Weekly Update #93

     If I were to shorten this week to one word, that single word would be: fire. Fire. This week was a blaze! It was fantastic! And there's going to be a few pictures!

     So, after emailing we went out to see this old viking ruin village thingmy, but we got distracted and found this really neat cliff and rocky bits and we ended up going to the Southern-most part of mainland Shetland! That was neat. We also found a really old viking house, too, which was alright. We ended the night with FHE.

     Tuesday we rocked and rolled out with a District Meeting in the morning, which was good. After that, we went about, did some work around town, and then visited one of our friends. It was a shortish evening, but it was good!

     Wednesday we rocked and rolled out with the usual work about in the morning. The rest of the day was pretty much working  about. 

     Thursday, we did the usual. We visited a friend in the morning and had lovely conversations there. In the evening, we had a fantastic dinner at this family's house and they invited us over to watch the Scalloway Fire Festival with them.

    Up here in Shetland, they are proud of their viking ancestry. As many know, the vikings had a lovely tradition of burning their kings/chiefs/jarls in galleys when they died. So, the Shetlanders do the same thing every year around this time. They call it Up-Helly-Aa. Now, every island/town has it's own Up-Helly-Aa and Scalloway had their's on Friday. IT WAS SO EPIC!!!! AAAAHHH!!! So we watched fire Friday after doing some work and visiting some friends. It was grand!

     Saturday was good as well. We did some work and then we were invited to a friend's birthday party, so we went. It was great! After, we had the Youth Cafe, which was also a lot of fun!

     Sunday was a fun day. After church, we had a lunch and then did a wee bit of work before we went to a family's house for dinner. And that, was about it for this week!

      I am really excited, mainly because January 31st is Lerwick's Up-Helly-Aa, and I AM EXCITED! It should be great!

     Thank you all for the support and emails! Have a grand week!

Godspeed

Elder Kinville

Jacob 6:12 "O be wise; what can I say more?"

In the name of progress!

Weekly Update #92

     Another wonderful week in Lerwick has gone by, so let me tell you about it.

     The rest of Tuesday was pretty relaxed, we didn't do a whole lot, but we enjoyed it. Here's this neat beach in Lerwick. 

We also had Branch council. That was good.

     Wednesday we went about and saw some friends. In the morning, we were at the quilting club where we had a grand time there. After, we visited one of our friends, went to a family's house for dinner, and then had another visit with some friends and a grand conversation to top it all off! It was grand. 

     On Thursday morning, we went over to another friend's house and had a wonderful conversation with him. We haven't seen him since before the New Year, so it was good to catch up. He also gave us this epic painting. The mountains in that painting totally remind me of the Tetons. 

I love the painting, it sits across from where I usually sit in the flat. My favorite thing, so it is. Later, we did some work about the town and then we went to another family's house for dinner.

     Friday was a fun and grand day! In the morning, we did some work and then we visited one of our friends. After that, we dropped off a carpet cleaner that's been in the flat for a while, and that was good. Then, on somewhat of a spur of the moment type deal, we tried by these people who the missionaries used to meet with and had sort of vanished right before I came up here. We tried by and they were in, they let us in, we had a grand conversation, and it was great! Fun times!

     Saturday was also a good day. We started with coordination for the Branch missionary work. After, we did some work before it was time to go to the Youth Cafe. It was great to be back at the cafe. We had a good time there, and after we got kebabs. 

How can you top it off?

     So, there's this member in Lerwick, his name is Bob. He is fantastic, some of you know about Bob. He calls us every now and then and leaves us a voicemail just saying "James Bond, James Bond" or sometimes "The name's Bond, James Bond." Anywho, he gives the missionaries nicknames and also a little Shetland flag pin, and this week I got my pin! 

It's super neat, I like it! He's already given me my nickname, it's Quite Sensible. But during Church, he gave me the pin. After, we had a lunch with a family, then did some work before going over to another family's house for dinner. We had a wonderful time there! They're so much fun. And that was our week!

     Today, we'll be seeing some old ruins and whatnot and it's going to be good!

     Thank you all for the support, emails, letters, prayers, and everything else! It means a lot to me, I kid you not. Have a wonderful week, ya'll!

Godspeed

Elder Kinville

Jacob 6:12 "O be wise; what can I say more?"

In the name of progress!

ALSO ON WEDNESDAY WE THINK WE SAW THE NORTHERN LIGHTS, BUT IT WAS CLOUDY AND MY CAMERA COULDN'T CATCH IT!!!! :D

That's all, thanks!

Godspeed

Elder Kinville

Jacob 6:12 "O be wise; what can I say more?"

In the name of progress!

Weekly Update #91

    From a festive Lerwick, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Hopefully everyone is in tip-top, ship-shape, because I certainly am. I am emailing on Tuesday rather than Monday because it was a bank holiday yesterday and Lerwick was closed. I've never seen a whole town closed before, but Lerwick was. I am impressed.

