June 7- June 14

WOW!!!!!

 

That will go down as one of the craziest emails I have recieved on my mission!!! Tell the tanners congrats, he will be a great bishop I'm sure! 

 I want pictures of the watch!!! And the Car. I love the panamera!! I have seen a few here. SO glad to hear things are going well and that life is fun! I miss you lots and wish I could have been there for the big watch/test drive day.... that is my thing!!! However the lord is my thing right now and it has been great!!!!

This has been another wonderful week here in Bolton. Miracles are not ceasing. We have an investigator, Bakia, who we have not been able to get in contact with for the past few months. This week he called us. Bakia was very close to baptism but after discussing it with his parents he decided he needed to take some time and make sure it was right. After visiting with him this week he told us that he knows the church is true and he is ready for baptism! We dated him and are looking forward to his baptism.

Secondly, because football is so big here we were able to watch the GAME!!! Wasn’t it great. We went over to a knight’s house and they had a huge American flag and lots of food! It was fun and nice to get a little break. We would not have gotten any work done anyways though because everyone, EVERYONE, watched the game and the whole town stopped!

Elder chambers and I have continued to get along great! He is a really really good missionary and I suspect he will be made a zone leader after this transfer. The weather has been rainy but good. The work continues, we are finding more people and teaching lots!

I feel very bad that this letter is short! But I want you to know that as much as I love cars and watches there is no greater place I could be than here in Bolton. The work we are doing is heavenly fathers and there is nothing greater! Our family has been blessed beyond all measures and the more time I spend here the more I realise that. It is such a blessing to have all of you as my family and the love and support you give me.

I LOVE YOU ALL AND AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU!!!!!

LOVE,

RICHARD

Paige thanks for the pics sounds like fun in utah

Chareese that would be really fun thanks for the update hope life is great!

Dad HAPPY  FATHERS DAY I HOPE my letter makes it to you in time and congrats on the business!!!!! The lord is blessing us all greatly!

Email from the Mission President

Dear Parents,

 

You may have already heard from your son about the Zone Conference we held at a scout camp last week.  It was not only a nice break for our hard working missionaries but it was indeed a special experience for everyone.  We held this conference with a specific objective and purpose in mind and we feel that it could not have turned out better, mostly because the missionaries came prepared to learn and ready to have a spiritual experience.  We were also blessed with warm, sunny days. 

 

The highlight of the conference was the evening session where after a series of break-out discussion groups in groves of trees, each missionary was given about an hour and 15 minutes to have personal time in the open wilderness (within a reasonable distance from their companion).  During that time they were asked to ponder and meditate about what they have accomplished on their mission and where they are personally at this time.  Then we asked them to set some goals about what more they wanted to do and more importantly, to “become,” not just throughout their mission but for the remainder of their life.  Many of them later talked about how it was a “life-changing” experience and if we accomplished nothing more than that, it was a success.     

 

Attached you will find a picture of your son with the two of us and his zone (Sister missionaries had a separate picture taken).  We love our missionaries and will always consider it one of the great blessings of our lives to be in the Lord’s service with them.  Thank you for the love and support to your son, it means everything to him. 

 

Warm regards,

 

President and Sister Bullock

England Manchester Mission 

June 1-June 7

Family,

This is one of those weeks where I wish I could just pick up the phone and tell you about the miracles and amazing things that have happened. First off Heidi, Rebekah, and Antoni were all baptised. Wow, it was an amazing service and I was really proud of the ward. The turn out was good and the talks were all very nice. (Something that Bolton usually struggles with). 

I have to tell you about Antoni. He is young, never had a father figure and quite crazy. He is really funny and I love him but I think he might have ADD or something because he never is calm and is just always hyper, running around, punching, fighting, etc. However, on his baptism day he was actually quiet and sat there while singing the opening song, he actually sang along! That might not seem like a lot to you because you haven’t met him but I have to tell you that moment was one of the most spiritual experience on my mission yet. The spirit was so strong and I was able to see how a boy who has had little parenting in his life will now grow up having the foundation of the gospel and grow up to be an upstanding member!

