"I know that it doesn't matter if the person you try to teach doesn't commit to anything, it just matters if you're doing your best at inviting them to come unto christ."

Thursday 29 December 2011

Weekly Update 29 December 2011


Hello Family!

So I have moved! I've moved from Rochdale to a place in Liverpool called St. Helens. It's funny I am now serving with a missionary called Elder Peterson from Utah, and the funnier thing is he sounds exactly like Brother Paul Peterson. St. Helens is so very different it is much different from the usual areas in the England Manchester Mission.

In St. Helens everybody talks quite different, they have such a Liverpool accent, it's amazing! It was hard saying bye to alot of people in Rochdale, it was even worse than saying goodbye to my own family. The Rochdale ward members made me feel like their family and when I left some even cried. It's a hard thing getting transferred but I am excited to be in St. Helens. Upon leaving Rochdale one of the members in Rochdale, Brother Hoyle texted me telling me to "make St. Helens my new home" it was one of the most beautiful things I had ever read, he acknowledged that he knew that I had made Rochdale my home and that I had to go and make a new home.

By the way singing at the christmas carol old peoples home service was amazing the Ward choir and I felt such great unity as we sang to these elderly people christmas songs and the spirit of Christmas, even the spirit of God was present. We had such an amazing Christmas in Rochdale it really was something special, we felt loved so much, I even got many presents from the members, alot and alot of chocolate. At Christmas eve we spent it at one of our investigators houses and we just had a great time, it really was a spirit filled occasion! We also spent the rest of the evening with our ward mission leader, he was fantastic, I love the support we get from members so much.

Christmas really is a special occasion for missionaries and this year it even happens to have fallen on a sunday so we had a wonderful time at the ward Christmas Carol service, we then spent the Day with The Hoyles and The Roses. Rochdale ward members are just so special I've never felt more at home on my mission than at members homes in Rochdale. Talking to my family was great, it seems like nothing has changed. I got the call to get transferred on Boxing day, it was hard, but I knew that I had been privilaged to spend 6 months in one of the best places in the World.

On Tuesday, I had to say goodbye to so many members, it was heart breaking, painful but I knew that they were happy for me, they had watched me grow from a shy young man to something much better. They had watched me sit in their homes a little shy and timid to what it felt like part of their family. Some members even protested they said "I'll call your mission president it'll be fine, you can stay a little longer" it was sad to say bye, missionaries have many names written on their hearts, "Jesus Christ", "Elder Sapaden" and "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints", "Rochdale" is one of the names written on my heart but it can't be seen, it matters just as much to me as any of the mentioned names already. I'm making "St. Helens" my new home now.

Love,

Elder Sapaden.


P.S write back to me before monday, we will be e-mailing this monday aswell.

Monday 19 December 2011

Weekly update: 19th December 2011


Hello Family!
I hope you are all splendid! This week has been a great one, so I'll start off by talking about the weather. It is just so Cold! It is freezing all over, it has snowed and it is staying, in some parts of our area we have places which are over a foot or two feet of snow, it's crazy. It feels funny being wrapped up so much, I'll tell you what I have for my winter gear, so I'm nice and wrapped up with my scarf, I wear both pairs of gloves, one glove over the other, and a nice pair of ear-muffs. So usually I'm pretty warm, it's fun knocking on doors in this weather, people tend to give the excuse "it's too cold to stand here", I wonder if they ever consider how cold we actually were. But thats okay! Our smiles warm up even the coldest of people.
This week we actually went to the mission home over at Altrincham to have Christmas dinner with our mission president and his wife, travelling from Rochdale to Altrincham was fun I love talking to people on trams, it is much more open than talking to people on busses and trains and it's very easy to talk to them because they come and go, even just talking about how their day was, it must be nice to have a person to talk to about how your day is going.
So this week in Rochdale we have been focusing on alot of Less- Active work, I love visiting less- actives, it just feels quite different going to less- actives homes when you are a missionary, sometimes it's only a missionary who can bring that special spirit to their homes and bring them back to church. I have had so much success in Rochdale from visiting less- active members homes, we have just seen family to family come back to church, and now even some of the children whose family was less- active are getting baptised. Although I was not actively part of the teaching and baptising of that child, I do know I was part of that process. We got them back to church.
I was even given a nice little invitation to the baptism which is happening on the 31st of December. I came on my mission and I wanted to baptise thousands, I know even though I might not be actively part of the actual teaching and baptising, I know that I helped it happen. You know I might just baptise thousands in that respect, the little boy will go on a mission, that little boy will someday have a family, that little boy will someday be a bishop. I did baptise thousands. My new goal... Millions.
So from visiting some more less actives houses I went to a house where Irene lives, Irene is amazing she is from Zimbabwe and used to go out teaching with the missionaries quite alot. I had the privilage of going to her home for a dinner appointment. African food is amazing!
Another success that Elder Lintusaari and I are having is the amount of member refferals we are getting, I know that by asking members who do they know who would be interested in the message we share is something magnificent. We have received many contacts that our members have given us, something I firmly believe in is that the missionaries have to earn the members trust for that refferal and serve the members for that. Now you might ask: Elder Sapaden how have you served on your mission?
Well... I love the members so much, the love my piano playing, you put two and two together and you have a great tool to develop member- missionary trust. Every sunday before Christmas in Rochdale the primary put along a Nativity presentation. Unfortunately the pianist didn't show up for one reason or another. The primary president approached me, she looked very distressed and she needed someone to replace the missing pianist urgently. She called upon me, I hate sight reading (playing music without rehearsing beforehand) but I continued to do so, I know as I played those intricate and difficult pieces that my fingers were guided to the keys I needed to play, I played beautifully. The primary Nativity presentation was a success, and the spirit of God penetrated everyones hearts. I love being able to serve. In fact, I'm playing for a Christmas concert at an old peoples home this coming wednesday, wish me luck!
Matthew 25 teaches us this important lesson:
And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
If this e-mail ever gets around to bishop, I have a message. "Yes, Bishop, you could say I was "Tearing it up" in Rochdale!"
I love you all!
Elder Sapaden.

