Nida and Mary! - Newcastle, England

Hellooo Loves!

What a blessed week. We have seen an insane amount of miracles, it's been incredible.

The highlight was definitely the baptism of Nida and Mary! Nida and Mary are practically family for me and Elder Dawe now, and it's always so much fun to go teach them. They are so amazing and some of our best friends. I had the opportunity to baptise Nida! I remember saying “Having been commissioned…” and just having the biggest feeling of complete joy come over me. I couldn't stop smiling! 

We have been so blessed with a self referral FAMILY. Which is unheard of in our mission, but this week we were able to put them on date for baptism! They won't stop asking us when we're going to the temple haha they're as golden as they come

Seriously people the Lord is hastening the work!!

Another highlight of the week for me was on Sunday, at the new member missionary fireside. I was amazed to see that the Man South Elders had their friend Cynthia there. 3 months ago, Elder Pohorelicky and I had just been suddenly dropped by two of our friends dated for baptism, and felt like there was just no end to the opposition. Rather than just finishing the night with our comp study, we felt strongly we needed to go finding. We dropped everything, said a meaningful prayer, followed the spirit, and we went out and found Cynthia!! And now my grandson Elder Nathan is teaching her and she is progressing towards baptism. I am so happy for her. She is amazing! 

Remember that whenever you feel that you just can't go another day, because your trials are so overwhelming, that the Lord is with you. He knows you and he loves you! He is with you today, and tomorrow, and the next day and the next. When you get out on the edges of your faith, hold strong! Don't quit! The Lord has something incredible in store for you, just keep going. His promises are sure!

This has been the greatest week of my whole life. I love this place, and these people, and the Lord with all my heart. 

Hurrah for Israel!

Elder McConkie

With our friend, Cynthia

Baptism of Nida and Mary

Baptism of Nida and Mary

Pictures from Newcastle

Get on the Boat! - Newcastle, England

Hello Loves!

Despite my utterly dismal efforts to write group emails over the past like 10 weeks I am still on and loving my mission haha I just have such little time. I will be better!

A whole lot has happened since I last wrote, but the Lord has blessed us here in Newcastle. The miracles we've seen have been tremendous. 

Here are a few things that happened this week, and some things I learned!

Our friends Nida and Mary had their baptismal interview! We have been working with them a lot since I've come into Newcastle and their conversion has been outstanding. Mary is 14 and had an incredible experience with the Priesthood and has been so receptive to the spirit since then. She is amazing and even bore her testimony in sacrament meeting a few weeks ago! Her mother Nida had a lot of questions at first but has told us how "The Book of Mormon has all the answers" and she's gained countless confirmations of its truthfulness. We are so excited for them and have grown to love them so much! 

Well look at this.. I procrastinated it yet again and now have no more time haha

But just to finish, I love President Russell M. Nelson. His Sunday morning session talk got me so hyped to go out and work. There's not enough time in a day to even write a group email because there's too much to do haha. I felt like I was watching a modern day Noah, letting the world know that "time is running out" and it's time to get on the boat! When the flood comes, make absolutely sure that you will be on the boat. Follow the prophet!

Anyways gotta dash
Love you all!
Hurrah for Israel!
Elder McConkie

NEWCASTLE - Manchester, England

Hello Loves!

What a week!

Transfer calls were yesterday and I'm leaving the blessed land of Man South. Elder Poho is training a new missionary(!!!!!) and I'll be going down to Newcastle-under-lyme to be a Zone Leader with Elder Dawe! Hyped for this transfer.  

Resilience is the name of the game over here in the British missions. Yesterday I went finding for 9 hours, and found nobody, but then the very last person we spoke to on our way home became a new friend. Our motto is "when the going gets tough, the tough get finding". 

Sort of goes with what I was studying this week in Mark chapter 2. In the chapter, there are 4 men who take a man with Palsy to Christ by going through the roof of a home. After going through this wild amount of effort, In verse 5 it says:

"When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee"

The time I've been here has taught me how to put my trust in God no matter how hard it gets. And the miracles I've seen almost always come after I've had to show faith towards a trial or some sort of opposition. I love this work and I love the Lord who knows me and is mindful of me. He has blessed me with love inspired opposition and corrections to help me grow and become the individual he wants me to be. 

