Pictures June 27, 2011

1st is a Side PART haha

2nd is Tola's Baptism

3rd is Mossley or parts of it...

4th is Canal Tunnel

5th is Hazy Sunset

Don't think I take a bunch of pictures because of this. I just want to help you see what I see =D.

I love you all!

Elder Blackburn

June 20

"Everyone is tested. One might think it is unfair to be singled out and subjected to a particular temptation, but this is the purpose of mortal life to be tested. And the answer is the same for everyone: we must, and we can, resist temptations of any kind." - Boyd K. Packer

This has been the focus of my thoughts and studies over the past week or weeks or maybe really even my mission. Mainly, in relation to the temptations that I struggle with and the blocks I have stumbled over. I have learned that as we study every day and pray alongside that study to overcome our temptations, addictions, problems, and afflictions that the exact amount of power needed from the spirit can enter into us. Not simply an overpowering force that makes us choose good and righteousness without any other option, but helps us see the Plan of Salvation and the pivot that comes with our own individual agency. If there was no temptation we would have no agency (2 Nephi 2:11). If there was no agency we would have no progression and the Plan of Salvation as we know it would be null and void. In fact, as we know, we would not be here, but Adam and Eve would still be loitering around "Central Park" of the Garden of Eden.

This life is to be tested. You have the power to pass that test with flying colours. You have the power to overcome all evil. Christ has already broken the bands of death. Physical and Spiritual(sin) death. What we sometimes do is hold onto our chains and put them back on when we can have freedom. Why are you holding onto your chains? Or What chains are you holding onto? Both questions I have had to repeatedly ask myself before I came to any solid conclusion if I have yet.

We all have little things that plague us, but don't be overwhelmed if you can see them. Focus on the big gorilla hanging on you first and then the next biggest. Soon we can have peace with ourselves when the Gorillas are in the cage and we are free of any chains or bars. We will also find ourselves at a much higher plane than when we started.

I love you all,

Elder Blackburn

June 13

Hello!

Well I only have 4 mins left on my time. I am supposed to be getting my english drivers license soon. I have already paid and received my provisional and it looks FUNNY! But will definitely be something I will keep to remember the mission forever. Insurance should go down now too mom haha.

Anyways, HAPPY FATHERS DAY GRANDPA! LOVE YOU!

Ok, well We were blessed with another baptism this Saturday of a boy named Tola Evens of 13 years old. His parents joined the church last year and he was simply slower in responding but we nailed him down and showed him he had a testimony. He has hair that looks like moses too mom.

It has been raining every day since transfers basically but I found my gloves so that is ok! It doesn't matter as long as my hands are warm. Yes I know it is June. But you aren't in England SO DONT JUDGE ME! haha

I love you!

Elder Blackburn

Sorry there was nothing too spiritual in that I did have insights but no time!

May 24

Hello family...My companion needed more time so he bought me more time too haha. Buying time...so weird. I would never do that (but maybe Bob would ZING...HAHA sorry...I know I am 4000 miles away, but I know I put a smile on about 15 peoples faces right there too!) but anyways moving on, I was searching various talks from the previous general conference and found this one. Elder Holland's. It is true and everyone needs to devoting their free time. We hear it over and over again but if a day goes by with you not picking up your scriptures, your spirit is feeling like your body does when you fast. It really is that simple...It is being starved and you will die eventually because we will be too weak to defend, to stand tall, to fight valiantly for the standard we are called to bear. I love you all. Ask for help. If not from me or family, from God. Then he will send us to help you in answer to your prayer.

"Obviously as the path of discipleship ascends, that trail gets ever more narrow until we come to that knee-buckling pinnacle of the sermon of which Elder Christofferson just spoke: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” ¹³ What was gentle in the lowlands of initial loyalty becomes deeply strenuous and very demanding at the summit of true discipleship. Clearly anyone who thinks Jesus taught no-fault theology did not read the fine print in the contract! No, in matters of discipleship the Church is not a fast-food outlet; we can’t always have it “our way.” Some day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ and that salvation can only come His way."

^{I love you.}

^{Elder Blackburn}

^{PS: not sure what has happened to the print...haha}

^{PSS: or PPS:? Not sure, A quote from President Harold B. Lee from the same talk. -> "The Gospel is to comfort the Afflicted and to Afflict the Comfortable."}

^{=P I LOVE YOU}

May 16

What did you expect? April was gorgeous for some reason but May...well it is a little...damp...That picture with Elder Packer if taken an hour later would have shown us all looking like wet dogs because we then ate and took the train back (which there were about 10 of us and 1 really angry woman and that was just comical...some children of God...haha) and when we got to Ashton the skies went black and it was darker than it is at 9 here at about 3 o'clock. No amount of sunshine was getting through anywhere for a long while. and ever since the sun has been spotty at best. Today and yesterday looks like it will be what I call Diligent Mist. I have missed it since last fall. Get it? Anyone? yeah? Alright I can count on Tanner =D.

But we were finding for most of the week. The shoes I bought 2 1/2 weeks ago are basically goners and a sister in the ward got me a new pair for £8 which I paid her back for. No worries.

Yesterday though we saw some great miracles. We have been struggling with getting members to come out with us here in the Ashton Zone and especially our district. So yesterday we finally had some lined up and we first taught Jade and Lisa. Jade is 20 and has a 6 month old son and Lisa is 17 and from Blackpool. They both accepted dates and are hopefully reading the Book of Mormon as we speak. We then went home for Tea to call some more members and another member came with us to a "far away" part of our area and we taught another girl but because she said she has 2 vicious dogs we taught her on the doorstep in the rain. She is named Halley and is 18. She works a lot but she accepted a baptismal date as well for the 4th of June. It was a great miracle to pay off for our hard work for the rest of the week.

I love you all.

So I tried to plug my camera in and maybe it is the computers or maybe it is my chord. I think it is the computer though because the chord looks fine. I will try next time.

Elder Blackburn

Zone Conference Pictures

Elder Blackburn is in the bottom right corner. (Third row back, second from the right)

Week 48

Hey everyone!

So, Elder Allen F. Packer was here over the last week and we had a Conference with him and he spoke at a fireside in the Ashton stake which I was able to go to. He spoke of a number of different subjects but I will sum it up like this.

Fireside

He spoke of a question and answer session he had in London over the weekend with the YSA and one of the YSA asked about how they could be safe and happy in the world we live in. Well, he acknowledged like we all need to the disasters of the world going in depth with them. He then spoke of the scriptures and the signs of the times. He rejoiced in the time that we live in. He explained the reason he has found peace is the understanding of the Plan of Salvation. He then taught the Plan of Salvation for the many many investigators that were not there going in detail about Where we came from? and Why we are here? He also shed light for everyone on Who we really are?

Conference

The whole day was focused on the Spirit. President spoke of 7 ways the Gift of the Holy Ghost can help us. Sister Packer spoke of 3 things we need to invite the spirit and explained that yes, the Holy Ghost does get offended easily. He cannot tolerate sin in the slightest thought, word, or action. Even in the houses where we live if we have been slothful in our upkeep our ability to feel the spirit is affected. (Definitely a past mission mom right Aunt Jan!?)

Elder Packer then spoke of D&C 107:99. He explained that the spanish version of the scriptures had 2 footnotes while the english had 1. Replace the let with allow.