Monday 12 December 2011

Weekly update: 12th December 2011

Hi Family!
So this week, not a whole lot to catch up on again.
We have alot going on, and it seems that it is snowing everyday here in Rochdale. Alot of snow going on. This week, I was able to start off with an exchange. I was in Rochdale with my district leader Elder Nielson, we had a fantastic time, Elder Nielson did weightlifting like me before my mission so it was amazing how we could talk about it and really get to kow each other better that way. During the 6th of december we got a phone call at 3:00am from our investigator John, we were sleeping so we didn't answer it. It was hard, and we came into the lesson with the thought, that he didn't want to visit us anymore.
John has been making such great progress he is giving up his alcoholism, and he is now dated for baptism for the 23rd of december. During a lesson with John this past week, he knows that we are displeased when we see a bottle of alchol on his floor, and we tell him to dispose of it or throw it away, but because of his alcoholism he can't do that. But this last lesson we were talking about repentance, and we had a complete miracle. During talking about repentance, we expressed to him that he needed to change, and whilst we were talking he stood up. We were so puzzled we hadn't a clue why he stood up, without a word he took the alcohol bottle on the floor and went to his kitchen. Elder Lintusaari and I looked at each other very confused, John was pouring the contents of the bottle in the sink. He had felt the Holy Ghost and he knew that he needed to get rid of it. I have such a strong testimony that when we teach the correct doctrine, the application will naturally follow.
We attended Ward council for the first time in Rochdale, we had a great time, the ward really was concerned about our investigators and our work, the Rochdale ward is so amazing, the funny thing was that during ward council the area where the chapel was located had a power cut, so we held ward council in the dark.
I love my mission, more to write in the next e-mail. I promise.
Elder Sapaden

Monday 5 December 2011

Weekly update: 5th December

Hello Family!

This week has been pretty good! I'm on day 165 of my mission! We are
facing alot success but with that success we are also facing much
opposition "For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all
things" 2 Nephi 2:11

We haven't been teaching that much this week, but we have been talking
to many people on the street and seeing much happiness through that.
Although you can say we are teaching people, but out in the streets
the same principle is found in Alma 26:29 "And we have entered into
their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their
streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have
also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them",
I haven't taught anyone in a synagogue, but we have been teaching just
not much in peoples homes. This week we have been getting back on
tract with finding people to teach.

Sometimes it is hard to teach people when you don't see immediate
progress but you have patience. "the Lord will hasten his work in its
time" D&C 88:73 sometimes it is hard to see in the lords time, but I
know all of the people will be baptised in the Lord time, I just have
to be mindful and patient.

Here is a funny experience I had this week. On a day we were
experiencing much opposition, people had not kept their appointments,
and it was cold and wet outside Elder Lintusaari was looking at his
map and I was staring at the floor contemplating at what we should do.
At that moment a member drove past and saw us looking "Glum", within
two minutes of driving past us, this member gave us a call. She asked
us "do you have a dinner appointment this evening?", I replied that we
didn't and so she invited us to join her for Dinner in the evening.

We enjoyed having Dinner at that sisters house, it helped us
appreciate what we do have and it helped us regain our perspective.
She had saw us in our hour of need and had ministered unto us. She
told us that missionaries hadn't came to her house for years and that
we were the first missionaries who had come in a long while. She gave
us something to smile about, usually Elder Lintusaari and I have alot
to smile for, but she just added to our list. This past sunday she
even bore her testimony about how we brought the spirit into her home,
I love members!

Not much really to update on this week,  It is so wet, windy and cold
outside here now aswell. Last night it even started snowing!

Last thursday we had a meeting in Chorley at the Church near the
Preston temple, it was amazing we were able to do a temple session
aswell, half of the mission went one day and the other half went on
the other day. It was amazing.

Rochdale really is a wonderful area, I love it so much. I'm definately
going to come back and visit after my mission.

Hope you are all well,

Elder Sapaden.

Monday 28 November 2011

Weekly update 28 November 2011

Dear Family!

So this week has been full of amazing events. Lets start off with a
little story:

Before boarding a bus we talked to a man before a bus stop, something
we do for fun to keep it exciting is have the person we are having a
meaningful conversation with guess our nationality. Elder Lintusaari,
being Finnish often gets Polish, Russian, German, Swedish. He gets
countries that are very close yet very far. I have never once got a
guess that I am english, for obvious reasons. This man was convinced
that I was Hawaiian, it really made my day, it was funny and Elder
Lintusaari were just very cheery for the rest of the day. We have a
less- active member who is convinced that I am Tongan and tell the
rest of the Ward, "have you seen that Tongan missionary yet?"

Of course we get people with the anti- American feelings in the North-
west of England telling me that I am American and I should go back to
America, and sort out the problems I have in my own country. To which
I obviously reply "I'm trying to sort out my country, you're not
letting me. I'm from London" to which the perplexed individuals just
seem to flee and brush it off. I mean I've had two American companions
but do I really seem American? Only time will tell.

This week we have actually had a supremely amazing week, having taught
over 20 lessons. These e-mails just seem to be progressing in a way of
information to stories because I have another of the latter to share:

Last week we were travelling home from an area we rarely go to because
of it geographical location, and so it is not too much of a familiar
area for us. As we waited at a bus stop, there was no one around us
and we watched a woman cross the road. Immediately she said "Mormons,
are ya?" to which we were speachless, us as missionaries go around
starting these conversations, talking to these different people. Very
rarely people start conversations with us (believe it or not). We
found out that she had been married to a Member of the Church and had
been less- active for over 20 years.

Her name was Burnadette, she had invited us to her home later in the
week to have a conversation with her and to find what was once there.
So we did exactly that! This last sunday (yesterday) she came to
church for the first time in over 20 years, she rejoiced because she
saw many of her old friends still there in attendance.

That morning where we were in the area we usually don't venture to we
didn't see much success, but we were there to meet her. Heavenly
Father had placed us in the path of one of his daughters who had been
lost for over 20 years, and now she has been found and has made the
beginning steps in returning to his fold. Such a Miracle!

It's getting harder and harder to stop people on the street because of
the weather, I've been trying to tell them "Don't worry, I know it's
cold. We are sharing a warm message!"

On Friday we had a ward activity where the Priesthood brethren
organised a meal for the Relief society sisters. We were able to serve
them, provide much entertainment and have such a wonderful evening,
these events when done correctly and organised properly provide such a
wonderful uniting experience for the whole ward. I truely felt part of
the Rochdale ward family. This was expressed this last sunday.

On sunday, expecially being a morning the members usually greet the
missionaries as "Morning, Elder" just in passing, they say things like
"Hello, Missionaries"

However this Sunday I was evidence of the wards love for me in almost
every greeting I got "Hi Elder Sapaden! How are you?", "Elder Sapaden,
how was your week?", "Elder Sapaden we need your help: Can you play
the organ for us in Sacrament?" they had said my name not just "the
Elders", I truely was "their Elder Sapaden"

I sent my family a funny story concerning a musical item that took
place in a stake conference:

The missionaries in the Ashton Stake, and the Manchester Stake had
organised that they were singing a musical item "Called to Serve" as a
surprise to the members in a recent stake conference, I was privilaged
to be part of this magnificent display.

Since Elder Lintusaari had came to Rochdale we had been visiting a
particular family, with whose children had grown particularly
attatched to me. We often played games with each other and they knew
me as "their missionary"

During this wonderful musical item, the children being particularly
restless because of it being a long church meeting began to be loud
[not in a bad way] they immediately saw me singing my heart out and
were shouting "that's my brown missionary!" I was so happy and just
began to sing my heart out even more, they are my heroes. I love
member- missionary relationships.