In other news, i got punched by a surprisingly swift 87 year old man this week

I love my job!

Hurrah for Israel!

Be brave for Jesus

Romans 1:16

Elder McConkie

Living the Dream - Manchester, England

Hello Loves!

It's been a wild two weeks.

In the matter of 10 days, we lost our entire teaching pool including all 4 of our dated friends, so the last little while has been finding finding finding. 

Nothing too eventful has happened besides that. We are just talking to anyone and everyone all day every day. I am very happy and very tired :)

Pancakes are a blessing!

Hurrah for Israel!

Be brave for Jesus!

D&C 29:7!

All the loves!

Elder McConkie!

pics:

Bus 

Hogwarts

Big Ben

Me and my boy

Hug it! - Manchester, England

Hello!

Remember that you have all been given the wonderful gift of Agency. You are agents to act! Choose to act, and not to be acted upon. Satan's plan is the same here as it was in the pre-mortal life and that is to take away your agency! Don't let him! Give him a good punch in the jaw and develop your own personal faith in the Savior through your own personal experience and watch as your life has an increase of joy and fulfillment.

Early this week Elder Pohořelický and I had two of our 'Golden investigators' who were dated for baptism decide to stop meeting with us, but we immediately chose to not be discouraged. In response, we decided to up our regular finding goal of 5, to 10 new friends, and I have had more fun this week than I have my whole mission! We'd be sitting in members homes anxious to get out because we just wanted to find find find, and we found our 10!

When opposition comes your way, welcome it with a nice big hug and make sure it knows that you are going to choose to be happy.

Hurrah for Israel!

All the Loves

Elder McTired

Pics:

Doesn't really capture it but my area is real sketchy

Elevator

Risk it for a Biscuit - Manchester, England

Hello Loves!

It has been almost two months since I wrote a group email. There are a lot of exciting things happening here in Manchester South, and we've seen such great miracles this last transfer! I will be in Man South for another 6 weeks and finishing Elder Pohorelicky's training. 

So much has happened, but a lot of things have stayed the same! For example, it rains all the time, it's freezing, bible bashers are everywhere, being a district leader trainer is stressful haha, miracles keep happening, we are working so hard, and the Book of Mormon continues to amaze me.

At the moment, we have 5 amazing people on date!

Two of which are this wonderful couple Elder Carlson and I found back in November. Their names are {B} & {C} and they are in their mid 70's, have always gone to Church of England, but were so amazed at the kindness of the members and how everyone offers them help. There were certain things we planned to share in one of our earlier lessons with them that we felt prompted to share and they were so perfectly tailored to their needs. When Elder Po invited them to be baptised I witnessed the gift of tongues. It was crazy! Beforehand, he was struggling to remember how to invite them and was stressing out about it, but when he did it, he spoke in the clearest most natural English I've heard him speak and the spirit just rang throughout the room and they accepted! After the lesson we said goodbye and once the door closed I was HYPED. Imagine me after getting a monster roof block against Skyline in volleyball or pounding a ball on the ten foot line in game and then just yelling my guts out haha! Jumping up and down, fist pumping, and just saying things along the lines of "THATS IT ELDER!! LETS GOOO!! YOU KILLED IT ELDER!! THAT'S WHAT WE WORK FOR!!" That spiritual energy inside all came out once we were outside and I was the happiest boy you have ever seen. Ever since then they've continued to progress so well and love the gospel.

Another one of our friends on date is named {C}! The first time we met with him he told us that he wants "a proper baptism" and we were so excited. He is amazing! And so determined, he reads the Book of Mormon every day, and is so anxious to come closer to God

Missionary work is so hard! And I miss my family so much, but the Lord continues to bless me and teach me in such brilliant ways. I've noticed that as I become more anxiously engaged in this work, and strive to align my will with the Lords, I am so much happier. I promise that you can find greater happiness as you strive to follow the commandments God and align your will with His. 

This was a hefty email sweet goodness

Hurrah for Israel!

All the Loves

Elder McConkie


Photos from the mission president's wife, Sister McReynolds, and one of George skyping Wilson