Week 90 - April 23, 2018

Twenty-one Months!

Hiya, fam.  This week was pretty busy and not as much missionary work was done because of moves, but there were some miracles!  I, also, hit 21 months this week, flippen flyin!  

Tuesday:  Today we had some time to just get out and GQ and start re-building our teaching pool!  All the students have their exams this week, so they're pretty focused, but we got some numbers!  In the evening, we had a baptismal interview for the Sisters' friend named Axl, as well as having Ward Coordination. 

Wednesday:  We prepared our MLC presentation and GQ'd! We taught Rafael who is doing well, but well busy with all of his exam prep.  We, also, were able to teach Daniel.  It was amazing!  The Gift of the Holy Ghost was so prominent, he was asking even more inspired questions and had a light in him that I hadn't seen before.  Such a good experience! 

Daniels Baptismal Calendar :)) They work ! 

Thursday:  We drove to Edinburgh in the morning and had our MLC for almost the whole day.  It was amazing!  President Donaldson is truly inspired, I can't say that enough. He is so connected with heaven and can call and direct his messages through the Spirit to each missionary in a unique way.  It was good to see some friends from around the mission as well.  

 Elder Copeland wrote:  "Mission Leadership Conference, All of my mission Posterity from my Son Elder Bradley, and Elder Baake from Germany who knows Scotty!" 

After MLC, we drove back to Glasgow and witnessed Axl's baptism!  

Friday:  In the morning, we drove over to Solomon's home and had a bit of an intense lesson aha.  We have taught him everything to prepare for baptism, and he really just needs to take that step of faith and move from the Catholic Church to the church of Jesus Christ, but he thinks he hasn't received an answer yet from God.  We showed love as well as how we feel and what we want him to do, which are the basics, read the Book of Mormon each day, pray for an answer each night, and attend church with us when he can!  After Solomon, we GQ'd for the rest of the day. 

Saturday:  In the morning, we had our ZLC for Glasgow.  It went really well.  We worked with the District Leaders on what we want to see this transfer and had some instructions and role-plays!  After ZLC, we went over and did some service for a family and helped move them into their new home.  The rest of the day we GQ'd! 

Sunday:  We were able to have a new friend named Lawrence attend church with us.  I don't know how much he took from it, we will see!  Afterwards, we went out and GQ'd, in the evening.  We met with a Chinese girl named Lynn I had found the other day.  She is SOLID.  She was loving the Godhead and Gospel of Jesus Christ and accepted a date to be baptized in a few weeks!  Hopefully we will see her quite a lot and teach her everything, and she will act on the promptings of the Spirit. 

This week ahead we are excited to start the transfer off with a lot of finding and building our teaching pool.  We have some lessons today that we hope will go well.  I love you all and hope you have a great week.  I am so grateful to be a missionary and know that we have a Father in Heaven who loves us, and knows everything we are going through, and is ready to pick us up where we fall short. 😇

Love, Elder Copeland

Week 89 - April 16, 2018

Staying in Glasgow!

Hiya fam!  I'm sorry the weekly is late.  Yesterday we were 
moving missionaries all around for moves day.  I don't have a 
load of time today either, so this week will have to be a short 
one.

Tuesday:  Today we were on exchanges.  I was able to go with Elder Hunter!  We GQ'd the entire day and had an on the spot with a Born-Again named Nick, pretty cool guy, had loads of questions but we answered them and invited him to take a Book of Mormon and read it, but he said he couldn't.. flip, you can't find out if it's true or not if you don't read it!

Wednesday:  We GQ'd most of the morning.  Some of our RC's from Edinburgh were in the city shopping, so they took us out for lunch, which was great to see them all!   Afterwards, we GQ'd some more, and had dinner with Rhiannon. In the evening, we taught Daniel and Solomon. Daniel was ready to be baptized, but Solomon has still not received a testimony on the need for the Restoration and Joseph Smith, so we are going to work with him and give him more time to receive an answer!

Thursday:  We GQ'd the entire day!  We also were able to watch a broadcast from President Nelson to the British Isles.  He talked a lot about receiving personal revelation in our lives, and I think that is so important going forwards in my life :) Josie took us out to a Carvery for dinner, as well, which was class!

Friday:  Elder Huang and I spent most the day together.  We taught little Collin who got baptized on Sunday and then headed over to Peter's.  We talked more about the temple, but we are nervous.  This week, he has to go to court to see if he and his family can stay in the UK.  If the court says no, he will have to move back to China and his family will be punished pretty severely since they have three kids and pretty much escaped last time to be able to have their family. I am really nervous for him.  We will go to see him this week and figure out what will happen.  Pray they can stay here!  In the evening, we went over to Solomon's and taught him again.

Saturday:  Today we received our moves.  I have been asked to stay another transfer here in Glasgow with Elder Bain!  This transfer is a 7-weeker, and after this one, I only have one transfer left.  Wow.. I'm nervous!  In the evening, we had Daniel's interview, and it was great!  All smooth and he was happy.

Sunday:  We had Daniel's confirmation and a great Sunday service.  After church, I drove Elder Swenson to the train station and dropped him off.  It was bittersweet, I am proud of him!  The rest of the day we were moves planning and starting to move some missionaries.

This transfer is going to go by quickly, like they always do! We are going to start building up our teaching pool in the coming weeks so that we can have some baptisms by the end!  I love you all.  Have a great week 🍀

Week 88 - April 9, 2018

Hiya, fam! 