I love my mission.

Elder Sapaden

Weekly update 16 November 2011

Hello Family!

This week has been amazing, I've had so many good experiences! We have
4 people now dated for baptism. It is amazing we are going to baptise
so much. We had a sports day here as missionaries where half of the
mission play sports for a day, It was the first time I've played
american football, it was quite good.

We started this week to an amazing start, I had a nice exchange with
Elder Whited, our district leader. I learn't so much, it seems the
same for him too. I'm just so excited to spread this gospel!

It seems that we are facing alot of opposition here aswell, but we
press forward and just continue. The weather is completely different
now, from when I first got here. It is very cold and many missionaries
seem to be getting ill, but I continue to press forward. I don't have
time to get sick.

It is transfer week this week, so that is why I'm writting later than
usual, but I'm not getting transferred, I am staying here for another
6 weeks! I will be staying in Rochdale (my first area) for a total of
6 months. Which means I will get to spend Christmas in my first ward!
I absoultely love Rochdale, I think it is the best place on earth. The
members are fantastic and I have such great relationships with them
all, relationships that I will treasure forever.

We have had some amazing miracles this week, we have explored the
areas that missionaries have hardly worked in before. We had an
adventure in a place called Whitworth, in Whitworth we have just met
so many amazing people. In the center of Rochdale, almost everyone has
spoken to missionaries, everyone knows who we are even before we open
our mouths, but in Whitworth, missionaries have hardly gone there so
they have no previous conception of what we do.

There is just so much potential in these areas that missionaries don't
normally work in. One success story is find a man called Steven,
steven had just recently lost his dad and he was looking for somewhere
to turn to, we just happened to be at the place at the right time, the
right surroundings, we helped him understand that there is more to
life and now he is investigating the Church. Rochdale is just full of
miracles!

Church in Rochdale is so good! I'm pretty much the Ward organist (the
ward organist comes to chuch less than once a month) the Ward gets me
to help them in all their musical items and everything else. They
don't want me to leave, because of my talents.

It's so amazing all the changes that seem to be happening while I'm on
my mission. It seems like just yesterday I came to Manchester, I know
that God lives.

Love,

Elder Sapaden.

Weekly update 31 October 2011

Hello!

This week has been such a great week, we started this week by tracting
(knocking doors) with our ward mission leader and another member. I
was with the other member and Elder Lintusaari was with the ward
mission leader, it was some quite a good night, we had managed to set
up 8 appointments all together, the member I was with and myself
tracted around where our Bishop lived, Bishop Smith. We even managed
to set up an appointment with our Bishops next door neighbour. I value
the members in our ward so much, they help us so much. That night
myself and the member I was with even managed to teach a lesson to one
of our investigators. I love working with the members.

We have been focusing alot of our missionary work on our updated ward
list where we had identified active members, less- actives and recent
converts by colouring in the names of the members in three different
colours, we were able to try by many of the members on the ward list,
and I know that by using them the missionary work in this area has
been forwarded so much.

One of the best feelings a missionary is when children tell us that
they want to be like us when we they grow up. We have been visiting a
family called the Mainwarings, they are amazing and they have three
young children who aspire to serve missions someday. They love us and
when ever we pass we hear a loud shout "Missionaries" in young
childrens voices, the youngest is about a year old and whenever we are
about to leave she runs up to us to shake our hands. Being a role
model is one of the most gratifying feelings.

Growing and developing as a missionary is such an amazing thing, as
soon as you leave a lesson, you think "what could I have done better
in that situation?" you never stop analysing it and you keep growing
as a missionary, you keep growing as a person. During another visit
with John he asked: "Do miracles really still happen?", in this day
and age it is so hard to recognise miracles, we take advances in
science and technology as granted. John had been hospitalised for
alcohol problems for 4 times now, he had shared with us that the
doctors said that he should have died the first time he was in
hospital for alcoholism.

I had shared with him, how I knew that despite the amount of times he
had been in the hospital, and the times he should have died, he was
alive now and that was all that mattered. He acknowledged that he
being alive even now was a miracles and was soon grateful for us
pointing that out to him. I let him know that God gave him this chance
for a reason. To receive this gospel. I wouldn't have known the
experiences he has had if I hadn't have listened to him. Sometimes
more important than speaking, is listening. I know this for a fact.

Recently, Elder Lintusaari and I have pondered what the strength of
our companionship as missionaries is, by various investigators and
members we have received the nicknames "Good cop" "Bad Cop", Elder
Lintusaari says very Very VERY bold things, he gets the point across
so bluntly, he says what he thinks, he is nicknamed "Bad Cop", because
he is very blunt with the truth. I am nicknamed "Good Cop" because I
reinforce what Elder Lintusaari says immediately without a moments
hesitation. I reinforce what Elder Lintusaari says with a loving
demeanour.

I love using that phrase "we only say these things because WE LOVE
YOU!" I let our investigators know what I feel, because of this I am
nicknamed "Good cop" Elder Lintusaari and I are such a great teaching
companionship because of this, he says all the necessary things that
need to be said, I relate all the necessary feelings that need to be
felt. We are such a great companionship together!

I love you all, I know that this is his Church and that he lives, even
Jesus the Christ our older brother and our saviour.

Elder Sapaden.

Weekly update 25 October 2011

Hello Sapadens!

So this week we have some more pictures, we start off with a typical
Preparation day meal, a mervelous invention, if I do say so myself.
Then a picture to show you that I am not starving, that is my storage
cupboard, and of course I have more items in the fridge and freezer.

A now you have a picture of my new companion, Elder Lintusaari, he
says he knows Elder Karjalainen, from stake events and things,
speaking of which, their is a missionary in the Staines ward, Elder
Keck or something like that, he is a great friend to a missionary
called Elder Roberts who entered the mission at the same time as me,
feed Elders Folkerson, (if he is still there) Keck and Elder
Karjalainen especially well.

I was also thinking that you didn't have an updated picture of me,
with a side part implemented, so yeah, that was taken in a rush 5
minutes before I sent this e-mail,

I have received all the packages now thank you, you are such an
amazing family, thanks for all the gifts and things, the backack is
now being put to good use. Our investigators are all doing well, and
some are even progressing to baptism, hopefully they will be able to
have that opportunity very soon.

We have found an area where their is alot of phillipino homes, it is
like a gold mine, we are setting up appointments with many of them, I
was challenged to try and communitcate with them in Tagalog during
doorstep conversations, it was a little strange trying to do so, my
companion finds it pretty effective I sure hope it is, he even wants
me to knock the doors in that area because my knocks might be more
phillipino than his.

This week we managed to find 8 new investigators (that is amazingly good)

Weekly update 17 October 2011

So this week has really been amazing, we now have an investigator with
a Baptismal date, he is called Akin, he is from Nigeria.

