Weekly Update #67

     Good lovely Monday morning from Dundalk! This week was something else, let me say that!

     To kick it off, we taught several people on Monday, which is always a pleasant surprise and totally excellent as well. It went grand, met some great people.

     Tuesday was our first District Meeting of the transfer. It was grand meeting the other Missionaries in our district. After that, we trained back to Dundalk and got right to work. We met with five people on Tuesday. It was insane. Elder Corcran taught a lesson on the street, which is always one of the best things ever. He's a champion.

     Wednesday morning we had a flat check, and we passed, so our flat is in perfect, beautiful condition. After that, we got right out to work talking with a slough of folks and meeting with four people throughout the day. Nothing really exciting happened except for the work we got done. That was neat.

     Thursday we started off strong by GQing most of the morning. After lunch, we had some lessons and then we got a referral from the Elders in Sligo. Now, this story would take far to long to explain, but know that it involves CCTV (Closed Circuit Television), several days of texting, and a sketchy meeting by the Dundalk docks. But we taught three people this day, and it was incredible.

     Friday we went to Drogheda and did some GQing out there. We did not teach anyone on Friday, but we still had a flippin' blast doing good craic! It was fun. It started to rain and we talked to some decent folks. Friday done and dusted.

     Saturday was also a special day. On Saturday we weekly planned, met with three people, and had the sketchy meet-up at the docks. Thrilling story, it really is. You'll find out more about it later. But it was spectacular! But Sunday, was the best.

     So, in missionary work, before someone can get baptised, they need to attend Church services for two or three weeks(based of the missionary's judgement and want of numbers). On Sunday, we had three people attend Church, one of which has agreed to be baptised this Saturday! This is just exciting, let me say. But at church, we had a good time. Elder Corcran gave a talk, we taught the people who came with us to church, and we got some good work done. It was amazing. After church, we continued to teach. By the end of the day, we had taught five people, leaving us with a grand total of twenty one (21) lessons this week. That is phenomenal. We are tearing things up here in Dundalk and we can only see it going uphill. Wow, that's just, wow, amazing.

     Sadly, the only picture I got from it all was when I chopped up a bunch of apples in our back garden with a sword. Sad day.

     This week has been awe-inspiring, let me say. Thank you all for the support and prayers! Best of wishes to you all! Have a grand week!

Godspeed

Elder Kinville

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

Weekly Update #66

     Hello from Dundalk, Ireland! Wow, wow, wow! What a great week this has been! Let me break it down for ya'll!

     Monday was good. Elder Arave and I went out and about and cleaned up the flat, celebrated the Fourth by wearing patriotic ties, and then left Livingston. It was bittersweet. Wow, so it was. We spent the night at another missionary's flat.

     Tuesday was a day of travel. Woke up bright and early to head to the bus station 

(Final selfie with Elder Arave) to ride on a bus for a few hours to get onto a ferry to ride that for a few hours, to get onto another bus to ride for a few hours and then be in Dublin! It was grand. I loved being back in Dublin. There, I met Elder Corcran and we began our companionship with a selfie. 

That was grand.

     Wednesday we went to Dundalk and began work. We taught several folks as we went out and about in town. It was a great day! That was about it. Dundalk is like Terenure. It has bikes! My legs are a bit sore, but I am pushing through it!

     Thursday we started off doing some GQing around town, did a wee bit of shopping since we couldn't the other day, and then taught a few lessons again. It's crazy how many lessons we taught and folks we met with. That was the day.

     Friday we kept doing good craic! We weekly planned, did some GQing, taught another lesson, did some more GQing, taught another lesson, and then we got a surprise as this fellow who had just gotten off his mission visited us. It was Elder Tarbet! That was fun. We met his family, had a dinner, and that was the night.

     Saturday we started off with some admin work inside. After that, we kept going about, doing good work, and had a blast. There's this great van that parks outside our flat, pretty exciting.  

