Em's Fifty-Fifth Email! February 22, 2016

I seriously need you all to pray right now and for the next week that
I stay just one more transfer. Thanks.

Monday we played sports with the zone in Rochdale. Sister T tripped
over herself and we dunked together, so needless to say it was a good
time. We have started reteaching a less active and her nonmember
husband. They fed us baked (jacket) potatoes (so many potatoes in
England...). We had a laugh and good time, but it was a fab lesson and
we have high hopes for Ellen and Hallen.

Tuesday we had a fun district meeting. They are all so funny yet
powerful. Then we had a street display. Crazies for days. After we started
our exchange with Sister BAISDEN! She helped me figure out myself a
bit more and she is a good example to me. We had a good time with our
Jamaican friend especially since she's from Trinidad haha. Then an
intoxicated person started following us a bit and singing "is it me
you're looking for?" Haha no. I just hid behind Sister B. Then we saw
Eileen with Bro Carrott. Rain came back.

Wednesday Sister B and I had to do some secret agent work and we also
bought cake for Sister Ntambwe's birthday! Fun fun. Then Sister T and
I went to an appointment with another less active non member (that's like all
we are working with and it is amazing). High hopes, high hopes. Saw
the sr Sayalls for tea. Then we had splits with Sister Faffery, good
times. Splits are fun. Sister Faffery kinda makes me nervous because I
greatly admire her and get really nervous...

Thursday we worked. Saw Saul and Paroline (part member less active).
Progress. Then we had tea at the Sunday school teacher. She is a solid
ex. Her kid is hilarious. Star Wars for life. Then they gave us a lift
to see our neighbour less active, Quail.

Funny Friday. Worked. Saw the Sates. Taught our Muslim friend...then
the Porridges! Seriously love them. So we talked about the Sabbath and
their 5 yr old boy's reaction is exactly like ours. "No, I don't want
to give this up, but God wants us to so ok fine, but that's rubbish"
essentially is what happened haha. Then at sports I scared Elder Mont so
badly he fell backwards and I didn't even touch him.

Saturday we had a street display and it was good. Rainy but good. Then the
elders taught our Jamaican with us and he listened a lot more to
males, especially Elder Illori saying "amen" and "brodah" all the time
being big and black haha.

Sunday is the greatest. The Porridges came. Two member cousins of the
Sayall fam were baptised. So precious. Then went to Saños for tea and
saw Ellen and Hallen again.

Sorry these emails are kinda rubbish but I'm learning. I've figured
that I haven't changed as much as I'd like or wanted on my mission,
but I've learned a lot more about who I am and who I can be. It's
annoying sometimes, but also a blessing. But in the moment more just
self aggravation. I just want to make the most out of the time left
here and not have regrets. Regrets are the worst. Less drama so
compactly this week but we had more for sure. Oh well.
Either way I know our Father lives and in the end just giving our best
is all that is requisite.

Top 10
1) Oldham
2) Exchanges with Sister Baisden
3) Part member less active fams
4) Cadbury Oreo chocolate
5) Cute lil baptism
6) Splits
7) Tea at members
8) Recommitting not to deal with gossip anymore
9) Sister Tholen. She is such a good friend and could get on with anyone.
10) Sports.

P.S.- Oh and our toilet is officially fixed. Holla

 Slam Dunk

 Enough Said

 Ballin

 True Love Dolls

Mmmm

Emi's Fifty-Fourth Email! February 15, 2016

"All of our thoughts, our words, and our actions are influenced by our prayers."
"Resistance creates both the opposition and the forward movement.”

MONDAY- we went to the bakery that the people Mama met own. Can I just
say that food was super good! They were super kind and gave us all
sorts of their specialties. And of course we stopped by the IKEA since
the bakery was in Ashton. Then we went to the Baffery's for tea, really
yum. Then we saw two less actives. Super good visits.

TUESDAY was pancake day (the holiday)! Our disrict leader made some for
us! We had a meeting and went on exchanges. My person is from Denmark.
It was a sleety, cold day but we saw my fab 87 Sister Rebel and she
even went out to work with us for a bit and she gave us referrals.
Then we worked, called by, bout bedding for the exchange. Went to
Young Womens and did some work at the Secotts's new place. They are all
so funny.

