Easter Miracles (23/4 email)

Hi everyone!

Did you miss hearing from me? Haha sorry about the delay... the library was closed for Easter! I hope you all had a wonderful Easter and were able to remember its true meaning while you were eating chocolate J

We've been blessed to have some nice weather this week! I even went a couple of days without a coat! J Made me miss home a little bit haha! This week has been wonderful! So many miracles! The highlight definitely being the baptisms of Liberty and Olivia Windsor! Oh it was just beautiful! The smile on Nigel's face after he baptised his daughters was priceless. What a joy! Our investigator Claire came to the baptism and told us after that she and her daughter want to be baptised too! miracle! Sister Tolman and I were just a little bit excited!!

Ready for another miracle!? WENDIE CAME TO CHURCH! finally!!! Oh it was just the best Easter Sunday ever! Liberty and Olivia received the gift of the Holy Ghost, and after church we had lunch at the Owen's. They had a returned missionary staying with them, that they got very close to, and he wanted to go out tracting with us! It was great! After lunch we went out to Biddulph and we had some great lessons with him. Then the Owens came with us to teach Paul and we had a powerful lesson about the brother of Jared, and Elder Owens and Paul played their guitars afterwards... it was a really nice day J

We got to teach our new investigator Bekki and her friend Jess, and It was a very powerful lesson! We taught them how to pray and they were very excited to try it out... we are looking forward to seeing them again this week!

On Monday we were able to go to the temple! We were so excited to go! It's not very often we get to go... but because it was a bank holiday, the temple was open on our preparation day and that meant we could go J It was beautiful. Time just stands still in the temple. Everything just makes sense and all is right with the world. Brother Windsor told us that his family is working towards being sealed in the temple in September! We are so excited for them, and I can't think of a more joyous occasion than to be there with them on that special day. Doing the Lord's work brings the greatest happiness.

Yesterday we had our specialized training. It was a full on day! I learnt so much! And we got to have interviews with president. I feel very spiritually fed and ready to work harder than ever! Quote of the day from Sister Preston:
"If we don't testify of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, we might as well be teaching Catholicism or any other religion!"
This gospel is true! I know it with all my heart! if you know it too, tell someone! You will find more happiness in sharing it than in keeping it to yourself.

have a brilliant week, let your light shine.

xoxo Sister Riley.

Liberty and Olivia's baptism

Sister Tolman and me at the temple with Joey
(he is leaving for his mission in South Africa soon)

beautiful blossoming trees

The weather was rubbish (14/4 email)

Hi everyone!

Sorry it's gonna be a short one this week too... this morning we went to the library to email, but all the computers weren't working... so we had to get permission from president to email at a member's home!

Last monday Sister Tolman and I went to Manchester! It was great! The weather was rubbish haha but we had fun shopping and having a look around the city J I'll send photos next week! If I wasn't so poor I would have bought so much, but we did get a few things from Primark (so cheap! J) and I had Taco Bell for the first time for lunch J

It's been a hard week to be honest, we've done a LOT of walking and not a whole lot of immediate success but that's how it goes sometimes! I love what President Uchtdorf said in Conference... "how much of life is missed in waiting for the rainbow..." We need to be grateful for the rain! I feel like that definitely applies here in england J but really, we need to be grateful for the hard times as well as the easy times. God gives us these challenges for a reason, and I love how Sister Tolman and I were able to look back and reflect on our week and think about what lessons God was trying to help us learn through our trials.

We have been teaching Liberty and Olivia, and they are getting ready for their baptism next Saturday! We are so excited for them! Their dad Nigel said one of the nicest things to us the other day, I will never forget it... he said "Our lives are back on track thanks to you!" I nearly cried! This is what its all about!!! It's not about having 100 baptisms! It's about making a difference in someone's life! He was telling us about how is wife is coming to church this week and they are working towards being sealed in the temple! The look in his eyes! Oh it is just so wonderful to be a part of this wonderful time in their lives!

There are many other stories that I don't have time to share, but I have great news... I found a cherished friend of mine! We found a shop that sells Milo! I am happy J

Well, I hope you all enjoyed Conference! I'd love to hear what you learnt from it! J

Have a great week!

xoxxo Sister Riley

Fruit (7/4 email)

This week ended on a massive spiritual high where we got to watch 3 sessions of General Conference. I know that you all don't watch it til this coming weekend so I won't spoil it for you J Needless to say though, it was amazing! We will probably be watching the fourth session tonight J

I am incredibly excited because Liberty and Olivia Windsor have set the date of the 19th of April for their baptism! only 2 weeks away! We are so happy for them and their dad Nigel J

Claire is continuing to progress, I just love her so much! She has such a pure heart and wants to follow God. We taught her the word of wisdom this week, which is a tricky one here... most people smoke, drink and enjoy tea and coffee L Claire accepted it all but said she could never give up coffee! We invited her to pray about it. It didn't seem like she was even considering giving it up, but she said she would definitely pray about it. She came with us to Conference, and told us she had gone a whole day without coffee! It was amazing! She really enjoyed Conference, and I just know that she will be baptised soon!