In the evening, we had a branch coordination with the Branch mission leader, that was grand.

     Sunday was epic. Just plain epic. We got to the church, met some folks, and then I gave a talk in sacrament meeting. That was fun. After that, we had a lesson with this fellow from France who's been studying and investigating the church for a few years now. It's thrilling, it really is. After that, we went back to the flat for a wee bit to get some food then went out and taught another lesson. We're teaching machines here, let me say.

     That was this last week. Just, wow. We've gotten a lot done. It's grand. It really is.

     Thank you all so much for the prayers and support! Have a craicing day, like!

Godspeed

Elder Kinville

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

Weekly Update #65

Excitement, adventure, miracles! All have happend in this last week in Livingston!

     Monday was grand-like. We had a dinner with a Chinese member and met his wife, too. That was enjoyable. We then tried by some less actives for the rest of the evening with another member. Pretty good. We also made some Kool-Aide, but we didn't have a pitcher big enough.... So... Kool-Aide in a dish...

     Tuesday was the last District Meeting of this transfer. We met, had a good time, was spiritually filled, then got back to work. We chapped a small subdivision and talked with some of the folks there and then met with Cameron for some administrative work. We then went to Brandon and Louise's place for a dinner to close out the night. That was lovely and exciting. They're a grand couple.

     Wednesday we rocked and rolled out with more admin work. It's actually really good we got all this work done, you'll see why at the end. We also had a hot dog from the legendary Dan the Hot Dog Man, hashtag. After that, we tried by a lady, she wasn't in, then we went to Whitburn for a meal. That was AMAZING! She had chicken, wrapped in bacon, stuffed with haggis. That was incredible! That was exciting, let me say. 

     Thursday we weekly planned. That was grand, as it always is, and then we went to a member's house to do some weeding in her garden. There's a lot of weeds to remove, but we've gotten rid of a ton of them. We're professionals by now. After that, we went to the church and met with an investigator, taught a lesson, then went to the ward snooker night. That was fantastic, let me say there. I learned that I am not good at snooker, nor pool, only on the Wii. 

     Friday we had a breakfast with Anne and one of her friends! That was enjoyable, I liked that. After that, we continued our admin work. After completing it, we went about to meet with Brandon a bit and have some activities with him, his dad, and some of his friends. That was epic. After, we went to the church to remember the Battle of the Somme. It was a battle in WWI and the Ward put on this demonstration and it was lovely. I really enjoyed it. After, we ended the night.

     Saturday was a special day, it was the day we did incredible work! We went out in the morning and tried by some folks. We were let into a house and we taught a lesson. That was crazy. After, we were walking and met this fellow on the street. We had a fantastic conversation with him and then tried by several people who the past missionaries used to teach. We found them and we set up appointments to meet with them again! Grand! After that, we had a dinner with a member and ate some kebabs. Delicious. Then we did a wee bit of chapping to close out the night.

     Sunday was the day of moves call. We went to church, had a blast there, and as we were leaving, this fellow went up to a member and the member led him over to us. He had some questions, so we sat down, talked with him, and taught a lesson and we'll be seeing him later today. Wow. That, that was fantastic. After that, we went about a wee bit, visited a few member families, a bird sat on my head, and then returned to our flat for dinner. While on the way back we got moves call.

     Elder Arave and I, a dream team, will be separated. Elder Arave is heading way up high, to the tip of Scotland, Thurso. I am off to Dundalk in Ireland. I am so excited for this. I loved Ireland and I'm excited to go back. I am sort of sad to leave Livingston, but that's the way the cookie crumbles, y'know. That's that. We're being replaced by sister missionaries, so we need to clean the flat today and there's plenty to be done. 

     What a week! What journey lies ahead? A fantastic one. One where I'll once again be with the Irish. It will be great. Grand, even! 

     Thank you all for your support and help! 

    By the way, HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!