I'm gonna have to keep it short this week.  We are pretty busy!

Tuesday:  Today was all Scotland!  It was great to see so many missionaries from my group.  We learned a lot from President about going forward and finishing strong! Afterwards, we had some dinner and headed home.  We taught a new guy named Mitchell who is pretty cool, but part of the Church of Scotland.

Wednesday:  We had our interviews with President.  He just told me some ways to stay rested and full of energy these last two transfers!  After our interviews, President and Sister Donaldson took us to lunch :)  Later on, we GQ'd most of the day and then had dinner with Bir!  After dinner, we taught Daniel and Soloman.

Thursday:  Full day of GQ'ing and Daniel and Soloman in the evening! 

Friday:  Today we were on exchanges with Airdire.  I was with Elder Price.  We GQ'd a lot, and I really just shared with him some experiences to find happiness and excitement in the mission! 

Saturday:  Today we were on exchanges with Knightswood.  I was with Elder Miao from Beijing.  We were able to go out with some Born Again church members and help feed the homeless.  It was a great experience!  

Afterwards, we attended the baptismal service for a guy named Mike, and in the evening we GQ'd.

Sunday:  Only Soloman was able to come to church with us, but it was a pretty great Sabbath.  

I got up and bore my testimony of the Savior's ministry to each of us and read 3 Nephi 1:15-17.  Notice how Christ spent time with each of these Nephites.  We read later on that there was about 2500 who were baptized.  That meant he would have been there for at least two days just spending time with these people.  I love that!  I know that Christ is willing to spend time with us as well, as we seek him.  After church, we taught a new guy named Jeffrey from Malaysia who is pretty cool, and then visited Soloman.

This week we hope to have the baptisms of Soloman and Daniel.  Please pray for them.  They need to have the confidence in the spiritual experiences they have already had and go forward with faith.  We are going to do all we can to make it happen! bThis week is also moves call, and I have no idea what will happen.  I will let you know next week.  I love you guys! 🍀  Elder Copeland

Week 87 - April 2, 2018

HAPPY EASTER!

Hiya, fam!  I hope you had a Happy Easter and are enjoying Hawaii!  This week was really just your normal missionary routine, but I'll go through the days :)

Tuesday:  We started off with something a little different than District Meetings.  We had a Zone Training Day.  We were able to present our Zone with some training tips and do a lot of role-plays to help our missionaries master the basics of PMG!  

After ZTD, we GQ'd quite a lot, and in the afternoon, Elder Huang and I visited Peter's family.  They doing well as always, I love them so much.  In the evening, we drove down to Edinburgh.

Wednesday:  Today we were on exchanges with the Assistants.  I was with Elder Grant, like old times!  We GQ'd a lot, and I got to see Yvonne and Imogen.  They're both the best :))  We also taught two of Elder Grant's friends--Carrie and Shevon.  It was a good day! 

Thursday:  In the morning, we went over to Soloman's.  We had a pretty deep discussion about authority, and he ordered us some pizza afterwards.  The man is just amazing in every aspect of his life.  He needs to be baptized already!  After Soloman, we GQ'd a lot.  Not many people wanted to talk. Later on, we had a lesson with Shona.  She has no reason not to be baptized, but she just likes her city church, fair enough!  We can only offer the restored gospel, it's up to them to accept it.  In the evening, we taught Daniel who is progressing well.  He is learning from the Jehovah's Witnesses as well, we will have to sort that out haha. 

Friday:  Today we were on exchanges with Motherwell, and I was with Elder Baake from Germany.  We were able to GQ most of the day and meet with Bir!  Ahh!  I missed him.  He is doing well but so busy with his PHD.  Hopefully we see him again this week.  We were going to drop off the Motherwell Elders in the evening, and we drove by a Catholic service going for Good Friday, so we thought we would check it out. and ah, it was terrifying.  Very ritualistic and a lot of repetition of people following the priest.  We only stayed for a minute, but on the way out, I grabbed some stuff from a table that said "free," like programs and a pamphlet, and the priest stops his service, yells, "EXCUSE ME," and walks over to me.  He asks why did we come in.  I say to listen to the service and see the building, and he asks me to give back his flippen materials.  I give him a bit of cheek though ;)  I ask him, "Oh, are they not free?"  But then he replies, "No!" and grabs them out of my hand.  Ahhh wow!  I was boiling, but I walked out laughing, can't even get a picture of the Savior from the Catholics for free.  We taught Daniel afterwards.

Saturday:  We drove over to Soloman's in the morning to start a fast with him to know if he should be baptized in the next week.  Afterwards, our lessons fell through so it was out GQ'ing!  I think I am being tested on my patience because we are posted up on Buchanan Street and... I get into a huge bash with another Catholic, calling me manipulative, cult, of the devil, etc. etc.  I asked him to explain to me some of his church's doctrine and he couldn't.  Classic.  But ah well.  The evening was great.  We headed over to the church and heard from the Prophet for Conference, I needed it :)

Sunday:  Conference all day, and I loved it!  The changes are inspired and I know we are led by the Savior in these decisions.  I am excited to see these changes implemented as well when I come home.  In the evening, Soloman had us over for some African food.  This man is too good! 

He gave a fire sermon to us about Easter and honestly I look up to him.  He didn't answer our question if he received an answer to be baptized or not yet, however.  We will see him loads this week! 

I hope this week that we may find some new people to teach! Please pray for Daniel and Soloman, as they are looking to be baptized next week. I love you all ! 😇  Elder Copeland