This email is gonna be a short one today because Sister Tolman and I are going to Manchester to do some shopping! I'm so excited! I need some retail therapy!

So I'll leave you with a scripture to ponder this week... D&C 15:6

I hope that you all are prayerfully preparing for Conference. There is so much to soak up and strengthen you. As a missionary, I especially loved M Russell Ballard's talk, and I encourage you to take up his challenge!

I love this Gospel with all my heart. Life is beautiful.

xoxo Sister Riley

My eyes are wet, my heart is full (31/3 email)

Hi everyone!

I don't know where to begin for this week! It has been amazing!

Transfer calls were on the weekend, and I can't believe that Sister Tolman and I are staying together in Congleton for a third transfer! It is the BEST!

We did some work in Biddulph this week. We went to see a couple who had met missionaries about a year ago. We had set up an appointment, but when we arrived at their house there was a note on the door... it said that they had to rush out but they would be back in an hour. So we decided to go to a cafe for lunch and then come back... and guess who was in the cafe? Yep it was them! She came up to us and invited us to join them. She said that she didn't believe in coincidence and it was meant to happen! We had a great chat with them about what makes our religion different... specifically that we have a Prophet on the earth today. They were very intrigued and are considering coming to watch General Conference! They are amazing!!

We also found a new investigator in Biddulph. She is a young girl... probably just a bit younger than us, and we were surprised that she was interested! She was so sweet and happily accepted a Book of Mormon. We will see her next week J

Saturday night our investigator Wendie had us over for tea! This is the first time I've had tea at an investigator's, so I thought it was a big deal J She is really sweet, but also frustrating beacuse she doesn't keep commitments. During the week I felt prompted to study the law of tithing for Wendie, and it was amazing cos when we started to teach her after dinner, she just started talking about how she had been thinking about tithing during the week! That was such a witness to me that God is leading this mission! He knows all of our investigators' needs and we just need to ask him what they are.

We had six investigators at church on Sunday! It was the best!

Ok, and now for the highlight of my week... in fact, the highlight of my mission so far! Last night we had a movie night at Brother Moss' home. We watched the Testaments again. But this time Claire came! At the end, when Christ comes to visit the Nephites, the Spirit was so strong! The movie ended and Sister Tolman and I bore our testimonies. I was crying my eyes out! I have never felt God's love so much in my life! Claire said she could feel it too and that she had goosebumps! She hugged me so tight and said thank you so much! She knows it is true! I am so incredibly happy!

Well, there is lots more I could write about, but I'll have to end it here. I love you all so much! In one way or another, each of you have made an impact in my life, and I am grateful for your support and friendship. I hope you all know how much I love this Gospel! It is everything! Without it I wouldn't be who I am today... I wouldn't be this happy! If you are looking for something more in this life... If you want the kind of happiness that's there when you wake up in the morning and when you get in to bed at night, this is it! It is the best!

xoxo Sister Riley

I just love her so much!

Happiness (24/3 email)

"He answers privately, reaches my reaching
In my Gethsemane, Saviour and friend.
Gentle the peace he finds for my beseeching.
Constant he is and kind, Love without end." 
HYMN 129

Sister Tolman and I sung this hymn this morning. I just love it. I know that Jesus Christ is real. He is my brother. I have come to feel his love and the healing power of his atonement so much on my mission. I don't think I can ever fully understand it, but I am so grateful for it! As imperfect humans, we cannot go through this life alone. No matter how strong we are, each of us need the atonement to "fill in our gaps". Christ can make more of our lives than we can imagine, if we just let him in.

I'm feeling very reflective right now. Transfers are next week, and I feel like my time in Congleton is coming to an end. It's bittersweet. I have loved it so much, I can't even explain it to you. I have especially loved serving with Sister Tolman. We have grown so close, and she will always have a special place in my heart.

Enough of the mushy stuff. J
I went on exchange to Crewe this week. I got to be with Sister Nelson from California. She's from my group, and she's great. We met some crazy people haha! We did service for a lady who is OBSESSED with cats... more than anyone I've met... even more than Emily Davidson ;) She has 8 cats! framed pictures of cats on her walls... her bookshelves are packed with books about cats... you get the picture... anyways, as much as I love cats, I am allergic! And being in that house was nuts! I was sneezing and struggling to breathe! But I soldiered on haha!

I want to share an experience I had at the train station. Sister Tolman and I were sitting waiting for a train. I had my bag on the seat next to me and a lady came up. So I did the polite thing... moved it and asked if she wanted to sit down. Just a simple gesture, and it had a huge impact! She was very grateful! She asked us if we were mormons... we smiled and said yes and she was like "I knew it! I could just tell! Mormons are so nice!"
So from that experience I learnt that our actions, no matter how small and seemingly insignificant can make a huge impact! In all that you do and say, be an example! Your example can make a difference. Your example could be what leads someone to the Gospel.

