Funny story!

I forgot to tell you too!! Funny story!

This last week sister steed and I have sister rehova (from the Czech
Republic) come stay the night/go on exchange with us! She has JUST
gotten into the field - only a couple days and so I was out with
sister steed who is wonderful but still new and trying to figure
things out and then sister rehova who was very new. It was a little
crazy as I tried to go and work and help both of them figure things
out. A little crazy and stressful sometimes but an adventure! But we
went to go see a potential and so we got on the bus and split up to
sit by different people so we could talk to more! I was at the front
and the 2 other sisters went to the back. I started talking to the
girl next to me and she was nice but not interested. So I was sitting
and trying to figure out what stop to get off of when I hear from the
back of the bus these loud African woman yelling about God and Jesus.
I listen and can hear that they are yelling at sister steed and sister
rahova - all about how they knew Jesus and had been saved and how the
2 sisters had been deceived and we're going to hell... YIKES! I just
started laughing as I looked back to see these two huge African, born
again, hallelujah Jesus, woman just yelling at cute sister steed and
rehova. Probably  should have been smarter than to send the, back by
themselves... But I quickly clicked the button and tried to save them
by getting off the bus! Oh the adventures of Peckham... I love it so
much! :)

Baptism

Bakery

The bakery we found... Yes. We might have gone 2 in one weeks. Whoops!:)

Chapel

This is the chapel.  #2 manor place!:)

Staying in the moment

OH i just LOVE getting to write you and update you on everything. It is seriously the best. But its been another great week! Super excited to tell you about it. 

SUMAN WAS BAPTIzED THIS WEEK! Oh it was so great. It was a great week of taking him to the temple and meeting with him and getting it all worked out to Saturday! It was so neat. A good amount of members came and he just seemed happy. We were talking about gratitude last night at an activity night and we asked Suman what he was grateful for and he said he was grateful that God had changed his life. OH it just melted my heart. It is so cool to be apart of seeing how people can change and helping them know that God is there. Being a missionary is the best. So yes! I have pictures I will send over from the temple and from that night!  It was a happy day! And Suman is so great... super happy and smiles a lot even though his pictures don't show it... I don't know what it is with people over here and how they look so angry instead of smiling in pictures... 

But that was mostly the highlight besides PRESIDENT INTERVIEWS!! OH i love them so much! So it was so great! He just sat back and said, okay ask me anything! And he probably regretted it a little bit. I went and asked his advice on everything, the sisters - how to be a better STL, as well as our area and finding approaches that will work better, we talked about school, and then (and this is a little embarrasing - actually not really) but I wanted to ask his advice on how to stay focused and working hard with the time I have left and I just broke down about it all. Just the thought of it ending is so sad for me sometimes. Its so hard actually, its a constant struggle of being so excited to see you all and apply the things I have learned back home and then being so sad and not wanting it to end. I feel like its a little crazy. ALSO the fact that I still have 4 months... thats still a LONG time. 4 months. AH can you believe I have been gone for 14. Miss me yet? ;) but anyways, wasn't planning on getting emotional about it but I realized just how grateful I was for it so then he had to give me this huge pep talk about how after is even better and how I should be excited about falling in love. EW NASTY. That stopped the tears for sure and I just felt weird at that point. Definitely not ready for that but wasn't going to say anything about it or else I felt I would get a longer lecture on it. Good thing no marriage until Ky is home! :) But so yes, it was great! I just love getting their full attention. Sister Gubler is so wonderful and fun too! The only sad thing is they are so short. So yes interviews were so wonderful! Life is great and I am just really working on focusing on the day and not whats coming up. Whether it comes quickly or slowly or whatever - the quote "don't count the days but make the days count" has been my moto! 

The transfer ends this next week - no change in preparation day though since it is now on Wednesdays! BUT with that I have 3 more. Crazy crazy!

I am really trying to be good with eathing the last little bit so that I am healthy coming home. Ive done really well! I eat so much better on my mission that I did at home... BUT we might have found a bakery this last week that is INCREDIBLE and so cheap. OH its a problem. i'll send over pictures. so yeah. Have to be careful. But actually everyone in the ward has mentioned it looks like I have lost weight since I was here last year. I have NO idea how that would be possible but I am glad that it looks like that! I'll take it!

