Week 93 - May 14, 2018

Happy Mothers' Day!

Hiya, fam.  It was great seeing you yesterday.  That is my last Skype call.  The next time I see you is in person :) Everything is ending so quickly!  What a bittersweet feeling.

Tuesday:  Today we went to the city District Meeting and did some role plays on how to GQ someone and ask inspired questions.  After DM, Elder Bain and I got out and GQ'd a load, and had a lesson with a young Brazilian couple, Bianca and Max!  They could be really solid.  We hopefully see them again this week/  They come from a Catholic background, but we were able to give them a Portuguese Book of Mormon, which my grandma brought over, and they loved it!  In the evening, we went to Ward Coordination and planned our baptism.

Wednesday:  We GQ'd in the morning and then had lunch with Bir.  What a good guy.  This week, I am going to get some blood drawn to help with one of his PhD projects.  That'll be interesting.  After lunch, we got out and GQ'd more! There were some E-MOVES happening in some of the Zones, and we had to drive missionaries around quite a lot, but after all of that, we taught Emmanuel in the evening and went through everything for his baptism. 

Thursday:  We set up Emmanuel's baptism in the morning, and then went out and GQ'd.  We Found the entire day, and in the evening, we had the baptismal service!  Bishop Campbell was able to baptize Emmanuel and it was a great experience for him.  He was feeling the Spirit and couldn't stop smiling!  I am grateful for his willingness to follow the Savior and am excited for his future in the gospel!

 

Friday:  Today was a full day of finding.  The weather was amazing!  We got a load of phone numbers.  We just have to wait until all of the students' exams are over to meet up with them. 

Saturday:  We were on exchanges with the Motherwell Elders.  I was with Elder Muller.  We had a busy day!  We GQ'd in the morning, and then had lunch with an Investigator from Cumbernauld who is pals with Elder Bain.  He is an older guy and a Mason.  Pretty cool stuff!  He hooked us up with five guys!  After lunch, we were able to teach Shona.  Her argument was that you do not base a testimony or answers from God or the Spirit, but on logic.  We read out loud four different stories from the Bible about how the Spirit teaches, and she had nothing.  I invited her to humble herself, and if she wants to know if this is true, to allow the Spirit to touch her heart.  Later on, we GQ'd, saw Daniel, and saw Lynn!  Both are well, just busy with exams until later on in this coming week. 

Sunday:  We were able to have Shona, John, and Maira at church with us!  Emmanuel was able to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost as well, and he and Daniel had their priesthood interviews, and will be receiving the Aaronic priesthood next Sunday!  After church, we taught a new lady named Mary from Nigeria, but she is pretty Born Again, and wouldn't accept a Book of Mormon.   Ah well!  Later on, we GQ'd until we got to Skype!  I love you all!

That was my week--very quickly.  This week is going to be well busy.  We are just trying to stay on top of everyone and make sure that we can help them to be baptized soon.  Have a great week and enjoy the warm weather back home! :D 

Elder Copeland

Week 92 - May 7, 2018

Hiya, fam! 

Loads of miracles this week, and of course, not a lot of time! ;) 

Tuesday:  District Meetings, I was able to go to Airdrie district and share more about making and following up with commitments with our investigators.  Until someone commits, they will not receive an answer!  After DM, we met up with Emmanuel and talked more about the temples.  He wants to go to the temple as soon as possible and do the work for his grandparents!  After Emmanuel, we taught a new guy named Jeremy, who is an absolute legend.  He is here from China just doing some English classes before September when he starts uni at Glasgow.  Man, he is so golden.. but NOT ENOUGH TIME :/  I'll talk more about him later on.  In the evening, we taught Lynn more.

Wednesday:  We taught Lynn in the morning, and then for lunch met up with Mannie!  He is a legend, doing well as always, preparing for the temple soon.  After Mannie, we taught a new girl named Tochukw, and she is pretty solid! Right now, she has exams though, so she said this coming week she would have more time once she is finished with that.  Later on, we went over to Solomon's and he made us dinner.

Thursday:  Today was a Chinese training day here in Glasgow.  The Assistants and all Chinese missionaries blitzed the city and just tried to GQ and teach as much as they could in Chinese.  We were able to teach Jeremy, Lynn, and Daniel with different Elders to give them a chance to teach!  In the evening, we met with the Stake President and had a discussion about missionary work going forward in the Glasgow Stake for 2018. 

Friday:  MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU.  We took a pic with these people dressed up for Star Wars day.  We were on exchanges with Airdire.

In the morning, we had to go get our car looked at.  It has a dent on the front, don't worry it wasn't from me!  Afterwards, we taught Rafael who came to church! Emmanuel had his baptismal interview, as well, and passed. He is good to go!  In the evening, Elder Huang and I went over to Peter's and he made us dinner.  It was great spending time with his family, I love them so much.  

After Peter, Elder Huang and I taught a new guy named Ray from Macau who could be really solid after his exams. 