This week we had Zone Conference but it was at a scout camp about 2 hours south. It was incredible. We showed up had lunch, went and played sports for a few hours, came back and they had dinner for us, American Hamburgers (they were huge and delicious). Then we got into jeans and went and split into smaller groups and followed all these different paths where they had stations teaching about certain principles of missionary work where the zone leaders told stories and taught. The theme of the zone conference was 'The pathway to the promise' and passing down the culture. 

So we were following this path and were able to hear all these amazing missionaries bare testimony on certain principles eventually ending in the celestial kingdom. After that we went out into the mountains like prophets do to receive revelation. There we were given an envelop with two sticks and a work sheet. We were on our own and pondered on how far we have come, what we want to become, and what we need to sacrifice in order to get there. Then on the sticks we wrote the things we were going to “put on the alter” and then later that evening we had a testimony meeting by the fire and all placed our sticks in the fire. Then sister bullock made us all cookies! I cannot tell you how much I love president and sister bullock. The time and effort that had to have gone into making that experience happen is unimaginable, but it was well worth it. We spent the night, woke up, had breakfast and then finished up zone conference and went home. It was an amazing experience and memories I know that I will cherish forever.

Something that President has really helped me learn is that we never make it. We always need to be improving. “Becoming” is the objective. The way we reach that objective is by finding out ways we can improve and then setting goals. Being on a mission has taught me so much about who I am and who I want to become…  

I am so grateful for this time that I have to serve the Lord. There is not anything that could prepare me for life greater than this. I love my Savior, I know this to be the one and only true gospel on the earth today. I am especially greatful for the family that I have and for the example that you have all been to me getting me to where I am now!!

Love,

Richard

New address for the next six weeks!!!

Elder Richard Cunningham
4 Arundel Street
Astley Bridge
Botlon, BLI 6RL
ENGLAND

May 26th- June 1st

Family,

WOW- sounds like some crazy things are going on at home and very exciting. Sad Sad Sad to hear about the suns but don’t worry I still wear my gear proudly.

Elder Chambers is incredible and it has been a great week so far and I am really looking forward to the transfer. He is from Idaho and his dad is actually a 70 in the 5^th quorum but he is so humble he would not tell you that unless you found out from someone else. Anyways we have been running everyday and it is good. The only problem is my running shoes are a little small… I think it will be okay though. Also though I will copy what I wrote to president…

“Elder Chambers and I have been off to a great start. I am very excited for this transfer and grateful for this opportunity which I have to serve with such an outstanding missionary. This week two qualities that have really stuck out to me are how he is exactly obedient and has great charity. Elder Chambers recognises the importance of exact obedience and has taught me that only when we are obedient can heavenly father bless us. He has taught me that only through example. Also, every day he has done some act of charity whether it be making breakfast, ironing my shirt, or just helping me learn something new. I cannot tell you how great of missionary he is. I have so much to learn from him and cannot wait for the coming weeks.”

He really does do a lot and someone who I just enjoy being around. We have great conversations about calling elections and all sorts of stuff that is just speculation but it is just really interesting/ entertaining. He is very obedient and leads by example not by just talking which others have done…

SO Heidi and her two kids are getting baptized this Saturday!!!!! I am so excited it is going to be great. Elder Sturt is coming back to baptize hiedi and am going to dunk the little ones!! It is great to see the changes they have made in her life. Coffee, tea, smokes, alcohol are all out the window in just a matter of a few weeks!!! It is crazy to see what people can accomplish when they gain a testimony of the gospel and of a living prophet. I am very happy for her.

Florence was also supposed to be baptised this Saturday but she couldn’t make it to church. People in England have these slave labour jobs where they wait by the phone for a call and as soon as the call comes they have to go. She needs to go to church at least twice until we can baptise her so hopefully next week! Oh no I am out of time. I have to go but I love/miss you and hope life is beautiful in mexico!!!!

This week during my personal study I have been reading a lot in the Book of Mormon. While reading, Helamen 5:12 really stuck out to me. I know this is a scripture-mastery and a commonly used scripture but the significance behind it is great. I know that truly when we live our lives based on the example and teachings of Jesus Christ we have that firm foundation to withstand anything that comes our way. This is part of the reason why missionary work is so fantastic because each day I find myself growing closer and closer to my Saviour.