 

Godspeed

Elder Kinville

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

Weekly Update #64

    From Livingston again, hello hello!

     A good week, I'd say. Monday we had a fabulous P-day, can't argue about it there. In the evening, we went over to the Bishop's house for dinner and it was fantastic! 

     On Tuesday, we had our District Meeting, which is always good. After that, we traveled back to Livingston, had our lunch, and went off to do some chapping. It was a good day for chapping, had a good time, too. We then went to a member's house to help trim her hedges! It was fun, doing that. While there, we got another call from another member asking if we could help him with a few things. We couldn't refuse, so we said yes, finished the hedge, went with him, grabbed a plant, and helped him there. After that, we went to the church for coordination with Cameron and then a meal with a member. The meal was fantastic! And we had a good conversation. After that, it was done and dusted.

      The next day we went back to chapping. That was fun, like always. After that, we went to Whitburn to try-by some folks with a member who lives out there. They weren't in, so we then traveled back to Livingston to do some work and then visit a member for a meal. That was lovely. They're a great crew. We then went and chapped on some doors to close out the night, and thus was Wednesday.

     Thursday was another grand day. We started with weekly planning, had lunch, visited a member and helped him in his back garden, went to the Reid's and had a dinner with them, then went into Bathgate for a lesson with this less-active couple. After that, we did a wee bit of finding and then got right back home. 

     On Friday we blitzed Leith again. We traveled out, I was with Elder Kitchen and most of the day we GQed folks. It was nice. We met some neat people, several of which we had decent conversations with, taught a recent convert, and then talked with a fellow for about an hour on the street. That last conversation was great and he had some neat stories. After that, we had dinner and it was the night.

     Saturday we traveled back to our flat, had lunch, went out to do some admin work, went to Armadale for some gardening service, did that, went back to Livingston, had a meal with this spectacular member, and the photo of the burger is from a few weeks back but it was delicious, and then we did a bit of finding to close out the night. It was pretty grand, I'd say.

     Sunday was a blast, though! We went to church, had a lovely time there, had some lunch, did some finding, got lost in the woods halfway through finding?

(I don't know how it happened) and then had a meal with none other than Dan the Hotdog Man. Wow. That was great. He grilled some steaks and it was a blast! He and his wife are fantastic people, so great. After that lovely meal, that was the night.

     It's been a good week, it's going to be another good week. I can't argue about that. I'm sure it's been a great week for you all, too! 

     Thank you all for the support and whatnot, have some fantastic times! Cheers!

Godspeed

Elder Kinville

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

Weekly Update #63

    Good morning from a lovely city in Scotland! This week was great, so great.

     On Monday, we had a pretty good rest of our day. In the evening, we went to see a member family and had a fantastic meal and conversation with them! It was brilliant.

     Tuesday we packed up early to go to Edinburgh for a Zone Meeting. There was some fantastic instruction given and it was grand. After that, we trained back to Livingston and had a quick lunch before heading out to an area called Whitburn. That was pretty neat. We talked to some nice folks while knocking about and talked to some not-so-nice folks, but that's just the way the cookie crumbles. After, we went to the church to help out with the youth activity. That was a blast. We then were given pizzas. Cannae argue about that.

     Wednesday we blitzed Leith. We got out around 8:00 and trained into Edinburgh to catch some buses to get out to Leith. It was a fun day. I was with Elder Thomson and we had the opportunity to teach a class on 'Mormonism'. That was a blast. Let me say. Actually, it was two classes. So we got in, and it was a Q&A format, they'd ask a question, we would answer and testify like a couple of gents, and so on. This was also to a class of 16-17 year olds and they had some pretty good questions. I was impressed. After that, we taught a lesson, visited a few folks, had dinner and that was the day.