On friday we had a "sisters sports day" where all the sisters in the mission (about 70) got together to play sports. I was so excited to see Sister Martin again! (my trainer) It was a great day, there was a lot more talking than sport going on though haha!

Claire and her children came to church again this week. Church is so different as a missionary. I don't think of myself at all (except during the sacrament). I just really want our investigators to have a good experience and feel the Spirit. I think that Claire felt the spirit...we will meet again this week and help prepare her to be baptised. J

There is so much I could write about... I just love being a missionary! 

Quote of the week:
Julie: "You make me smile more!"

Make someone smile today! Life is good J
xoxo Sister Riley.

Sister Martin and I reunited

Sister Preston and me

Fish, chips and mushy peas (looks gross but tastes soo good!)

Crazy Congleton (17/3 email)

Hi everyone!

Despite being sick with a cold for most of the week, it's been a good one!

Last Monday, Sister Tolman got permission for us to travel to her first area, Littleborrough to visit some of her close friends there. I wasn't terribly excited to go, but it ended up being really nice. We met up with a man named Brian who Sister Tolman has a special friendship with (it's not dodgy... he is an old man haha). I thought it was weird when Sister Tolman was telling me her best friend was an old man, but then I met him and now I understand. He is the most kind and loving person in the world! He is dying, but he is so full of faith and optimism. I learnt so much from the brief visit we had with him. Before we left he said a prayer with us, and I cannot describe how strong the Spirit was. We were all bawling our eyes out. It was so powerful, and I will never forget that moment. 

We also met up with her friend Tammy, and she took us out for Nandos. I was a very happy chappy :P

I went on exchange this week with Sister Finke. She is from Germany. Very smart and quiet. It was difficult cos I was sick, but we still saw some miracles together J

Funny story for the week... we had just come back from a tea appointment, and we went to visit Pauline Brown... I think I mentioned her before... she was the old lady who loves to smoke and drink... anyways, we went in, and she told us she'd cooked us a meal (oh oh!) we were already pretty full, but we didn't want to upset her, so we ate it... then she insists we eat more... so we do... then she brings out this massive trifle and insists we eat it all... I believe in the power of prayer because without it I would definitely have thrown up! haha!

We went round to see Emily this week! It had been a while since we'd seen her cos of exams and things. She was really friendly and chatty, and it wasn't long into our chat that her friends came over. They were all so nice and started asking us all about our religion! It was crazy! One girl in particular really wanted to learn more, so we will see her again! J miracle!

Our investigator Claire came to church this week with her two children! It was so good! So many miracles are happening here in Congleton! I just LOVE it here!

When it comes to the gospel, I feel like I really don't know that much. But One thing that I know 100% is that God blesses us when we are obedient. When things aren't going so well, ask yourself... am I being exactly obedient? And there are always ways we can be more obedient. I know that as we make those improvements, the blessings always come. Sometimes, our eyes are just opened to blessings that we already have, but have taken for granted. I am so grateful for all my many blessings... sometimes I am even grateful for the trials... only sometimes ;)

I love you all so much!

The Church is true!

xoxox Sister Riley

We are silly

Spring is here! (10/3 email)

Hiya!

This week has been a week of miracles! I finally was able to reach the standard of excellence and Sister Tolman always tells me that miracles happen when you do this... she was very right!

We had 5 investigators at church on Sunday and we were sooo happy! There was Paul who comes every week, Julie and Darren a couple that we met this week, and Olivia and Liberty... daughters of a less active man in the ward. It was amazing!

Julie and Darren are a miracle! We found them at a bus stop and said a prayer with them... Julie was moved to tears, and they said they would love to meet with us. The next day we taught them the restoration and they ate it up! Just loved it! Julie said that ever since we said the prayer good things have been happening! They came to our ward activity on Saturday night and then church on Sunday and we are just so excited for them!

We also found another new investigator. Her name is Claire. She has 2 kids and is pregnant. She said that Christ literally saved her life, and she really loved meeting us. We will see her again this week J

I ate so many pancakes this week! It was pancake day on Tuesday so we had some at district meeting... then some more at our tea appointment, then on Saturday night we had a ward activity which was eating pancakes too! British pancakes are pretty much the same as aussie pancakes, but they all just love lemon and sugar... I prefer maple syrup... Sister Tolman says they aren't real pancakes haha!

We'll sorry its a short one this week, I'm out of time! But I can't even describe how amazing this week was! I am so blessed! I have loved every minute serving here in Congleton with Sister Tolman. The ward is amazing, and there are so many people here who are ready for the Gospel! Get ready to hear about more miracles!!

Here's your reading assignment for the week: Mosiah 4:11-12 It really stood out to me in my study and I just love it! 

Have a brilliant week! The sun is shining and it's gonna be a good day!

xoxo Sister Riley

There are daffodils springing up everywhere! Apparently they are the Queen's favourite flower J