It sounds like Ky had a bit of a harder week which is kinda sad. He seems to be doing great but the language and all of it sounds like it has gotten him down a little bit. He seems patient though. I honestly CAN NOT imagine serving somewhere with a language. I know I wouldn't have been strong enough for it so grateful heavenly father sent me here! :) But he still seems to be positive so that is good! I had to laugh about how he said he had a hard day - where all of the appointments fell through and no one came to church and they only got into ONE house. Sister Steed and I just laughed because if we only got into ONE house it is the best day ever! Its just so funny how different missions can be! We have had things SO HUMID here the past week! OH i have never been so hot. So I feel like I can kind of understand how he must just be melting, poor guy! 

And that is crazy about Kegan! Goodness! I hope he is okay! I have been meaning to write him. But will dedinately keep him in my prayers. Is Kari doing okay? 

Thats exciting about Scott and Rachel's new place too! Im excited to see it! 

And Linds tried out for volleyball! GO MOM!!! Way to make her do it! I feel like she would love it and is really so naturally good for it! with her height too it is just a double bonus! I hope she just falls in love with it! I can't wait to watch her play!!!! Even after all this time in England with football... I'm still not in love with it compared to my volleyball and basketbalL!

But i hope you all have the most WONDERFUL week!  Grateful for the day and staying in the moment but also so excited to see you soon!! 

I LOVE YOU! 

Sister Gwilliam 

Hey!

