Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Week 73 - December 25, 2017

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Elder Copeland was able to talk to his family on Christmas Day and was even able to connect in to speak to his grandparents who are, also, serving as volunteers in the Europe East Area in Moscow, Russia, for the church.  It was a great day and the best gift ever!

Monday, December 18, 2017

Week 72 - December 18, 2017

I love(d) the Burgh!

Well, fam it's been a busy week and I will be heading off soon, so it's gonna have to be a short email!  What a week though, woww!

Tuesday:  We had a great District Meeting and discussed about the four baptisms we had planned as a district this week.  There have been so many miracles for all the missionaries every single day here!  We went and taught Gus afterwards who is doing well.  Gq'd some more and then saw Ray and Meng Yu in the evening. 

Wednesday:  We Gq'd most of the day.  We got to drive out to Livingston to interview an old Scottish man named John.  It was hilarious!  His interview went well, and he was baptized on Sunday!  We went back and Gq'd some more. 

Thursday:  We GQ'd in the morning and met a new girl named Yuki.  In the evening, we met up with Wei and Joe and walked to the church.  We had their baptisms as well as the Edinburgh sisters had their friend Tundi!  I was able to baptize all three of them and I couldn't help but cry.  I was filled with so much gratitude for all of them.

  





It was an amazing experience, and we were able to have President and Sister Donaldson attend as well.  Afterwards, we had Ward Coordination 

Friday:  Cimmie came down and spent some time with us. It was good to see her!  We, also, took Mai to the train station and said goodbye.  She is heading home to Japan.  In the evening, we Gq'd and had dinner with Rhiannon from Glasgow as well, who came down.

Saturday:  We Gq'd and then Moves call!  I have been called to serve as a Zone Leader back in ABERDEEN with Elder Swenson.  I am pumped!  I am sad to be leaving Edinburgh, but I am excited for this opportunity. 

Sunday:  We were able to have the confirmations of Wei and Joe, as well as Gus coming to church.  Afterwards, we went around and said goodbye to everyone.  I'll miss all of the friends I have made here.   They helped me progress on my mission far beyond what I imagined. 

Well, I am excited to talk to you all next week.  I forget it's Christmas since we have been so busy.  I love you all and appreciate you and hope you stay warm and safe!

Love, Elder Copeland 

Monday, December 11, 2017

Week 71 - December 11, 2017

MIRACLES!

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO BRIG AND SAM, I love you brothers.  Can't wait to hit BF2 with you hahah. 

We have had a week of miracles here in Edinburgh!  I am excited to go through it all with you!  I don't have a load of time today, though, because we are going to pick up my Kilt, let's goo! 






Monday:  We were able to celebrate Elder Wang and Sherry's birthday by climbing Calton Hill and getting dinner! Cimmie from Glasgow came down and visited as well.  I took some pictures.  We helped set up for All Scotland in the evening.





Tuesday:  All Scotland Christmas was amazing!!  We watched Moana, did some Book of Mormon skits, and played Minute to Win it games!  It was great seeing all of my friends and companions.  Grateful to be a missionary at this time of the year.
Wednesday:  We got lunch with Debbie and taught her.  She is going on holiday then back to China in January, so this might have been the last time I see her.  We GQ'd then taught Meng Yu as well.  She is okay, just so busy with exams!  In the evening, we got dinner with Elder Wang.

Thursday:  We went over and did some service for Brother Thompson and had lunch with him.  Then we taught Joe, and it was amazing.  He opened up to us about how he had begun to doubt if there was a God when he moved here, but then he met me at the uni and knew it was a sign from God.  He said that he has been praying and had quit smoking since he met us because he felt like
 it was the right thing to do.  He said that he wanted to be baptized and come closer to God! WOW!  We taught Andy, as well, who is busy with studies, and then in the evening had dinner with Wei and taught her. She also said that she had never known if there was a God until she met us and felt the light of Christ from our message and also wants to be baptized.  Truly a time of miracles in my life.

Friday:  We were able to GQ most of the day and met with a new girl named Hathaway, who could be really solid once her exams are through in the coming weeks!  I found 20£ on the ground while we were GQ'ing as well, FLIP!! 