This week I have just developed so much as a missionary, I just begun
to feel so comfortable and have really settled into this work. The
members in this ward love me and can all say my name right! I have
developed so many great relationships with the members in Rochdale. I
can talk about all of the members in my ward with love and I know they
will support me with any decision we make as missionaries.

This week we also sat down with our Ward Mission Leader with the Ward
list and coloured in Active members, Less- Actives and Recent converts
and Auxiliary Leaders, we have brought the missionary work in the
Rochdale ward to a whole new standard. I am so grateful for the
efforts of members in this area, we have visited many less actives,
found on the ward list and we are seeing miracles as we start to work
with them.

In Rochdale you meet all different cultures, much like London, we see
many Portugese people, Polish people, you name it we have it. It is so
funny, I came to this mission expecting to talk english my whole time
here, now I am having almost whole conversations in Portugese, it is
amazing, I start a conversation in Portugese from someone that looks
like they come from Portugal and they reply back to me in Portugese
thinking that I really can speak their language.

We are still meeting many new different people and we are uniting with
members in this mission, our goal is to receive many refferals from
members because they immediately have a friend in the Church and they
are more likely to stay active in the Church because of that friend.
We are working on ways to develop that trust relationship with members
so that they can trust us to work with their friends and associates.
In my spare time I have been making these Mini thank you card out of
sticky notes and then dropping by members and sticking them on their
door.

I can only begin to imagine how refreshing that must be for some
members to come home after work, and see that their missionaries in
their ward care enough about them to stop by and thank them for coming
to church/ their efforts in missionary work, because of this we have
really changed Rochdale around with the lords help, it just seems that
we are travelling from one teaching appointment to the next, before we
had to find alot through our own efforts, but now we are blessed with
many investigators through members efforts.

We have seen so many miracles this week aswell, we told our
investigator Akin to bring a question to Church, he came to Church
with a situation in his mind that he wanted an answer to, he had
recently fallen out with a friend and wanted to know more about
repentance and forgiveness, during last Sundays gospel principles
lesson it was on Exaltation, what a topic. The teacher explained what
we need to do in order to be exalted, Akin was sitting next to Elder
Lintusaari and I, he was taking notes on the lesson and was listening
intently.

After Church Akin shared that he got his question answered, he had
received guidance on how to deal with that situation, Repentance and
Forgiving others is necessary for Exaltation so Akin heeded that
council and told us that he will apply that in his life. I am so
grateful for the inspired lessons in Gospel principles and I know that
he was able to receive guidance from Heavenly Father about what he
should do.

On Saturday morning we got a call from a member of the Bishopric
telling us that we needed to give a 20 minutes talk on the following
day, Elder Lintusaari and I were flustered because of the short notice
and because we weren't given a topic to work with, I didn't know what
I should talk about. Heavenly Father however did know what I should
talk about, before my mission I would have struggled to fill a 20
minute talk, but I can tell you that yesterday (Sunday) I gave one of
the best talks I have ever given in my life, about missionary work and
families.

I shared many personal experinces, and it was a great talk. The ward
Organist wasn't present so I also played the music for sacrament and
for a musical item. They have probably never seen a missionary give a
talk and play the organ in the same meeting yet, I am so grateful for
these opportunities I have to serve the people in Rochdale.

Thank you for all your prayers and letters, just a note I will be
receiving a months worth of letters tommorow so if you haven't had a
reply yet it's only because I haven't got your letter yet, so expect a
reply soon!

Love,

Elder Sapaden.

Weekly update 10 October 2011

Hello!

Well starting for Monday, october the 3rd I need to update you all on
alot of recent events. That Monday unfortunately my previous companion
Elder Misbach had failed his driving test (Jeralee I'm sure you will
do well, no pressure) he had failed during a roundabout in the first
five minutes of his test, it was excruciating to see him have to
continue his test in vain.

We are expecting to have many baptisms this new transfer, I am so
excited! Elder Lintusaari and I have planned to take the Rochdale ward
to a whole new level, we have asked for an updated ward list, and we
have asked our ward mission leader to go through all the names with
us, we plan to make contact with all the less- actives and re-
activate them, Rochdale is like the Staines ward, it has alot of less
actives and they need visiting, we have alot started to explore our
map in our flat and make out our areas of focus aswell as make where
investigators, less- actives, members and many other people live.
Rochdale is being taken to a whole new level!

During our first lesson together Elder Lintusaari and I visited a
less- active family as we taught, we taught in unity and we taught
well together, the Less- active family consists of a father, a mother
and three young children, two boys and one girl. As we taught well and
supported each other, the youngs boys told us that they "want to be
missionaries someday"

Elder Lintusaari is allergic to sugar, so he has the potential to
become my favourite companion, the reason being: after a dinner
appointment when members bring out dessert he tells them that he
cannot have any sugar, so I get twice the amount of dessert, one
member in particualar offered Elder Lintusaari some Fruit (he is very
allergic to any sugar, so he can't even have Fruit or Juice or
anything) so then they give me the fruit. I tried to say that me and
Elder Lintusaari won't both have dessert because of his allergy and I
was willing to give up dessert but, he tells members that I love sugar
so yay! more dessert for me!

By the way, a little surprise here: Elder Misbach said he was good
friends with Elder Martin that served in our ward. Elder Lintusaari
came into the mission as Elder Kassinen but had a name change to Elder
Lintusaari, and he says that he is Melissa Kassinen's counsin. He says
"say hello to Melissa"

During my first day with Elder Lintusaari the first person we had a
conversation with is a man called Akin, from Nigeria. He was in a rush
and so we only managed to tell him where our church was and when it
started, alot of people will not come to church even if we tell them
where it is and what time it is. Akin showed up to our Church on
Sunday, it was such a miracle. We taught him after Church and he is
now dated for baptism for the 5th of November.

John is amazing as usual, he is still our most progressing
investigator, the first time I met him he told me that he wouldn't be
joining any church, he was quite the skeptic. But now he has totally
changed contenance, let me recount on his progress so far, John was an
alcoholic, he lived on alcohol when we first met and he didn't believe
a word we said, but we continued teaching him anyway. In one of our
recent lessons he said "I just can't put the book (the Book of Mormon)
down, if feels like I'm drawn to it, I don't know what it is" he has
been diligently reading the Book of Mormon and praying for an answer.
He has also been clean from alcohol for almost two weeks now.

He is seeing these changes in his life and last Sunday, yesterday, he
even came to Church with us. John has social avoidance disorder and he
doesn't like sitting in groups, so he said he had to leave, so he left
after Priesthood meeting (Rochdale has Priesthood first, the Sunday
school and Sacrament meeting last) at 2:53pm after church he left us a
voice mail. I was scared that John didn't like Church and didn't want
to learn anymore. It was the total opposite.