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> HELLO!!
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> I just love you and hope you have had the BEST WEEK!
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> I can't believe that summer is over for you. So crazy school is starting back up and everything is back to the schedule. want to know what is even crazier... that next summer I will be in on all of those plans! ISN'T THAT WEIRD? So yes mom! Totally in for planning out the summer full of crazy activities that we will LOVE! Oh i can't wait! I'll be along for all of them! :)
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> But oh mom and dad. Honestly I am just so happy. Its so crazy how much happiness comes from a mission. THis week has been incredible. Its been SO BUSY and crazy and all over the place but so fun. Im just loving it here. Peckham is so fun. I love how busy it is and I LOVE AFRICANS! And guess what? Im even starting to love fufu. I know. Its weird. But a member fed it to us last week and I actually loved it. SO see. Everything is just great! But the ward here is incredible. They have just taken Suman under their wing and we are teaching in their homes, going to family home evening, and dinners at their houses. Its been so neat. Last night we had a scripture study class and then we play games after as well and so much of the ward showed up and we just had a blast. It was one of those moments where I was sitting back and just reflecting on how much I loved this. How much I love all of them. It was the best. AND another amazing news is that SUMAN PASSED HIS BAPTISIMAL INTERVIEW!!!!!! YAYYYY!!! It was actually kinda scary...
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> On Monday we went over to have a FHE (thats right ky. FHE) with some members and on the way back Suman started telling us how he had seen some things on the internet... CODE RED. NOT GOOD. Sister Steed and I - oh we both tried to stay calm but were dying. He has been so great and I have seen how damaging the Anti mormon is - and satan works SO hard right before baptism so we were freaking out. Luckily it ALL is okay. We sat down with him and talked it through and he was great. He said ultimately everyone will say things about churches - that it didn't worry him. But what he cared about is that he has changed. He has been a better person and has repented and that is all that mattered. AH I LOVE SUMAN. So its so great. So the fact that he passed and made it that far was a miracle. We were so happy! :) So saturday at 7:30 suman is getting baptised! It is at the Chapel here - 2 Manor Place Walworth. You all are invited! :)
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> BUT with Suman. Ah mom and dad. Its so so neat to see how the gospel changes people. I know i said this last week too but it just blows my mind and strengthens my testimony so much to see how people CHANGE! Not just spiritually but they are just happier - if you have seen sumans facebook photo dont worry. He smiles now! :) He is just so happy, he laughs and jokes with everyone, is calmer, he talks about the differnces he has seen too as he has come closer to christ he doesn't want to sin or make mistakes, he has had greater faith - he says even his flat mates have noticed a difference. OH i just love it. He is so great! Saturday should be the best ever! Watch for pictures on Facebook and I will definitely send them next week! We are going to the temple with him tomorrow! Oh yeah - should be great! And then just keeping him busy until then! Apparently Grandma Warner even messaged him on facebook. He just laughed when I asked him about it... haha silly suman. BUT yes! HOw neat is it with Facebook that we have people we can connect with even all the way from England. So yes. Basically im just so happy and feel super blessed. To be in the BEST area with the BEST companion (i LOVE sister Steed. We have so much fun together) with the BEST most supportive family who I just LOVE. Its just great. I feel really blessed.
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> But thats pretty much the update on me for the week. Just lots of running around like a chicken with my head cut off for exchanges - its been mental. We had 3 this last week. Its just craziness and exhausting at times. There was a moment inbetween one ending and waiting for the other sisters to arrive where I almost had a little breakdown.. but don't worry! I said a prayer and ate a recees and life was great again!:) And then we have been just really trying to be with suman and help him! Its been so fun! This week to has been BOILING! So warm. Probably nothing like ky is having but it has been HOT. And fun fact about england is that they don't have air conditioning in the houses. and a lot of the people in this area live on the top floors of big complexes. We taught a less active yesterday who lived on the top floor of her building, her front room had a GIANT window letting in all the heat, and it was about 4. I thought I was just going to turn into a puddle. It was awesome. BUT im not complaining about it at all becuase I know what the winter brings and I would take sweating in this weather ANY DAY over the layers of clothes that dont keep me warm in a couple of months! :)
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> Ky seems to be doing so well. Oh my goodness. It makes me so happy. Thats another thing that just adds to this really great week - is that ky is doing so well. I have been so impressed with how motivated he is and happy and just not stressed. Knowing ky and how he can worry I was worried... but he seems great! And he has already baptised someone! HELLO! Hes the man. So grateful he is doing so well. And oh my. the missionary plaque IS SO FUNNY! I saw the picture when you sent it over originally but didn't read it until I saw the emails and just died of laughing after. thats too good.
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> and mom as far as I know the package hasn't come yet! :( Im so sad! I was so excited! But sometimes the post here can be silly and it just takes a while so Im sure it will come! Sister couper brings anything I get to MLCs so I will get it soon if it does come! Praying it will though! And its just fun this way - like you said the suspense can be the best part! So i have faith it will make it!
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> Thank you for calling about BYU too! we have interviews with president gubler on tuesday! I AM SO EXCITED!!! Oh so excited. Interviews are the BEST! but I will talk to him about it then. I have been given permission to go onto BYUs website to start looking at classes too. And uh. Honestly Im a little torn on what to do. AND YOU KEEP FORGETTING TO GIVE ME YOUR ADVICE! What do you think is best? I honestly need to start praying about it. Heavenly Father knows what is best. But im kinda leaning toward a really easy semester to hopefully just work at the pharmacy a lot.... I was thinking even not taking full 12 credits (full time student) but sister steed thinks you still have to pay full tuition to do that and that would jsut be silly so i dont know. I will take a look but october is coming up pretty soon - only like 4 more Preparation days to figure this out. So yeah. what are your thoughts. I feel like I will want to stay busy but at the same time It hurts my heart a little to not have a week to just be wiht you without worrying about work and school and homework and all that nasty. So im trying to figure it out. Let me know what you think! And i will get president to give BYU my ok!
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> I can't believe about Cams farewell! That is crazy. And crazy about Tommy too. Hopefully he gets it all sorted out and gets back out. I can't imagine how hard it would be to go home and then have to come back out. It would be tough but TOTALLY worth it. HOpe he stays focused on that and what he needs to do to get back out asap.
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> So fun to go to michelles too! I sent her an email last week thanking her for the money and just for being awesome! hopefully she got it!
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> But things are just going super well. Im really just super happy! Im back to the normal sister gwilliam where things are just wonderful and I love it all - definitely still long days at times but I love being here. I got a blessing a little bit back as well that I forgot to tell you about - Before training I asked one of the elders to give me a blessing for just comfort and in it he said that he blessed me to understand that serving a mission was the right decision. HOW NEAT IS THAT? TO get that strait from Heavenly Father that I am doing the right thing being here. ANd honestly I didn't need the blessing to know that is true. I love this. Its so hard and so crazy and overwhelming and exhausting but so wonderful. Im learning so much and just apart of something so much bigger. ITs so neat. I had an exchange review yesterday with a sister that just came out and talked to her about thinking about her exit interview with president and thinking about what she wanted to have accomplished by then and more importantly who she hoped she would be. I actually got a little emotional when I realised that that is coming up quick for me. I remember thinking a lot about that on the plane ride over to england - who I wanted to be after my mission and goals I had- and I can't believe its almost that point of that interview. Still a good 3 months at least before that happends but still. IT helped me focus and remember to make the most of everyday!
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> BUT I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!! So so much! Praying everything goes well with tyse. And just oh. SO GRATEFUL! HOnestly Im just happy becuase I know that you are all happy and safe and wonderful backhome. So grateful Heavenly Father is watching over all of us - here in England, back home in Utah and in Argentina. I love our Family.
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> I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!
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> Sister Gwilliam
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London!