Saturday:  We taught Jeremy in the morning.  We literally had taught him everything in a week and he was so prepared, but he left Sunday to go back to China.  He was willing to be baptized, but we knew that we couldn't rush his baptism that quickly, without him even coming to church.  It wouldn't be the best thing to do.  We put our trust in the Lord, and Jeremy promised when he returns in September here he will meet with the missionaries, come to church, and be baptized.  What a cool guy.  The seed has been planted!  We GQ'd a bit and then went and taught Solomon again and had to throw down.  We went through all the interview questions and he had no problems with it this time, except coffee. Come on.. So while I was teaching Solomon, Elder Bain went into his kitchen and stole all of his coffee and tea HAHH!  It was so funny.  We got into the car afterwards, and he opened his bag and we both started laughing hard.  Solomon called later on laughing as well.  He is a champ, just needs to be humble and get baptized!  

In the evening, we met up with Lynn. 

Sunday:  We were able to have three friends at church, Lynn, Emmanuel, and a lady named Norra!  Emmanuel is already so well integrated and the ward is excited for his baptism.  After church, we had some lessons fall through, but we were able to go meet Grandma and Grandpa and have lunch with them!  It was so cool seeing them.  I didn't feel nervous or scared or anything.  It felt natural to be back with family and just talking to them was so normal!  Made me happy to see everyone doing well. :)

Well, that was really quick.  I'm sorry!  I hope you all have a great week, and I will be able to talk to you more next Sunday for Mothers' day on Skype, woo!! I love you all!  Elder Copeland

(All the free Lucozades Elder Copeland and his companion got.)

Week 91 - April 30, 2018

Hiya, fam!  This week was great! 

We saw a lot of miracles and found a lot of success going out in the sun and talking to people. 

Monday:  We actually were able to have three lessons, one with a new guy named George who is kind of trippy.  He was talking about all of his experiences on different drugs.. But we saw Mitchell again.  He is well, reading the Book of Mormon slowly, but so busy.  He is out of town for another two weeks. We taught Lynn in the evening more about the Restoration! 

Tuesday:  We had District Meetings in the morning.  They went well.  Really, just helping our missionaries bring investigators to church is our biggest struggle in the Zone right now.  So lots of role plays on that!  After DM, we headed out and taught Shona.  She still just refuses to accept anything we teach and denies the truth.  It's pretty sad.  I don't think her intent is really there.  She just enjoys the company.  After Shona, we GQ'd the rest of the day and in the evening we had a on the spot with this guy named Matthew.  He knew a lot of anti, but we just powered through it and invited him to take a Book of Mormon and read it.  He accepted and took our phone numbers.

Wednesday:  We GQ'd around Glasgow and had lunch with Rachel.  She's a legend.  Later on, we had a lesson with a new friend named Emmanuel, crazy miracles!  Emmanuel is from Nigeria, had been living in London being taught by the missionaries there, had his own baptismal calendar, and literally has learned every single lesson.  He moved back up to Glasgow for Uni and he sits down and says, "I want to be baptized.  WHAT!  He has a date for the 10th, just so he can meet some more members and make the ward more comfortable with his baptism, but what a blessing!  After Emmanuel, we GQ'd some more and taught Lynna again in the evening.  She isn't progressing as quickly as we hoped, simply because she has her exams this week, but we are getting there!

Thursday:  We were able to see Rafael, Daniel, and Lynn and have three great lessons!  The rest of the day was GQ'ing and some service for a less active in the afternoon--cleaning dust out of a flat, dodgy haha.  We drove to Edinburgh in the evening. 

Friday:  We were on 2-day exchanges with the Assistants.  I was with Elder Wright.  We GQ'd in the morning and at lunch we met up with Peter and his friend. SO COOL!  It was great to actually get to know him and hear about his conversion story since I had first stopped him, and since he had learned from the Elders.  He is a chill guy and loves Star Wars, too, so we talked a wee bit about that haha.  After lunch, we GQ'd more and taught Yvonne.  SHE IS AMAZING!  She taught us the entire Plan of Salvation in complete detail and is preparing to go to the temple again in a few weeks.  I'm so proud of her.  

In the evening, we had dinner at this Indian guy named Punnite's and had a really deep conversation about prayer..  Kind of beyond my level.  He is a spiritualist guy. 

Saturday:  We spent some time with President and Sister Donaldson in the morning, ahah I LOVE THEM.  They have such good banter as well, so we joked on for a while.  After that, we got out and GQ'd and then taught Imane, who I taught on my last exchange.  She is pro-Communist and was telling us about how well it would work.. Rip..  In the evening, we met up with some RC's in Edinburgh for hotpot.  I saw WEI, she is doing really well, too, going to church and learning from the Elders.  Also, Yvonne again, and Sister Osmond and Irving were together for the day, so it was a big reunion and loads of fun.  

I had a really great time with Elder Wright.  Elder Bain and I drove back to Glasgow at night. 

Sunday:   We were able to have a new friend named Maira at church with us, a lot of other friends cancelled last minute on us though.. but it was alright.  The Stake President here is an interesting guy.   Anyways, after church we GQ'd and taught Solomon in the evening.  Solomon is being pretty frustrating.. He is afraid to be baptized and won't give us a straightforward answer.  We straight up told him we love him but he needs to humble himself and act upon the Spirit he has felt.  We will see what happens.  I am afraid if he keeps rejecting the invitation, he will fall away more and more. 

That was the week, it was so quick, and they seem to be getting quicker each week I have left.  I love being a missionary, I love serving my Heavenly Father, and I love all of you!  Have a great week 🍀

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