Now let me share the biggest miracle of my mission so far. During
Johns voice mail he said: "You have accomplished in a few weeks what
doctors have been trying to do for 30 years now" John isn't able to
sit in large groups, doctors have tried to help him through this
problem for over 30 years now, but he sat with us in priesthood in a
large group. Heavenly Father saw his willingness to go to church and
blessed him with Strength and Courage to stay even for one hour of
Church. At first I was a little disappointed because our investigator
didn't manage to come to the Sacrament meeting. But now I am happy
because he is taking BIG steps. I have no doubt he will be able to get
baptised pretty soon.

Doctors have tried to get him to sit in large groups for over 30
years, simple 19-20 year olds with Gods help, allowed him to sit
contently in a group within a few weeks.
During that voicemail he also said one line I will never forget: "I
want to join your Church" with God all things are possible!

This has been the biggest miracle of my mission so far, it brings me
to tears even recounting it in this e-mail.

Brothers and Sisters, I know this Church is Gods Church, even the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints!

Elder Sapaden.

Quick Email

So... just a quick e-mail because it is transfers today, I got a new
companion his name is Elder Lintusaari. The computer was in perfect
condition and the only way a virus could have got on the computer is
if someone in the Family downloaded something. Please don't download
many things in the Future, that is the reason why I had my password to
protect the computer from these scenarios, even when you murmured
against me for it.

Anyway, yeah my new companion is from Finland. I will be sending a
longer e-mail on monday, because that is our proper Preparation day,
it is 4 o' clock right now and we still need to do many, many things
to prepare like shopping, before 6 o' clock. I am still in Rochdale.

Please translate that Fillipino E-mail you sent me because I cannot
read Fillipino and we only have so much time to read and send e-mails.

The computer does not have a CD in the Purple Box because the System
was already in the computer. So it didn't require a CD to start the
System. Maybe we can buy a computer when I come back so no one need to
interfere with it. I can keep it virus free and educate you all on
what is safe and what is not safe.

I have received the sweets, they were nice. Thank you, but the Gloves
and the rest won't come for another long while. My new companion and I
will have an amazing time in Rochdale, he seems really nice and I am
sure we will get along very nicely.

I am spending 4 and a half months in Rochdale so far, potentially even
6 months, a quick success story is this:

We are teaching a man called John, he has some struggles with alcohol
and has been trying to get off the Alcohol for a while now. Recently
we taught him to have faith in trying to quit. He is slowly quitting
as we have tried to implement some ideas to get him off of alcohol, we
have planned to go on walks with him as well as cutting his garden
with him.

During one of our lasts visits John shared many things with us. He
told me that every time he has a drink now, he thinks of ME sitting
next to him, telling him not to do it. I am glad that John is able to
recognise that we love him enough to tell him to quit, he has been
clean from alcohol for 4 days now and he is progressing nicely to
baptism.

I'll write more next week.

Elder Sapaden

Monday 21 November 2011

Weekly update 21 November 2011

Hi Family!

This week we truely have had some great experiences. It's only been 4
days since, my last weekly update, so this one is pretty short this
time.

Well you won't believe this but this week I have really taken my
musical ability to a whole new level! Perhaps this is the cause of
being far away from a piano from a long while but, I wrote a song in
my dreams this week!

During last wednesday, I had received some quite life changing news
and it caused me to have some really deep self- evaluation. So
probably because of the cerebral excitement and a few other factors, I
wrote a song in my sleep. The first two verses go like so:

What do you do?
When you're feeling all blue.
Your world has collapsed
Your life's overcast

What do you say?
When nothings okay
Your lifes in the past
Sorry, but it didn't last

It is a little sad and emotional, but good news people! I'm mildly happy now.

Anyhow, apart from writing a song in my sleep there have been a few
other interesting parts, both my companion and I got sick this week,
not stay in flat sick, but the seasonal cough and cold. We bought some
medicine! The members love us so much even they gave us some medicine!
During this weeks Self- evaluation I really prayed earnestly. It was
really a week of prayer.

During one of our lesson we were supposed to teach one of our
investigators with the Europe Area President: President Kopischke,
unfortunately he wasn't able to make it. Before the lesson I told
Elder Lintusaari: "Imagine taking a leader whose responsibility is to
look after the whole church in Europe, now Imagine taking him to our
Investigator John ____. That is what we are doing!" It was some very
exciting times for both of us.

It was still such a very spiritual experience, John was overcoming an
addiction and we gave him a priesthood blessing, such a fantastic and
spirit filled lesson.

We had our Ashton Stake Conference yesterday aswell! Guess who we saw:
Melissa Kassinen, she had found out that my companion was her cousin,
they hadn't seen each other for over 10 years, and she didn't know
that I was serving with him, when I was her it felt like I was
institute all over again. Such fun times, we took a picture with her.
It is so strange to see your friends whilst your on your mission.

It was amazing though!

Elder Sapaden

Monday 7 November 2011

Weekly update 07 November 2011

Kumusta Familia!

So this week, we started with Halloween, I can't say it was as
exciting as I remember it to be, as missionaries in the England
Manchester Mission we have to be indoors by 5pm on Halloween, so we
worked on the Monday morning and had prepation day from 1pm - 9pm, it
wasn't bad. I spent some quality time writing letters.

On monday evening though I received a phone call from our Bishop, we
had a funeral the next day and he forgot to arrange a Organist to play
for the funeral he asked for me and he asked if I could play at the
funeral, we told him that we weren't allowed to go to funerals and
that we also had a dictrict meeting to go to the morning of the
Funeral, and so the bishop had phoned our mission
president to ask permission for me to go to this funeral.

The mission president gave permission to the bishop and so at 11am the
next day I was at a funeral playing the organ and our district meeting
got moved a day back.(because I had to play at the funeral) I love the
Rochdale ward, I love when they rely on me, it makes me feel needed,
and I love serving them.

I have seen countless blessings from serving the members I know that
Heavenly Father is pleased when we serve and members have shown their
love for me by inviting us around to dinner.

I had a wonderful exchange this week with a missionary called Elder
Kuchar, Elder Kuchar and I came out to the mission field at the same
time, and we are serving around each other so we spent 3 days together
in Rochdale and worked together, he is amazing he has been a member
for less than 3 years and he is a fantastic missionary.

On this exchange we had the most tiring service in the world, I loved
it though, we had helped build a bonfire for a less- active member,
the bonfire consisted of wooden palates, not the light flimsy kind
that one person can lift, but quality wooden palates that need 2
person to carry, they were quite heavy, so for two hours me and Elder
Kuchar had to carry these very heavy palates and stack them one on top
of the other, this wooden stack was magnificent when we had finished,
it had reached about 9 foot high and 20 foot in width and length,
after all the physical exertion, the next day getting out of bed was a
challenge.