     Thursday we started off right proper by training back to Livingston. When we got back, we weekly planned, had lunch, and did some admin work. After that, we visited two people, had a fantastic conversation with them, caught the bus back, did a little bit of chapping, and then had dinner. A day full of travel. We also had some bus shenanigans. We missed several buses and one bus was just half an hour late. It was exciting, kept us on our toes. Elder Arave was a champion about it, though. I also took a selfie with a ghost car. Spooooky.

     Friday we started off by finishing up this one road we've been working on for a while. We did, did some service while we were at it, found a Ukrainian family, and then we were done. It was incredible. After that, we tried by some folks, they weren't in, so we had lunch and tried by someone else, who wasn't in, and then we had a meal appointment with the Jack's (a family, not to be confused with Jack from Dalkeith) and then had Ward Coordination with Cameron. That was the day.

     Saturday we went off with some chapping. Always nice. After, we had lunch, visited #DanTheHotDogMan and then did a bit more chapping. That went on through the evening until it was time for dinner. Short, quick, and for dinner we had green chicken alfredo. It was magical.

     Sunday was grand, too. We had church, had lunch, went and did a bit of chapping, and then went around with a member in Whitburn to some people. No one was in, but we caught someone as they were leaving and we'll be coming back to him this week, hopefully. And then, that was the day. It was rainy on Sunday, too. Got a wee bit wet.

     Overall, grand week. Been pretty good and I'm thrilled for this next week.

     Have a great week, all! Cheers!

Godspeed

Elder Kinville

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

Agony

Apparently Missionaries do have some free time....

Weekly Update #62

Good morning from the wonderful land of Livingston! It was half sunny, half cloudy, good exchange and I cannae argue! Here's how my week went!

     Monday we did P-day activities! We went about, went to the big shopping 'Centre' in our area and then returned to chap on some doors. It was alright, can't really complain. We were also in some spooky woods, so spooky selfie. 

     Tuesday we woke up early and went out and about to go to Edinburgh for a Zone Interview Training. That was a blast. Saw some grand elders there, had an epic time, and it was good. After, we went back to Livingston by train, had a lovely dinner with Anne, and then went about with a member to visit and try-by less-active members. That was enjoyable. One of them was in, so we had a pleasant conversation with her. Overall, pretty grand!

     Wednesday we went out, bright and early, and chapped. We did that most of Wednesday, having lunch and then going to a lesson in a park. The investigator is going to Moscow this week so, hopefully we can see her after her trip. Hopefully. After that, we had dinner at another member's house and got to know them, had a good dinner, and it was grand. After that, we did some more chapping, because chapping is chapping! 

     Thursday we weekly planned, like usual. After, we GQed out, worked on our progress record, GQed back and visited the Reids, a fantastic family. Jimmy is a real character. He's the best. After that, we did some more chapping, tried by some folks, and that was the night!

     On Friday we did more chapping! That was sort of enjoyable. The sun wasn't out, so it was a bit cooler (temperature wise, not relating to quality). We also did some chapping with Altair, the cat, because he followed us around for most of the morning's doors.

 After, we had lunch and did more chapping through the day. It was alright, had a decent time, too.

     Saturday, we chapped. Chapping, chapping, and chapping. After that, we had lunch and then went out to Bathgate, another town in our area. That was fun. It's a neat place, we'll be going back today for charity shopping. After that, we went to our Ward Mission Leader's house, Cameron, and had a meal and a coordination meeting with him. That was fabulous.

     Sunday I had the blessing to give a talk in church! That was fun. It's always fun to talk and such. After the meetings, we went to get lunch and then went out and about with Cameron to do some try-bys. That was alright, didn't see anyone but we had a decent experience. After, we had dinner at a family's house, did some good work there, and then visited some other people. By the end of the day, it was the end of the day.

     Livingston is a happening place, let me say. It's fun, so far. Plenty of work, plenty of food, plenty of good times ahead. I can't argue. We have a tomato and pepper plant, Giuseppe and Rodriguez. 

     Hopefully you all have a fantastic week! Thanks for everything, have a grand week!

Godspeed

Elder Kinville

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