WEDNESDAY we all had some good old fashion drama that went strong for
the rest of the week but I got to make some pancakes with some spare
time I ended up having. Floppers...then a member who is prepping for a
mission worked with us all day. She is going to be so solid and it
just made the day a blast. We got loads of work done and had super
solid lessons with her!

THURSDAY we dealt with some more of the drama and saw Sister Saylor
for tea. Then Sister Radwick went teaching with us.

FRIDAY we worked loads and progressed with some of our friends.

SATURDAY had a Valentine's Day street Display. "What is love" was our ?
And I just kept thinking of the Pepsi commercial and sang it to some
people. After we went to a member who had a friend learning about the
church but he only speaks Portuguese, I  have to pay real close
attention if I want it to make sense with my minimal Spanish skills,
but it's a good time plus we ate some Brazillian food. Yum. Visited
someone else after.

SUNDAY I love church. Oldham for life. Sister T and I both bore
testimonies. We got your back Bishop. Then we worked, went to a
member's for tea. Worked. Good stuff.

- Our friend from Jamaica will have to learn more before he is baptized.
- I officially finished my first journal.

- A member in the ward puts pass along cards in library books around town, cant remember if I said that last week

- We doorbell ditched some members

- Sis T is my valentine

- I commented on a less active's fanny pack. guess that one was a bad word here...

The members trust us, we love them. We are blessed. Seriously, we
cannot keep up with the work, we need another transfer together,
that's all, please pray I stay. Sister Tholen and I get along great
and I am having a blast serving with such a good friend

-Sister Doncheva

Emi's Fifty-Third Email! February 8, 2016

Wow, this week seriously just flew, it was super good! 

Monday we had a hold up on our plans, partially because our toilet was going to fall through the roof and for now we've had to flush by dumping buckets of water. I don't mind. Plus we got some rad pictures so it was worth it. Later that day we saw some amazing members.

Tuesday we had a street display that was really good even though it was cold and there were few people out, we found someone with great potential. We also had district meeting and we made French toast out of the eggs and bread we get every. single. week. Then we worked more and headed to Shorna's for tea. We had mystery chili and made the notorious Oreo shakes. Good times. Then we saw one of the Porridge children and her grand daughter thought the former bishop was the prophet haha. Good dayy.

Wednesday was also good. We worked a tonne in the morn with nothing much, but we found another golden person! Then we got to make fufu with Sister Awire so I know how to make it back home haha. It was super fun and yummy. Even got plantains mmmm. Then she came with us to give an Arabic BOM. They wanted to make us tea whilst we were there haha, too full with fufu babies. Then we went to just meet someone for the Relief Society activity because it was Zumba. We stayed to watch for it. Oh that was mint. Those ladies killed it. So good. Then on the way home talking to someone I accidentally said we smoked hukkah because I thought he asked if we like seafood haha. Lots of asylum seekers learning English.

Thursday was super funny. So since Sister T is a leader, she has this meeting to go to in the mission home (which I had never been to before). We were suppose to just be working in another part of Manchester but I had a word with sweet Sister Ulrich and she said we could go and work an hour then come back and help her prep lunch. The best part was that the whole day I was with Sister Schwab! So we had a nice adventure getting lost on the posh golf course and came back. It was so fun haha and the food was so good. Then I took some pictures. We helped clean. Then President caught us lounging so he had us sit in on MLC...that was interesting. I won't elaborate. After we got packages!! Jenny Nafrada got me the cutest warmest snow shoes that are perfect when it's too cold for the Hunters! And I got the stuff from Dennis, so good! Thank you thank you! Then we saw a less active with a member. Work to be done there.

Friday was also good. Of course. We mainly worked and celebrated Sister T's one year mark at the Seal's for tea! Yummy burgers. Then two of their crew went to sports with us and right when bro Seal (who fixes chapels around the uk) walked in. Elder Cossa kicked the ball and broke a massive light haha. 