My forearms are still recovering from that service 5 days ago.

We had a fantastic sunday yesterday, we managed to bring 7
investigators to church and 12 people (including those who wern't
investigating and their children) all to church, it has been an
amazing week, 7 investigators at sacrament meeting is
really good for our mission, last week Elder Lintusaari and I had the
most investigators at Church in the whole England Manchester Mission.
Rochdale used to be a 4 missionary area, but it is being managed well
by me and Elder Lintusaari, we are doing so good, we are a strong
companionship and we are working well together!

We are expecting to have a baptism really soon, two of our
investigators Aneeka and Anushka are getting baptised on the 26th of
November. We have so many investigators in Rochdale and they are all
at different levels of progress, hopefully we will be able to help
them all return to our Heavenly Father.

Our investigators are doing wonderful, we have over 10+ portugese
investigators here, it is amazing to teach them they are so humble and
just want to learn more, they should send Elder Miranda here, we would
have a great time together.

This week we received a picture from two of our investigators, these
pictures were drawn by our 9 year old investigators, they love us
teaching them, and we try to make their lessons fun and they decided
to give us a present. We recently taught them the plan of salvation
and I described Paradise/ Celestial kingdom to be like a
party, everyone is happy... e.t.c, In this picture is drawn the
celestial kingdom with smiles, cake and balloons. I love how literal 9
year olds perceive a party to be like, they are such fantastic
investigators.

I love you all, I am having a great time here! My mission is going too fast.

Elder Sapaden

Wednesday 7 September 2011

Pressing forward with Faith! 05/09/2011

This week was a very good week. It feels like I'm so settled into the
mission, I was able to meet up with people that I knew before my
mission who are serving here, I met Elder Webb, who was in my EFY
group and also Elder Brooks who was from the reading ward. They are
fantastic missionaries and I know that we will be amazing friends even
after our missions. On Thursday we had to wake up extra early at 5:30
to travel to Preston for a Church History Tour, it was amazing. I even
found out that Bryan Miranda (from the Kingston Ward?) is coming to
serve here in the EMM next transfer. Two Elders from the Staines Stake
serving in blessed Manchester.
 
During that Church Tour I was even invited to play on an organ over
1000 years old, It was the first non- electrical organ I've played, it
sounded magnificent. I love speaking to people on trains in the
morning, although some of them do not listen, it is a great learning
experince for a new missionary to deal with opposition, I am so glad
that Rochdale is my first area, we face many challanges and much
opposition for which I am grateful for because I am able to grow and
grow from these experinces. If my first area was somewhere without
opposition like Chorley (the area where the Temple is Located) I
wouldn't have had all the hardships I face, but because of these
challenges I become stronger.
 
Being a missionary who plays piano has its blessings, let me tell you
of some. We have a member (I won't name him) he hasn't had the
missionaries around for dinner in a long time, he is fairly musical
and loves to talk music, and gets very excited on that subject. So in
the first time for possibly years he invited us around for dinner, it
was splendid and he loved to talk music, we did and he even
volunteered himself to come out and visit some people with us. I
really was called here by Heavenly Father because of personality. I
seen many blessings (with a side of dinner appointments), many members
have greater trust for me as I serve them by playing piano. He even
offred us a lift to our next appointment after dinner.
 
This week I've really learn't a lessons of Exact Obedience. In this
mission Exact Obedience is something that really stands out as a
deciding factor of how good you are of a missionary. From Section 130
v.21 we learn that "when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by
obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." I know this to be
true, I've just seen many example of being obedient on my mission thus
far. I will always remember the times where it is 8:55pm we are very,
very far away and by walking we will not make it to our Flat by 9:00pm
so we run, we run to our flat even when it is cold, dark and very wet
outside, we run because we are Exactly Obedient, I can testify of the
blessings in our lives as me and my companion are Obedient. We are on
our knees praying at Exactly 6:30am in the morning and Exactly 10:30pm
at night without even a 1 second measurement apart.
 
During this fast Sunday I fasted for the purpose of getting our ward
excited for missionary work. To no surprise I saw that our ward, even
Rochdale ward was so ready for much member- missionary work. You
wouldn't believe the amount of times I even heard the missionaries
being referenced by members this week. What was so exciting about this
Sunday was I saw Jordan Forbes (he served as Elder Forbes in Hounslow,
he was from the Lancs. area but I didn't know he was in this ward,
although he is moving to London soon to attend Kingston University) I
also found out that he trained Richard Hillary (who served as Elder
Hillary as a Zone Leader in Staines) the world just seems like a small
place.
 
I just finished reading the Book of Mormon cover to cover, I started
it in the MTC, I managed to finish Preach My Gospel in the MTC. I
would extort you (aimed at readers of this e-mail) to read it, and to
gain a testimony of it (if you haven't already) but within the verses
of Moroni 10:3-5 we are asked to read and ponder and pray about it, I
would like to focus a little of this portion on what we should be
pondering. When you ask anyone: "In these Verses (Moroni 10:3-5) what
should we ponder about?" the answer would be "the Book of Mormon"
 
In Mormon 10:3 we learn that "when ye shall read these things, if it
be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how
merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the
creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall recieve these
things, and ponder it in your hearts", what should we ponder? "It"
what is "it"? "It" is "how merciful the Lord hath been unto the
children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time
that ye shall recieve these things"
 
I know that as we ponder about the Book of Mormon, aswell as our
blessings we will receive a confirmation of the truthfulness of the
Book of Mormon, and ultimately this whole Gospel.
 
Elder Sapaden

Guess what... 2 months out today! (24/08/2011)

So it's two months out on my mission as of today, I've just had so
many miracles and so many wonderful experinces. I thank you for all
your letters and e-mails they have really helped me press forward with
faith.
 
This week started off with an assistant to the President exchange
where I had the opportunity to work with some of the finest
missionaries in the mission. I was able to show them how hard I work.
I've been blessed with a wonderful trainer who has a wonder work
ethic, one of the finest lessons I have learn't so far is the ability
to work even if you are physically worn out, the Lord always pushes us
one step further and during those times that we are stretched and we
reach our breaking points, if we press forward, we progress.
 
On Wednesday we had a meeting called a "training camp" where all the
new missionaries gather together again and receive extra training.
Everybody expressed during that meeting how much we all have changed.
It seems that my face relaxes into a smile. No joke. I've seen many
blessed experinces from people who aren't so receptive to people that
accept us straight away. Our investigator Shalome is going to be
baptised this Saturday. I'm so excited for it. It'll be my first
baptismal service on my mission.
 
Today new missionaries are coming into the mission like I did six
weeks ago, today I lose the title of "the youngest missionary in the
mission" but within the next six weeks I won't even be considered a
"new missionary" anymore. I have set myself a really difficult goal
for these six weeks, I am going to become the most urgent missionary
in the England Manchester Mission. That is my goal.
What this goal includes is talking to everyone without fail in any
circumstance, everyone needs this gospel and I will talk to everyone.
 
