Liverpool Stake YM and YW

Tonight we had a visit from the YM and YW in the Liverpool Stake and their Leaders. I was surprised how many people we had attend. It was a full room. We gave them a tour of the MTC, Jon shared some feelings about how they could best prepare, DC 64:33-34 "the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind", and five of our missionaries shared their experiences of how they found themselves on their missions. Jon was great and the missionaries were amazing! As they shared their stories the spirit was very strong. Here is a little that I remember from them. 

Sister Moffett is from Belfast, North Ireland. She has graduated from University and had a very good job in London. VERY GOOD. She is 24 I believe, and she shared that it took her a long time to listen to the Lord and make the commitment to come. She is beautiful and talented and expresses herself like the General YW's President. :) She shared with us that when she told her father she was going on a mission, he told her he was sick and would probably be dead before she got home. Her boyfriend, five days before she came to the MTC, asked her to marry him. She said they were deeply in love. He is the catch of the century, but she felt very strongly that she needs to serve a mission. She has no idea if he will be there when she returns. She is going to serve in the Alpine German Speaking Mission. She is finding it very difficult to speak in German and to understand. I think she is amazing.

Elder Molbek is from Denmark. He and his sister came to the MTC the same day. His sister has several emotional problems, but can share her feelings about Jesus Christ and the principles of the gospel in a very compelling way. I think Elder Molbek is one of the most humble and kind young men I have ever known. He and his sister were the only members in their high school. It wasn't popular to be different and live the standards of the church. He had a few struggles along the way, but he made the sacrifice and came on a mission. From talking to them, I think Sister Molbek (their mother) must be an amazingly strong, faithful and dedicated woman. She served a mission herself and their father has basically left the family. They have nothing that money can buy, but they have great faith and strong testimonies, and a desire to share the blessings the gospel brings with those who are prepared to hear their message. They didn't have the money to purchase the devices they needed for their missions. Elder Molbek was wearing hand me down pants and suits that were very, very short for him. He didn't share all of the stuff about his financial struggles, just that he was grateful to be worthy and serving a mission now. I love the Molbek's!

Sister Beasley is from Leicester, England. She is a go getter and a fireball of energy. There is nothing she can't do. She told us that she decided as a teenager that she was going to be a doctor and serve a full time mission. She didn't realize that there might be a conflict with both of those decisions at the time. As she became older she realized it may be hard to leave University for a mission. As she was preparing and taking college entrance exams to be a doctor, she was not sure if she should serve before she started her training. As everything worked out, she will start University 3 weeks after she returns home from her service in the Greece Athens mission. She is so cute about learning this very difficult language. Full of quick retorts, and big smiles about all of the mistakes they make trying to teach investigators in Greek. Sister Beasley is also a musician and has been my go to person for help with musical numbers and choir pieces! She is a gem!

Sister Reiman is from Finland. She is a little quieter than Sister Beasley, but I think she is a genius and is picking up Greek a little faster than the other two Greek missionaries. She was sitting in Seminary one day and her teacher asked who wanted to serve a mission, and she found her hand going up, and it surprised her! Things in her life continued to work out and she got her mission call. Her mother has a sister who lives in Cyprus who has not been active in the Church in forever. She is so excited that she will be serving there and is hopeful that she can help her aunt and her family come back. She is amazing!

Elder Goodwin is from Northampton, England. He will also be serving in the Greece Athens mission. He shared that he wasn't prepared to serve his mission a couple of years ago when he turned 18. He got himself together and got all of the money earned that he would need in order to serve and then submitted his papers. He mentioned that the process was taking from six to nine months for many of his friends, and he didn't have money to live for six months before he came out. He said he prayed that he would be able to leave quickly. Within six weeks he was in the MTC. His faith is strong and he is very prepared to serve. He is grateful for the extra couple of years, because he feels like he is ready now, and this is the right time for him. He said most days he feels like a child again...learning a new alphabet and trying to speak this crazy language, but they are doing great! I love Elder Goodwin!

As they all finished sharing their stories, one of the leaders from Liverpool asked them a question. He said, "Knowing what you know today, what would you tell your fourteen year old self?"

Sister Moffett said, "Be PRESENT. When you are at church, really be there. Pay attention and acknowledge what you are feeling."

Elder Molbek said, "Don't be ashamed about being a member of Jesus Christ's Church."

Sister Beasley said, "Three things: 1. Study Preach My Gospel  2. Learn from Seminary and 3. Do not go up to the edge of the cliff, that is no where for a daughter (or son) of God to be."

Sister Reiman said, "Listen and learn in Seminary."

Elder Goodwin said, "Read the Book of Mormon."

Jon said today that being here to help these wonderful missionaries makes the sacrifice worth it. I agree with him 100%.