Saturday:  We cleaned the chapel in the morning, and then went and had Joe's baptismal interview, all went well. Then we taught Gus, Sherry, Shirley, and a new guy named Charlton.  In the evening, we had Wei's baptismal interview and she passed as well.  They are both excited for this week! We had dinner with Meggie from China to finish up the busy day.

Sunday:  We were able to have Gus, Joe, and Wei come to church with us, and afterwards we GQ'd and did some planning for this week ahead.  It's getting really cold over here, frost is all over the ground for most of the day.  It might snow this week ahead, too! 

It has been miracle after miracle here in Edinburgh, this week I pray everything will go well.  This Saturday is also moves call and there is a good chance at least one of us could move.  I love Edinburgh, but I am always excited for new opportunities to go where the Lord wants me.  I love you all and I love this gospel.  Have a great week!  Go see Star Wars for me and send me the tickets and pictures and I will cry haha.  Love, Elder Copeland

Monday, December 4, 2017

Week 70 - December 4, 2017

December!

Hiya, I am so sorry I will have to keep it short this week.  We have a busy P-day!

Tuesday:  We had our District Meeting which went well.  We focused on how we will achieve our goal as a district for the final month of the year, and how we can Light the World through service!  We GQ'd and taught a new friend named Gus, as well.

(Click on the link above to see how you, too, can help celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ by serving others this Christmas season.  As we follow His example, we can help #Light the World.) 

Wednesday:  In the morning, my worst nightmare happened, our flat began to leak again..  We called the plummer right away and he fixed it up, but flip, it never ends with leaky flats here haha!  We GQ'd the rest of the day! 

Thursday:  We taught Wei again who is doing well!  Then went over to Brother Thompson's for some lunch and service!  We GQ'd the rest of the day and in the evening the Office missionaries, Sister Hill and Gifford, took us to a posh Italian place for dinner! 

Friday:  We taught Joe, Gus, Slyph, and Mai today so pretty busy!  GQ'd as well! 

Saturday:  We taught Seven, Imogen, Lauren, and Wei!  In the evening, we had dinner with Yun Tao and Debbie!




Sunday:  We were able to have Wei come to church with us and had a power house lesson with her afterwards on baptism!  We, also, went to a care home for some special need people and did some caroling!  Then GQ'd and taught Book of Mormon in the evening.

Things are slowing down a bit because of the season and all of the Uni students have their exams.  We are going to try and find some new people this week, and we will also have All-Scotland which should be fun!  I love you all and miss you, and will talk to you soon.  Have a great week! 🍀  Elder Copeland
Pics of the Christmas Market in Edinburgh.


Monday, November 27, 2017

Week 69 - November 27, 2917

Sixteen Months!

Time continues to pick up faster and faster.  This week was well good!  We saw a lot of miracles that will really help us progress our friends towards baptism in December.

Tuesday:  We had a District Cluster where our Zone gathered to talk about what we can do for December to see miracles.  President and Sister Donaldson led the meeting, and it was great.  They talked a lot about how far this mission has progressed since they first got here, and really how many miracles we have seen.  I love them so much.  After the meeting, we met with a member to discuss the needs of our Chinese RC's and how we may continue to help them  progress in the gospel while they are here.  Later on, we GQ'd and prepared Mai's baptism!  It was amazing!  What a blessing it has been to find and teach her.  She was so prepared.  She loved her baptism, and Yvonne gave a great talk about her own baptism and how much she has learned as well.  Thankful for them!  In the evening, we had ward coordination. 

Wednesday:  We were on exchanges today, I was with Elder Worley.  He is a professional piano player, which is pretty cool!  We had a lot of new lessons today.  We taught Karen from Mexico, who was a pretty hard core Catholic, lesson was alright, but she wasn't willing to try and read the Book Of Mormon.  Then we taught James, who I had taught a while ago with Elder Carter, but he brought his friend from Hong Kong, who was a basher... Ended that quickly.  Then we taught a guy named Nanak who is Muslim, who was willing to read the Book Of Mormon, but doesn't want to convert to Christianity at all.  In the evening, we had to go up to Sterling and grab the Elders.  They had some weird stuff going on up there.. haha. 

