Sister Pursglove in the England Manchester LDS Mission: Weekly Letter #40: July 13, 2020

Hello hello world!!!

So sorry it's been a few weeks since I've written an email, but I was not in the mood. Apologies.

Anywho, let's get back to business and catch everyone up on news from the last few weeks.

LOCKDOWN?
I was able to see 10 different people face-to-face this week! I am not going to lie, the longer the lockdown continues, the more I slowly die inside from not seeing or interacting with people face-to-face. However, safety first. President and Sister McReynolds came to see us on Saturday which was a huge blessing as it's been nearly 6 months since I've seen them in person! I love them so so much, and sadly we found out they'll be leaving on July 31st :( Because of that, the old mission president for the England Leeds Mission will be coming up and lead us until the Johnsons (our new mission leaders who are having visa issues) are able to come over. Hopefully that will all work out well!

Since things are easing up slowly over here (very slowly), outdoor pools opened up and we all know what that means! Sister McReynolds (my mission president's wife) convinced President McReynolds to buy a giant inflatable swimming pool for the mission home, so we can have baptisms outside! A few people were baptized yesterday for the first time in months! How crazy? It kind of almost feels like things are going back to normal?? Weird.

BARROW
Barrow has been going wonderfully lately! We've been able to meet with a lot of our returning members and some of our friends so that's been really great so far. We also were able to drive down to Kendal (next to Lake Windermere) and it was so stunning! Barrow has some of the most beautiful places, but Kendal has definitely got us beat!

CROSBY
Sooooo.... a couple of weeks go we got a call telling us we would be over an another area in the mission virtually, as well as still being over Barrow. So now we have 2 areas! Meet the new proud missionaries of Crosby in Liverpool. We were able to meet quite a few people this week and have a Sunday Devotional with them which was lovely, so it will be fun to get to know them all better. It's so fun, because I know people in that area so people can start to expect phone calls soon from their favorite neighborhood missionaries :) See you soon, Lee!

FUNNY(ish) STORY?
So this week when we were on Facebook trying to make friends and look for ideas on what we could do with social media, we ran across a post from some sister missionaries serving their missions at historical Church sites like Nauvoo, Salt Lake City, etc. They were offering virtual tours of these different areas, and Sister Sellick and I got excited so we scheduled multiple tours over the next few weeks. I know it isn't super funny but there hasn't been a crazy funny story that pops into my head.

Also, happy 4th of July. Most people make fun of it over here and sent us a bunch of American jokes so I guess that in the end America is the joke of the week. Hehe. God save the Queen. 🇬🇧

SPIRITUAL STORY?
Due to lockdown, we have not been able to partake of the sacrament since the 2nd week of March, so it has been a REALLY long time. Last week, we were able to go to church and take that (under government and social distancing guidelines) and I am not ashamed to admit that I cried. I swear there was nothing better than the feeling of being able to do something to help me remember my Savior, as well as remembering the promises I've made with my Heavenly Father. I'm so so grateful for this gospel and everything I have. I'm so so grateful I'm able to meet with the amazing people over here to teach them about what I've been able to learn and experience. I'm so so grateful for my Savior and for my Heavenly Father and all they help me with, all they allow me to do, and everything they help me to become. I love this gospel. I love my mission, even as crazy as it sometimes is. There is absolutely no better feeling than helping someone understand who Christ is, and then letting Him change their lives.

Love you all!!! Have a good week!

Photographs below :)