Saturday was super solid! We had a street display which was super rainy but I got to try out my posh new boots. The disrict leader challenged us to get 10 people contact information so I got a bit competitive and might've scared some people but it was for the sake of pancakes on pancake day! The Elder from Portugal made the most delicious Oreo thing ever and I made a samich out of it. So flipping good yet bad. Oreos, double cream, condensed milk and gelatin... Enough said. Then we had a super solid lesson with that golden person from earlier this week and a member. So solid. Then Sister T made peanut butter bars. Then we saw the Porridges!! I missed them so much! We are setting some solid goals. Sister Porridge gave me her brand new white chucks that were too big for her. How nice is that?? So stoked. Then we ding dong ditched a member with them and bro Porridge ran with us, one of the funniest moments ever after Zumba...

Sunday our investigator came to sacrament! So good. The work here, just exploding. I love church in Oldham. Sister Awire gave us some Geri mix and bro Swalsh gave us chocolate as a thank you for sharing some of my American food, how sweet is that!? We sat in on the Young Women lesson. Love it. Oldham is just a smaller version of 7th ward but people here are a bit more blatantly silly rather than the composure we try to have haha. Love it. Then we worked more, saw the same less active. Met a kid wearing a Thrasher sweater and knew that Blink 182 was from SD! Then we ate at the Carrotts. Loveeee them. Seriously. Then Leah went with us to the fireside with Eileen. Good times. 

This week has been one of the best weeks ever. It is just so smooth doing the work here with Sister Tholen, we are always just so busy working hard, you can't help but lose yourself in the work! So so good. Plus to be honest, this winter hasn't been that bad so there you go.

I'm grateful for how much Heavenly Father has been blessing us. I feel like all that I have worked for these past few months is finally playing out. Members are really trusting us with missionary work and their lives. I am so thankful.

Top 10

10) Power lessons with amazing members

9) Toilet not through the roof

8) That Oreo stuff!

7) New converse from Sister Porridge

6 )Watching Relief Society Zumba

5) Making Fufu with Sister Awire

4) Friend came to church

3) Posh new boots

2) Packages! Thank you so much! Dennis and Jenny N!

1) Day with Sister Donschwablow at the mission home

ghetto phones at their finest. our bottom left

haapy birhtday!!

crew

notorious GFC

pointing, not dancing...toilet throgh the roof

thug life

haha

Emi's Fifty-Second Email! February 1, 2016

This week we have picked up so much on the work. It is such a huge
blessing for both sister Tholen and I to know the members and the area
so well. We are straight killing it. This week has absolutely flown
and we have experienced too many blessings to keep track of! Plus the
members love us so we actually have tea apts like everyday. I love
this ward soooo much. (Gonna get big this transfer haha).

So Monday we went to Costco with the boys and Leah then kinda just
chilled. 

Tuesday we had a st display.

Wednesday we went to the beautiful temple! Love it and the train is so fun. 

Thursday we had lessons and apts!

Friday we had more work and had fufu again and geri
at Sister Awire's!, such good African food. So. Full. Forever. Then we
had sports.

Saturday we had a st display in snow/hail/rain/sun-all
four seasons!

Sunday is always the best in this ward and President
visited again so we had a nice chat, really good.

We are just having so much fun and seeing so much success. Seriously on
cloud 9. So grateful.

My heart is full of gratitude. Tiredness and cold and sickness cannot
possibly get you down when you're so enthralled in this privileged work. I
know my Heavenly Father lives and loves me and He provided His son for
the way.

Top 10
10) Two people said I was good looking this week. One way gay, the
other married, but still. Sometimes it's the little things, plus that
never happens
9) Sports night
8) Crazy people at st displays
7) Costco round 4, got a tub of hummus that is going fast
6) Bishop's. We had Yorkshire pancakes and stew! That's right. It was nice.
5) Sister Awire's African food, it just kept coming and coming.
4) Such solid members in Oldham, wish I could serve them more.
3) Lots of good busy work!
2) Sister Sorbet puts pass along cards in library books all round town Hahahaha
1) The temple!

Love, Sister Doncheva
Mormon.org.uk

 Hairdresser

 With companion and bishop's kids. Stew and Pancakes.