Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Week One in Worthing!

This week has been great! I've noticed something about training in a new area- it really is like starting your mission fresh! I love it. It's great to go back to the basics, to build up the work in an area. In Basingstoke, we had everything established, everything was flowing smoothly. Here... well, we have some work to do! :)
We've done a lot of street contacting in the past week. We've found that the two best places are along the promenade and on the high street. There is a REALLY cool recent convert here- we brought her street contacting with us the other day. She took the right side of the high street, I took the middle, and Elder Cullimore took the left. Whenever someone got into an actual conversation, we just joined in. It was really cool and we found some awesome people that day. Long story short, we've found some wonderful people and hope to begin helping them progress towards baptism soon.

Our plan moving forward is to get the members involved DAILY in the work, to be 100% obedient, and to have meaningful study. Meaningful study is something that President has been stressing A LOT lately, every single week in his letters.

It is nice to be in a District with Elders in it so we can actually do stuff with other missionaries on P-Day! :) Today one of the Elders from Littlehampton is going to give me a haircut. I need a haircut quite desperately. District Meetings are in Brighton. The District is HUGE- Elders in Worthing, Littlehampton, Brighton, and Eastbourne. It should be a blast. :)

That is pretty much it, to be honest. A slightly boring email, I know :) but there will be more next week, promise!!!!

I love you all so much and am so grateful to be a part of this noble latter-day work. I know that it's true- if it wasn't, I wouldn't be here. This Gospel has made more of me than anything else could even come close to. 

Have a wonderful week :)

-Elder Frederickson

Training in Worthing!

A little over a year ago, my friend and I were sitting in a Denny's in Provo and 5 AM contemplating the purpose of why we are placed in the paths of particular people. Isn't it funny that a year later we are missionary companions?
My new companion, fresh out of the Preston MTC, is my good friend Elder Cullimore! I could not be more excited! We are serving in a lovely sea-side town called Worthing. 

Getting to Worthing was slightly stressful. One of the YSA in Basingstoke drove us to the train station and on the way we got McDonalds Breakfast (that was not stressful.) Then, in an unrelated incident, we missed the train to Staines. We were SO kindly offered a ride, however... so this was not an issue. Also at one point I got Sracha hot sauce on my new suit but we bought baby wipes from ASDA and cleaned it so it was all good! :)

But now we are here. Worthing is absolutely beautiful. We have the largest flat in the mission and it has two toilets/showers (hallelujah.) We are a two minute walk from the beach, so we went for a run on the promenade this morning. So cool. I love being here.

Not much else to say! I could not be more excited to see just what the Lord has in store for us here!

With love,
Elder Frederickson



New Address

Here is my new address!!!
 
Elder Matthew Frederickson
Flat 1 Sinclair Lodge
23A Gratwicke Road
Worthing, West Sussex
England BN11 4BJ

July 1st - Basingstoke

Good morning everybody!
 
P-Day today. Buying a new suit. That's pretty much it. Nothing too crazy.
 
Another wonderful week! Gibson and Sam's baptisms draw closer- they are on Saturday! We could not be more excited.

The work continues to move forward in ways that I never thought to be possible. We are getting so many members involved so often, it is an absolute miracle. We are really pushing the members, I think some of them think we are being a bit intense. Often times during planning, if we don't have a member going out with us, we will work the phone until we have someone coming out with us. We beg and please and promise blessings. We seriously have to give every effort we have to get people out with us, but somehow it ends up working.
I don't particularily enjoy being brief, but there's really not much more to say. Everything is going wonderful. The Lord is blessing us so much. It is such a priveledge to serve the Lord full time.

Transfers next week. I have absolutely no idea what is going to happen next week, but I know it will be of God. I will be happy no matter what.
 
I love you all so much! Your prayers are so powerful, I feel them daily.
 
With love,
Elder Frederickson