Thursday:  Thanksgiving!  We GQ'd the entire day, but in the evening all the missionaries went over to the mission home and had a thanksgiving dinner with President and Sister Donaldson and the mission staff.  Ahh, it was amazing! I'm thankful for their love and support to all of us missionaries, and it's great being in Edinburgh for the holidays!  I missed you all!

Friday:  We had ZLC in the morning, discussed the needs for our teams and investigators, and then were out.  We taught a new guy named Joe from China.  He is a Christian already but had lots of questions about the Bible and baptism.  We helped him learn the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and he accepted to being baptized in December!  We, also, taught Krystal again.  She is doing alright, slowly progressing, but we are working with her.  In the evening, we were all invited over to Bishop's to have another Thanksgiving dinner haha!  It was amazing!

Saturday:  We were on exchanges with the Livingston Elders!  I was with a brand new elder named Elder Rothelsburger from Arizona.  We GQ'd most of the day but also taught RC Imogen and then Mai in the evening and got some dinner with her.  It was fun to show him the ropes a wee bit and remember my early exchanges.

Sunday:  We had Mai's confirmation, as well as Joe, Krystal, and a new friend named Wei at church!  It was a good Sunday and afterwards we GQ'd, planned, and taught Wei a bit more! 

All in all a great week.  We are excited to continue to help our friends progress this week ahead.  I am thankful to be here in Edinburgh with Elder Huang.  I love him so much.  We are talking about our Asia tour in 2019 and planning it out haha.  I hope you all have a great week and stay warm!

Elder Copeland 

Monday, November 20, 2017

Week 68 - November 20, 2017

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, FAM! 

I hope you all eat loads of food and spend some good time together!  This week was pretty busy.  We have some new missionaries here in Edinburgh, and it's good to see the greenie fire! 






Tuesday:  We helped with some of the new missionaries getting them around, and then GQ'd.  In the evening, we taught Mai!!  She is doing so well and accepted to be baptized!  We went over the baptismal interview questions with her and finished sharing tithing.  We taught Andy more about priesthood and a new girl named Lucy in the evening.

Wednesday:  We taught Vivian who is doing well, but is still not keeping her commitment of church.  We taught Debbie and Ray next, then Chenwei.  He is doing well.  We are hoping that he can be baptized by the end of the year.  He has some really good questions about God and suffering that we are trying to help him overcome!

Thursday:  We GQ'd most of the day and then taught Sherry in the evening! 

Friday:  We taught Meng Yu and Chenwei again and GQ'd some more.  Really just trying to build up our pool for the month ahead. 

Saturday:  We taught Ivy in the morning, GQ'd, then taught Krystal.  In the evening, we got to go to the church and watched, "Our Story Goes On," the performance run by the church.  It was class!  We had 10 of our friends there!

Sunday:  New missionaries in the ward and lots of RC's at church!  Afterwards, we taught a new girl named Alice and had dinner with the Nielsens. 

Really nothing big this week.  Once again, just trying to build up our pool.  I am excited for Mai's baptism and the week ahead.  Please pray for her! 

I love you all and am thankful for your love and support in my life.  I am thankful for my Savior and his infinite atonement he has made for me so that I may overcome my weaknesses and return to him again one day.  Love, Elder Copeland


Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Week 67 - November 13, 2017

Staying!

So we got our moves call, and Elder Huang and I will be staying in Edinburgh together!  WOO!  I am excited for the transfer ahead.  It's only a 5 weeker, which means if one of us moves, it will be the week before Christmas which bites. But we had a fantastic week! 



Tuesday:  We had a great District Meeting with testimonies from those missionaries leaving us, and I expressed my gratitude and love for each of them.  We have had an amazing transfer as a district, the best in the mission! Afterwards, we GQ'd and taught Mai in the evening.  She is doing well!  It's just a slow process because of the language barrier, but we are getting there!  Debbie took all of us out for dinner as well, which was kind of her.

Wednesday:  The entire morning, we moved our flats!  Our new one is amazing!!!  I haven't taken pictures yet, but I will this week.  It is great!  I am pumped that we finally have figured that all out, it was a mess haha.  I did some baptismal interviews for the missionaries around here, GQ'd, and then we taught Debbie and ChenWei, both doing well!  In the evening, there were some baptisms for the other missionaries we went to.