     The rest of Tuesday we did something. I can't remember what, but we did it. It was grand. 

     Wednesday was a fantastic day. After going out and doing a bit of work, we were walking by the sea (because Shetland is an island, y'know) and we actually saw a sunset! 

Granted, this was 3:00 PM, but the sunset was magical! There was also an otter, but that's a different story. After doing some work out by the magical sunset, we went off to a dinner and then ended the night visiting a friend. It certainly was magical.

     Thursday was grand as well. We did some grand work in the morning, had lunch and whatnot, went about and did something, probably some more work, and then closed out in the evening having a blast at a dinner with a family.

     Friday was good, and I remember what happened Friday! We found a neat sign after we parked infront of it. 

I enjoy that sign. But we spent most of Friday visiting with a friend. It was great, great time there.

     Saturday was New Year's Eve! We spent a good portion of the day at a family's house and we had a blast over there. It was fun. Really fun. On the way back to our flat it was pretty slick. We handled it, though. Elder Giles is a champion driver. 

     Sunday was a new day, new year. It was grand. Elder Giles and I had the opportunity to speak in church. It was fantastic. After church, we had a lunch with a family and then went over to a house to celebrate the rest of the New Year. It was fantastic.

     Then on Monday, we had a good day. We went about and did a wee bit of work and then after the day was done and dusted, we went with a friend to FHE. It was incredibly fun, we played Cluedo (Called Clue in America), and I was so close to winning. But then someone forgot they had the room card and didn't show it when I asked so I got out, but it was worth it. 

     It's been good, it's going to be good and I am so excited for what's coming up. I hope you all have a wonderful New Year and please, keep doing good.

Godspeed

Elder Kinville

Jacob 6:12 "O be wise; what can I say more?"

In the name of progress!

Weekly Update #90

A good wintery morning from the wonderful island of Shetland! Christmas is done and dusted, and it was pretty neat, let me say. 

     The rest of Monday was grand. I went out and about with Elder Guymon in Aberdeen and that was most of that day. Pretty slow and calm. Some of the pictures here are of the neat lighthouse we saw last week and of Frankie's, that famous fish and chips place we went to with Arave and Harvey.

     Tuesday we traveled down to Edinburgh and had an All-Scotland Conference. That was fantastic, because it was more like a Christmas party than anything else. It was grand! In the evening, we caught the train back to Aberdeen.

     Wednesday was another day in Aberdeen. We went around with Elders Guymon and Forbush and we had a right proper good time doing so. In the evening we got on the ferry to head back up to Lerwick.

     Thursday morning we arrived and it was a right proper gale. The wind was blowing and it was nuts. We got back to the flat, visited some friends, and then had dinner at a member's house. It was grand!

     Friday was gusty as well. In fact, pretty much everyday except today has been bretty gusty. Like, 90 mph winds type gusty. It's pretty fun, dodging roof-tiles, trying to walk against the wind, trying to stand. It was pretty fun.

     Saturday was Christmas Eve! That was grand. We listened to Christmas music, did some work, and then the Church had a fantastic Christmas Eve Carol service, which was spectacular. We then made gingerbread houses. Elder Giles' was pretty good looking, mine had some issues. But, being super creative, I made the best of it. It was grand.

     Christmas was on Sunday, and it was great. We went to a member's house for breakfast, which was spectacular as well, and then went to church. After, we went to a family's house for the rest of Christmas. It was fantastic. I Skyped with my family and whatnot and it was all fantastic. We had a blast as well.

     Monday was Boxing Day/Feast of Stephens, which was also grand! We did a wee bit in the morning, then went to some friend's house and then went to a member's house for FHE, which was also spectacular! It was a great week all round.

     Today, is P-day. We've got to clean, shop, and whatnot, but we've got some good things planned. It is going to be bueno, let me say.

     Thank you all for the support and everything else! I hope you all have had a very Merry Chirstmas, and ya'll should have a Happy New Year! 

Godspeed

Elder Kinville

Jacob 6:12 "O be wise; what can I say more?"

In the name of progress!

Weekly Update #89

A short but sweet update from Lerwick/Aberdeen today! Howdy! Sadly, due to me being in Aberdeen, I don't have any photos, but I'll send double next week!

     The rest of Monday was fantastic. We went to see this lighthouse by these really neat cliffs and I took some great pictures! You'll see them all next week. After, we had FHE with a family and one of our friends and it was fantastic. I enjoyed it. The church members up here are fantastic. Honestly and truly are.

     Tuesday was a bit funky because there wasn't a district meeting. That was a bit of a bummer, but we had good things all along the way. We visited with some people and in the evening we went Christmas caroling again! It was fun!

     On Wednesday we went out and about and did what we do in Shetland: work and visit with people. It was pretty neat. We volunteered for a bit at the Salvation Army to help them with some Christmas things, and that was grand. After, we visited with a friend for most of the evening. That was grand!

     Thursday was grand as well. We went out and did some work about the town. It was great. That was about it. In the evening we went over to a family's house and had a wonderful dinner. All was well.

