daylight hours being limited as they are, we are encouraged to leave our flats by 10 each morning. As a result, Elder Caldwell and myself always head straight over to Cyfarthfa park where we finish our studies and then walk around talking to people for an hour or so.

On one such occasion, an older couple passed us a few times while we we were studying and when we got up to speak with them, the guy kept asking if we were Jehovah's Witnesses. When we told them who we were the woman went "hah, Mormons." Turns out they had placed a bet on whether we were Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons and now the man owed his wife a coffee.

After street contacting we try and have some lessons in the earlier afternoon and after that we tract doors for a couple hours as the sun goes down. Since it gets dark around 5, we schedule as many lessons as we can after that time.

This schedule has been the routine the past few weeks and it has been really cool to see some miracles. Just yesterday, as we were tracting doors, Elder Caldwell said we should say another prayer so we can find someone. Not ten minutes later a woman told us she wasn't interested but her husband would be and after speaking with him for a bit, we scheduled a return visit in a few days.

Another miracle has to do with our friend Leanne. I woke up yesterday morning stressing over her wedding and baptism, both taking place on Saturday November 26th. Elder Caldwell and I prayed and then reviewed all the plans we had made so far. After talking with a member of the Relief Society, we realized they had everything, down the to programs, planned. We are really looking forward to this Saturday, it is going to be a day not to be forgotten! Leanne is incredibly faithful.

Also, I should probably mention that I have received my flight plans. I fly home December 1st, arriving late in the evening. I'll spend most of the next day with my family and afterward look forward to visiting and catching up with you all!

Have a great week!

Pic #1 - is after attending the Berean Christadelphians meeting again. Behind me is Matthew and Esther, they know their Bible very well

Pic #2 - Elder Caldwell and I out tracting in Ebbwvale, it was frigid

Pic #3 - full English breakfast prepared for us by our great friend Graham

Ryan and Remembrance

 Had the privilege of attending the London Temple this week! It has been so long since I have been through a temple. It was an experience I will never forget.

Our friend, Leanne, has her wedding and baptism coming up soon, 26th of November in fact. Her wedding will be at 12:00 PM and her baptism at 3:30 PM. For the wedding she asked me to be the photographer and for her baptism I will be the one baptising. Luckily, the members have really taken over, there is no way Elder Caldwell and I could do it as well as they can.

Lee and Christine came to church again. Their three-year old has gotten use to sacrament now so keeping him quiet is something of a feat. We perserved yesterday and came out with a notebook full of scribbles, a few marker lines on his face, and a ruined sock as Ryan expanded his canvas to Elder Caldwell's ankle. Additionally, Ryan's gun sound effects would have been appreciated a tad bit more were it not for the speaker at the pulpit getting choked up as he recounted the things he experienced when serving in the army.

Not a day passes without the Spirit leading us in some way. We continue to see miracles every time we pray and God is working through us in righteous ways. The gospel is true and it certainly works.

Have a great week!

Elder Desmond Killian

Pic #1 - elder Caldwell and I RIPPING apart a squeaky bedframe after we realized we don't have to put up with not sleeping well each night. We elimated the squeak, only took an hour and a half.

Pic #2 - Graham, Josh, me, and Elder Caldwell heading to the Poppy Day Devotional after dinner last night

Pic #3 - the group of us missionaries who were able to go to the temple

Welsh Weather

 Winter is starting to set in here in Merthyr Tydfil. Elder Caldwell and I went out tracting last Wednesday and we just about got obliterated. Sadly, no one let us inside, but everyone was a whole lot nicer seeing as we were already taking a beating just being outside.

This past week we had a zone conference in Cardiff. It was a major highlight and perhaps the best zone conference I have been to. On top of well thought out trainings and personal testimonies the Spirit was also really strong.

Just yesterday Elder Caldwell and I attended the congregation of the Berean Christadelphians once again. This time we got into a more intense doctrinal discussion after their service. It was very friendly and courteous. I was able to share the first vision experience as well as a copy of the Book of Mormon. These people are so faithful, I enjoyed the time I got to speak with them.

Have a great week!

Elder Desmond Killian

Pic #1 - all of us Merthyr Elders after volunteering at ParkRun once again. Every Saturday from 9-10

Pic #2 - elder Harley Hill and I at zone conference, we never served together as companions but we have served around one another alot

Pic #3 - President Gallacher and I at zone conference

Llantrisant

 A couple weeks back we scheduled Elder Caldwell (my companion's) driving test in a place called Llantrisant. To save miles, we then also rebooked Elder Druyon's test so it would fall on the same day and save him and his companion time.

While those two took, and passed, their driving tests, Elder Christiansen and I walked around Llantrisant. We found one of only four chapels in the world that depicted Christ without a beard while on the cross. We also got a tour around a local guidehall and ended up meeting an incredibly couple who are now being taught by the sisters who live near Llantrisant.

Just a few days ago our ward combined with Merthyr 2nd Ward to host a trunk or treat. It was incredible, our friends Lee and Christine brought their two kids. They also brought 30 homemade toffee-covered apples that they stayed up making the night before. Everyone loved it and Christine finally got to meet some members. The whole family then also came to church. I spent all of the two hours next to Ryan helping him stay entertained. Sacrament went well and after a little adjusting he ended up loving Primary as well! Lee and Christine invited us over for dinner later this week so we could continue teaching them about the Book of Mormon and the gospel.

Have a great week!

Elder Desmond Killian

Pic #1 - celebrating Elder Caldwell's year mark

Pic #2 - 42 £ worth of stuff given to us from sweet couple's religious goods store in Llantrisant

Pic #3 - Elder Christiansen and I overlooking Llantrisant

Berean Christadelphians

 Here in Merthyr Tydfil things continue to progress well.

We had a lesson with Lee and Christine. They are a young family who the Merthyr 2nd Elders ran into at Cyfarthfa Park. Since they live within our ward boundaries we are working in unity to teach them the lessons.

We decided to delve into the Book of Mormon with them and read about Nephi's three attempts to retrieve the plates. It was a powerful lesson because the doctrine had an opportunity to speak for itself.

Just yesterday I had the opportunity to attend one of the public lectures for the Berean Christadelphian congregation that met in the Nelson Community Hall just south of Merthyr. There were about 7 members there making our presence significant.

The lecture was a great opportunity to understand the beliefs of this small group of faithful people and there is one quote that stuck out in particular. The lecturer, Philip, said, 

"You already know what I am going to say, but I am going to let the scriptures say it."

I am starting to learn that I don't need to re-invent the wheel to teach the gospel, God has provided the scriptures to do just that.

Have a great week!

Elder Desmond Killian

Pic #1 - this is a hospital we were at the visit an ill member in Swansea, the medical system is much different here

Pic #2 - sportsmanship and marksmanship are rare pastimes here with the gun laws, Brother Valentine though is avid in both

Pic #3 - waiting to attend our ward council, that phrase is a Welsh classic