I've been trying to work on it, my trainer has faith in me, and it is
a difficult task, I've ran alongside a person on a bicycle, talked to
people in cars during a red traffic light, spoken to people out of
windows on a second floor building, every last person is an
opportunity and every opportunity is a blessing. I used to have
problems speaking to people on buses and trains out of shyness but now
it just feels like second nature.
 
I was also blessed to go on an exchange with one of my favourite
missionaries that came on a mission with me, Elder Leimgrub from
Germany, we were able to go with each other and learn many lessons, he
shared with me how excited I get whilst talking to people, I do get
very excited when I talk to people on the street because they are my
brothers and sisters and I'm showing them the way home, unfortunately
because of my excitement I seem to talk at a million miles per hour,
so I'm working on it.
 
We met a man named Albert last week, he was prepared for this message
in the Pre-Mortal life! He is wonderful and he just accepted our
message with no hesitation, he already shared some of the same beliefs
and he commited to sincerly read and pray about the Book of Mormon, I
do know that as he does, he will gain a testimony of it.
 
Something exciting is happening in Rochdale now! The members have
organised that two members will be able to go out with the
missionaries per day. I just had so much success with this new idea.
The only time we are seperated as a companionship is when you are with
other missionaries of when you go out seperately with members, it's a
marvelous learning experince to be out without your companion who you
know will back you up when needed, but when you are out with members
they rely on you to direct the convesation all the time. I absolutely
love it! It is so amazing.
 
This week has been a fantastic week, I've just seen myself grow so
much, especially with my goal of urgency always looking for someone to
talk to, speaking to one person setting up an appointment and then
seeing someone a hundred meters away and saying to your companion "ok
Elder, let's go" then running after them, it is the true joy of
missionary work. Whilst you are seeking for your own brothers and
sisters to hear this message you just can't stop feeling the joy of it
because you are showing them the way home to Heavenly Father.
 
You wouldn't guess how great of a cook I have become whilst on my
mission. Creamy pieces of chunky Chicken with a touch of salsa and
pure steamed Basmati rice in under 10 minutes. Marvelous! (I was
slightly hungry whilst writing this e-mail)
 
In "Preach my Gospel" it tells us that we need to "Listen with Love"
and throughout my service here in Rochdale I love sharing the message
of this restored gospel. I can truely tesify that as I've listened
with love, I have been led to the right people at the right times in
the right places.
 
Thanks for all your letters and e-mails.
 
Elder Sapaden

Weekly Update‏

So... another week in the field.
 
This week I've gone on many missionary exchanges (when a missionary
goes out of his ward boundaries and works with other missionaries in
other areas) because my companion is a district leader and being a new
missionary, I get to go on a total of 7 excahges within my first six
weeks.
 
I started my week going on an exchange with my Zone leaders, Elder
Dittmer, He is german and he is fantastic. Before I came on exchange
their car got stolen, but during my exchange it was found and given
back to us. Elder Dittmer was one of the most influential Elders I've
met. I even got to go to the mission office. Some missionaries don't
even get to go to the Mission office within their 2 years.
 
The exchange was intense! It was the first time I ran after someone to
share with them the gospel, there was no person that passed me that
day without an attempt made to share the gospel with them.
 
We've had the most vivid experinces this week, a English man that
converted to Islam, stopped his car in the middle of the road whilst
on a busy road, it was a red light came out and pointed at our badges
and said "not true" but, luckily before he got contensious our bus
came.
 
I've also had another Exchange with a missionary called Elder
Raybould. I was so lucky to be with him for 2 days aswell, he so very
musical like myself and we were just talking music theory all the
time! It was amazing. He is a wonderful missionary and taught me many
things.
 
Yesterday I came back to my area (Rochdale) as soon as I came back we
also faced intense situations. It's like they follow me around. We've
had a hard week with trying to achieve our goals. Sometimes it feels
like, "if I don't get at least 3 investigators to Church... I'm a
failure." This week something that helps me with that is: "The Lord
doesn't measure results with numbers, he meausres them with effort"
 
It was my 3rd sunday in the field and it's day 39 of my mission.
Yesterday I gave my companion a haircut, I'm dreading getting mine
soon. I'm preparing for another Exchange with a missionary called
Elder Whited, it's in a place called Middleton. Going to be amazing!
 
Elder Sapaden

Friday 29 July 2011

Happy & Sad

So, this week has truely been interesting, alot has changed. I've
found it tough to want to be on a mission. Sometimes I think of going
home. But, I'm not a quitter. It's tough and this could easily be the
most depressing moment of my life, because it's hard to say I'm
enjoying my mission yet. Someday, I will probably look back on this
and say "I loved my mission" it's hard right now to enjoy every single
moment.
 
I've found out how rough Rochdale can be. It's one of the roughest
areas in the mission field. But that's probably why the Lord called me
here. Sometimes the level of opposition we get can be extreme. People
drunk during mid-day but, we stand firm as witnesses of Christ. I hear
this can be one of the toughest parts of a mission, you don't fully
understand everything yet, and you are taken away from all social
interaction, and the only person you can talk to is your companion. It
is rough, but I've seen the blessings.
 
A great important lesson I've learn't is that if you focus on going
home, just enduring the mission, well you just don't experince the
fullness of it. You will go home with a few experinces, a few memories
but no lessons. I've tried to live everyday, focus on my mission and
as I do, I learn, I gain alot of experinces, alot of memories and ALOT
of LESSONS. Keep writing to me, sometimes that's the only thing I've
got to keep me smiling. But I do smile.
 
My biggest Strength is also my biggest Weakness, I love people
sincerely, but when they progress, they feel the Spirit and they just
face opposition and discard all of the information they have learn't
because I love them so much, I feel sad. I know that all people have
agency to choose if they accept our message. But, I desire that they
can come closer to God.
 
But... hey No one said that a mission would be the easiest thing I
would ever do. Infact, it could be the hardest thing I've had to do to
date.
 
I've knocked so many doors my knuckles feel sore :)
 
It seems that the most humble people can be the people who don't have
much, they seem to be very receptive and whilst Tracting/ Contacting
at posh areas it seems no-one cares to listen, it's funny how that
works. However, I can say this week I've really gained my confidence
back. Talk to everyone, anyone and everyone, it's really helped me
gain the confidence as a person to just speak to anyone with
confidence.
 
My funniest experince this week was walking down a road to an
appointment, being stopped by and drunk man telling us about, how he
respected what we were doing. As we both left him, I offered him my
hand to shake, but he grabbed it and held it against his heart. A
peculiar fellow right?
 