     All was not as well on Friday because Elder Giles was a wee bit ill. We don't know why, we just know he was. It was alright.

     Saturday was a blast, though! We did some work in the morning and then we went out, visited some folks, and then we went to the Youth Cafe for their Christmas party, and it was grand! I enjoyed it. I really liked it. It was grand.

     Then on Sunday, we went to church, had a lunch, got on the ferry, came to Aberdeen.

     Week done and dusted. That was it, not a whole lot, but it was pretty good. I am really excited for Christmas! 

     To you all, have a fantastic week, and a Merry Christmas!

     

Godspeed

Elder Kinville

Jacob 6:12 "O be wise; what can I say more?"

In the name of progress!

Weekly Update #88

   Good morning from fantastic Lerwick! 

     This week was pretty good! On Monday, we went to a broch in Lerwick and checked it out. It was pretty neat. I enjoyed it. After, we had an FHE with a family and one of our friends. Good times there!

     Tuesday was pretty grand as well. We had our last District Meeting of the transfer and then went off to do work about Lerwick. It was a good day, we did some good things, nothing else really happened. In the evening, we went to a care home and sang Christmas carols with members of the Branch, that was nice.

     Wednesday we went to the quilting club where I finished knitting this super epic thing! Its pretty great, didn't take a picture of it. After that, we went out and about and visited some people prior to a dinner with some members. After the dinner, we went to another family's house where we had a pleasant chat with them. It was pretty great.

     Thursday was another grand day. Thursday morning my new camera arrived! Yay! Right after it did, we went to visit one of our friends who took our pictures and made some Jib-Jab videos of it. It was pretty great, let me say. After him, we did some work around town and then did some more caroling in the evening at another care-home. That was nice, it's always nice to sing to old people.

     Friday we went on our way and started off working around town. After, we went and dropped by some of our friends. After chatting with them for a bit, we went by and visited another one of our friends, had a grand chat there. We then went to another friends house and had another chat there! We were just talking with folks all over the place. It was grand.

     Saturday we had coordination in the morning then we went out, did some work about town like usual, and then we went by to the Youth Cafe. That was grand and Elder Giles and I went super festive, too. It was pretty neat.

     Sunday was good, too. We went to Church, had a good time and a lunch there. It was pretty great. After that, we did some work out and about, had a dinner appointment, and then closed out the evening with another visit with some friends. We also got a neat thingme to hang on our wall! That was the evening, that was the week!

     It was a good week! On Friday, we found out that Elder Giles and I will be staying in Lerwick for another seven weeks! It's going to be grand!

    Thank you for the support and all that! Have a grand week, all!

Godspeed

Elder Kinville

Jacob 6:12 "O be wise; what can I say more?"

In the name of progress!

Weekly Update #87

     Good morning from Lerwick! Let's break the week down!

     This week was good! The rest of Monday we went about and did the usual preparation day activities with Elders Arave and Harvey. We went to see a lighthouse, which was neat. There was a killer whale statue thing.

It was neat. We think we also saw Norway, but we're not for certain. After, we went to Jarlshof to run around there a bit and then we went to FHE with a family. It was grand.

     Tuesday we had district meeting, so we went to the church, Skyped to the Stornaway sisters and the senior couple there and had district meeting. Grand time. After, we had lunch and split up to visit some folks. It was grand. I was with Elder Harvey. After being split for a wee while, we got back together, did some more work about Lerwick, and closed out the night. 

     Wednesday we got up and went about to visit the quilting club with the other elders. They enjoyed it and enjoyed that we were being part of the community. After that, we went to Frankie's, this super good chippy that's supposed to be the most northern chippy in the UK, and it was grand! We did some work up there, then brought the other elders to the ferry to head back to Orkney. After they left, we did some visiting with some folks and had a good night.

     Thursday was great as well. In the morning, we visited one of our friends in town, had a grand time there, did some work, had lunch, did some more work, and then had a grand dinner to close everything out. It was excellent!

     Friday we mainly went about doing work. After some work, some service, and whatnot, we had lunch, and then visited with this one fellow and his family and did some service for them. That was great as well.

     Saturday we went to church for coordination and had a pretty grand time there. After that, we met with the fellow and his family again for a pre-lunch snack. That was great fun, let me say. Then, we visited with another friend, had some good times with him, he invited us for dinner, so we stayed and ate. After that, we went to the Youth Cafe and had a blast there! Good times all round.

     Sunday was also good. We went to church, got conscripted into the choir for a Christmas Eve program, and overall had a blast. It was great. Then, we went to one of our friend's house and had some good chats and whatnot with him. Good craic, I'd say.

     That's this week! The only pictures I have are the ones that Elder Harvey took on Monday, so hopefully that'll do! Thank you all so much! Everyone, have a great week. My camera should be here this week. Cheers!

Godspeed

Elder Kinville

Jacob 6:12 "O be wise; what can I say more?"

In the name of progress!