New Area, New Companion

This week I learned missions are actually fun. I LOVE my new comp.  He is

the funniest and we just have the best time haha.

Yes it was very hard to leave my Beverley family behind. I felt a bit

lost for the first few days here. I didn't know anyone and didn't know

where to go. The ward here is completely different. About the same

number of people, 60 ish active. But more young families which is so

new to me. The area is so different. You are either going up a hill or

going down hill, it is never flat here haha. No bikes in this area and I can

see why haha. If you look up Keighley on an elevation map you will

quickly find out they are steep. There are loads of Muslims around. I

think there are 3 mosques and a 4th being built or something crazy. The

over all average income here is much lower than Beverley. Loads of

chav estates hahaha. Makes missionary work interesting. Right now we

have a few investigators but looking to find some real solid ones.

Should be a interesting week.

My companion is from near Wollongong Australia! He turned 20 in Feb

and did 2 years Uni before coming out. He likes to work! Man we work

so hard and he's super diligent with all the people he's found and

names and interests. He knows so many names of people. He just got out

of training so still learning. We are both learning! Always learning

new things. I love being able to serve with a new outlook on the work.

We test out new ideas all the time.  Some are horrible but some are so

good.

My favourite part of the day is personal study time. Over the past few

weeks I have had some thought about the priesthood and our duty to

serve and how it directly applies to our work. My studies are mostly from 2

separate talks. One talks about Aaronic priesthood and how it is the

preparatory priesthood. I look back to the times when I was preparing

for the Melchizedek priesthood. I see the times when I was truly

preparing and the times when I was coasting or even braking my

progress. The things that helped me prepare:

Dedicating time and diligently visiting my home teaching families. How similar 

this is to serving a mission!  Also serving those members of the

ward who need help. Being kind and offering that service always.

Even seeking service outside young men's service is best. Learning and

growing as I served the other young men. Being a leader helping them

exercise their priesthood. One of the things I wish I had was more of an

opportunity to exercise my priesthood and to actively pursue ways to

use it. After all, we do not have the priesthood to benefit ourselves but

to benefit others.

I love the organization of the church. I know God has called Thomas S.

Monson to be a prophet.  Have a great week!

Love Elder Pilling

Sent from the land of lads