Thursday:  We had lunch with Ivy and made sure that she was good for her baptism.  She is the best!  She brought her friend Chen along as well.  Hopefully we can starting teaching her some more, as well.  We GQ'd the rest of the day, just re-building our teaching pool back up for the end of the year.

Friday:  We GQ'd the entire day!  In the evening, the Edinburgh Church had its 50th anniversary of being built.  All of the missionaries in the ward got up and sang some songs, it was pretty cool.  I love hearing the early saints in the UK's conversion stories and the legacy they have left here!


Saturday:  We cleaned the chapel in the morning and received our moves calls!  Elder Carter and Grant will be leaving us, but Elder Wang is coming, which is cool!  Huang, Wang, and I have all served with each-other--the Chinese trio haha!!  We had Ivy's baptism in the evening, and it went so smoothly!  There were actually 5 people being baptized that night from 4 different teams in the city.  It was a powerful experience for all of us.  We are thankful for the continued miracles God is helping us achieve.  We confirmed them all right afterwards, as well.

Sunday:  We had Mai come to church with us.  We were suppose to have a few others, but everyone had "emergencies" come up right before church.. It's pretty frustrating seeing how people can be sometimes.  But all is well.  We will continue to find those that are prepared in the weeks ahead!

I am thankful for the opportunity to stay here another transfer and continue to try and be the best servant of the Lord I can. I love you all and hope you have a great week ahead.  Stay warm and continue to come closer to our Heavenly Father! 🍀  Elder Copeland

Monday, November 6, 2017

Week 66 - November 6, 2017

Dear Family,

I am so sorry I ran out of time today.  We have been really busy.  This week was busy as ever.  

Last Monday, we went to a beach, and played Frisbee and got cool pics on the coast. 







Tuesday:  We woke up, and our water was leaking in the flat beneath again... We tried calling the landlord, the plummer, and even an emergency number.. Nothing.  The people that lived all below us were raging again at us even though there was nothing we could do.  One guy even called me useless as I explained I can't do any more.  I told him to learn some respect, I wasn't in the best mood aha.  But we did have a great District Meeting.  President Donaldson came along and gave some great counsel to all of us.  We GQ'd for the day, and in the evening we got to go over to the other missionaries and spend our Halloween eating pizza and playing cards! 

Wednesday:  We were called by the mission home that we were moving out of the flat, and temporarily, until we get a new flat, staying at the mission home, in the bunker (big room of bunk beds) haha.  

We taught loads of lessons. Vivian, a new guy named Chen Wei, Yvonne, Debbie, and Sherry.  In the evening, we had ward coordination! 

Thursday:  GQ'd most of the day.  In the evening, I got to teach a new guy named Ahmed with Elder Carter and he is way solid.  He is only 17 and from Egypt, but he loved hearing about the Godhead and how he can connect more with God.

Friday:  We went to Brother Thompson's and did some gardening service.  I climbed a big ladder and cut down some branches, and we had lunch with him.  We also taught Mai again who is doing well.  We hope she can be baptized soon. It's just a slow learning process with the language barrier, google translate comes in clutch though.  We also met Ivy in the evening.  She is doing pretty well, and finally taught Viola.  We have invested so much time into teaching her, and now I hope she can make the decision to be baptized.

Saturday:  We had lunch with Yvonne's friend, Jia Yin, who could be really solid!  We are going to see her again this week.  We also taught a new guy named Connor, pretty good, and in the evening we taught Vivian again.  Had dinner with the other missionaries and went back to the mission home. 

Sunday:  We had planned on four of our friends being there but only two made it, Mai and Chen Wei.  Both of them loved it!  We planned and packed a bit more later on and in the evening it was bonfire night, so we were in the flat again with the missionaries and had food and chilled. 

Today, we went to a big Reservoir with all the missionaries and Elder Carter and I took our 10 Pound Poles.  On my second cast out, I caught an 18-inch Rainbow Trout, LES GOO.  We cleaned it up and are gonna eat it later on.  



Lots of other fun stuff, but I really don't have any time.  I'm sorry.  I am glad you are all well though and hope you have a great week ahead.  I love you!  Elder Copeland 

OH!  This week is moves call as well, no clue what will happen, but we will see!