At our ward, there is a Phillipino woman, married to an english man.
They constantly debate about whether I'm Phillipino or English, she
also served a mission somewhere in the phillipines, we managed to do
some service for them and we painted at the old people's home that he
owned. I am such a skillful painter.
 
I've gotten used to walking long distances now and hopefully my feet
can recover quicker now. We cleaned our flat, today and the Office
Elders came to remove an old desk. In Rochdale we are blessed with a
wonderful apartment.
 
It is my prayer that the people in the staines ward are safe and that
you are all happy living the Gospel.
 
Whenever it is raining on me, when people swear at us, when people are rude.
Remember, the Son of Man hath decended below any of us, are we greater
than he? D&C 122.
 
Elder Sapaden

Week in the field!


So much has changed. I've never done this much walking in my life, I
walk so much my feet bleed, every step hurts, but... I press forward
so that someones life will change.
 
Well yesterday I went to church for the first time in my new area
Rochdale ward. It's a little different they start of with priesthood
then gospel principles and finish with Sacrament meeting. In Rochdale
we walk all day everyday, it's quite an experince. I've come to
realise that the England Manchester Mission is a "finding" mission, we
street contact people, we knock on doors, we even bus contact. It's
much diffeerent than I thought it would be.
 
I also sense a common theme, I say "I love Rochdale" and people begin
to laugh. Interesting right. The bishop of the ward even said "let's
give him a week" but I truely love Rochdale, don't get me wrong, it's
definately not an easy mission. But, it's a mission where I will
become much stronger in everyway.
 
Well it's P-day today and I cleaned out our apartment. It's the first
time I had to sincerely clean the apartment with real intent.
 
Now as for our Mission field. I've been truely blessed with the
England Manchester Mission, I'll tell you why. WE HAVE LOADS OF RULES.
Here's how it goes: Church Standard < Mission Standard < England
Manchester Mission Standard. We have plenty of Mission Specific rules
such as: Use Dignified Language: don't use words such as "guy, cool,
cheers" The requirements for investigating the Church are much higher,
and many, many, many more.
 
However, I rejoice in these rules (laws) for obedience to these extra
Mission specific rules (laws) will bring about many blessings. (D&C
130)
Rest does not exsist in a mission, you are always at work.
 
I'm planning to mail pictures by post so hopefully you will get some pictures.
 
One thing I'm starting to notice is that I'm always smiling now. You
can't approach someone saying "I know this Church is true" without a
smile. Smiling all the time, it's slightly freakish but I'm sure i'll
get used to it.
 
One of the rules emphasised in this mission are only getting e-mails
from family, so if you wish to e-mail me hereafter it will need to be
done through my parents e-mails, so If you e-mail them, I'm sure they
will be pleased to forward it to me.
 
Also... another lesson I've learn't is: BUDGETING IS HARD!!!
 
I could bet that I've knocked 300+ doors within these 5 days.
 
I've already started getting rid of my comfort zone, never pass anyone
by without sharing the message of the restored gospel. I've also
learn't a hard lesson yesterday. Never be sorry for sharing the
gospel. I knocked on a door yesterday and the owner replied "you just
woke up the baby", I'm a very understanding person (I'd like to think)
and I apologised to them for waking the baby up. However, my Companion
told me afterwards that you should never be sorry because the message
of the restored gospel enables us to live with our families forever,
and that is more important. I've still got plenty I've got to get used
to.
 
Sometimes, like President Gordon B. Hinckley, I think that maybe, just
maybe I am wasting my time and my money, missions are can be rough.
But his father told him "Lose yourself, and go to Work"
Missions can be blessings, so I go forth everyday trying my hardest.
 
We run to our apartment with 2 minutes before 9pm. from a long ways
away just so we can be EXACTLY OBEDIENT.
 
Sometimes it's wet and it never stops raining, it's cold and I walk so
much that my feet bleed, my legs have splints, nobody wants to listen
to me, I get a cold and when they answer the door it gets immediately
shut... But I do so because I know that this gospel will change the
persons life, I do so because I want them to be with their family
forever. I do so because I want them to be happy.
 
I do know that God lives.
 
Elder Sapaden

Rochdale!!

I've been called to serve in... Rochdale!
 
It's amazing here. I got my new trainer companion who is a district
leader. His name is Elder Misbach. It's very nice here and I've been
blessed with a very nice apartment.
 
I can't wait to go to church on sunday. We meet alot of people here on
buses and we share the message of the gospel that way. Me and Elder
Misbach went out yesterday knocking on doors, within 3 hours we got 6
appointments and one man approached us and even shared that he wanted
to know more.
 
It's been full of miracles in this area and I've only been here for
less than a day. I love the people. I should be able to teach an
investigator today that will be exciting!
 
I hope you are all well in the Staines Ward and I'm praying for you.
 
We managed to knock on doors alot yesterday, I saw the miracles and
the struggles, a dog was even let loose to stop us from knocking a
certain door. But, I see people that are prepared and ready to recieve
the gospel.
 
I also went shopping for the first time for myself yesterday.
I don't know what food to buy for myself.
 
Unfortunately while I serve in this area, I cannot attach pictures to
this e-mail via a library computer. So, perhaps we need to find an
alternative way e.g. mail.
 
Elder Sapaden.

Thursday 30 June 2011

Elder Sapaden's birthday at the MTC!! :D

Dear Brother and Sister Sapaden,
Just wanted to share this cute picture of Elder Sapaden and let you know his birthday was not forgotten.  We are so enjoying him and appreciating his talent at the piano.
We will continue to care for him.
With appreciation....
President and Sister Walker

<3

Wednesday 29 June 2011

First Week At The MTC‏

The mission president shines my shoes, to demonstrate how a missionary should shine his shoes, I'm actually the MTC pianist aswell. I HAVE THE BEST COMPANION EVER! his name is Elder Timmesch and he is from Wisconsin. I have cool district too! We taught as a companionship and we were totally on fire! We taught in perfect unity, as I and he felt the spirit we werer able to work as one and we even have 2 investigators that we invited to church and too read the book of mormon too!
We have 16 hour days here at the MTC and it is crazy! WE learn alot and I up at 6:30am and go to bed at 10:30 now, but I LOVE IT! I  truely feel that this is the best decision I've every made to date. I'm so excited to meet more people.
We celebrated my birthday here at the MTC it was nice and I got an amazing cake.
We eat really well here at the MTC wonderful meals (like at the temple) except you can go back and have 3rds and 4ths if you wanted too, I've alsao been working out alot, they have a gym here, it's really sweet.

You'll never believe this but... I wash my clothes and iron them now too!

Love,
Elder Sapaden

Tuesday 21 June 2011

Last Sunday in Staines :)

3 days and counting

Hey guys,


3 days left and lots to do!
So I set up this Blog, to keep you guys updated, weekly posts to show that I'm still alive and kickin'

It's not much yet, but it will be beautiful soon!

Love,

Jared.