Dearest Family and Friends,
Wow. This week has been a big week for me. Elder Peterson and I are no longer serving together… Sad. I am so grateful for the time I had to serve with him. He is a fantastic missionary and I know that he was meant to be my trainer. I learned so much from him and I just know we’re going to be friends forever. I hate goodbyes. It was hard to say goodbye but so many good things are happening and I am so excited. He has moved to be district leader in Chester and I am serving in… BURNLEY! I am still here so that is good. I like serving here.
My new companion, Elder Roberts, is amazing. To be honest, I was so nervous to get a new companion. I loved E. Peterson so much and I was afraid that I wouldn’t get along as well with my next companion. Elder Roberts and I met up yesterday and he is amazing! We are almost like the same person. He is so happy!! We are both pretty young missionaries though. He is the district leader and he has been serving for seven months and I have been serving for three! We are a young companionship. We have fresh faith. I know there are going to be amazing things happening this transfer. He loves Burnley so much. I love his enthusiasm. I hope that we can continue with this same kind of urgent excitement throughout the whole transfer. Elder Roberts is from Utah! (haha, no surprise there…) He has 8 siblings and 16 nieces and nephews!!! We have so much in common. We are both desirous to be diligent and obedient missionaries. I know that we will both live up to the potential set for us.
Monday was a good day. We went to Rossendale for a few hours to help another companionship out and then we had tea at Sis. Hargreaves! She is so wonderful. I loved it.
Tuesday we went to the Book of Mormon class. Sister Pickles taught it and it was fantastic. She is such a good teacher! I learned so much. We had tea that evening with Paul and Chrissie that evening. It was so good. I love them and their family so much. I am so sad because they told us they are moving to Burry (I think that’s where anyways..). NOOOOO!!!  But it was really good. We had such a good lesson and I just hope things go well.
Wednesday was hard. I had to say goodbye to Elder Peterson but it was okay. He is a great missionary and I can’t wait to see his success. He helped me a lot. My life will be changed forever because of Elder Peterson! While I was waiting for Elder Roberts (my new companion) I was able to spend some time with Zone Leader, Elder Webster. Apparently he is Danielle Bingham’s cousin? Someone should ask her that. Small world. But, he is a great missionary and I was able to just unload so many questions on him and he helped me out so much. We were able to visit some less actives and do some finding. It was a good day.
Then at 4:45 my companion showed up!! He is so nice. I love him already. We have so many great plans in store for Burnley. I can’t wait to see what happens here. We are going to have tea at the Moore’s tonight and then it’s onto someone we taught last week. Frank and Lillian.
Frank and Lillian were found while contacting a referral. We had such a good lesson with them! Elder Peterson and I were teaching in such great unity. The spirit was so strong, we were asking inspired questions, we watched the restoration… it was beautiful. When it came time to invite them to read the Book of Mormon… Frank said no. My heart broke and I was stunned. He said he had a Bible and that’s all he needed… But Lillian said she would! That was good.. but I think she may forget. So we accidentally left a bag of food there so we have to go and pick it up.. awkward….
Life is good. I know this is the true church of Jesus Christ.
By it’s fruits ye shall know them.
I love you all
Love,
Elder Humpherys

Goodbye Elder Peterson.. :(

Hello Elder Roberts! :)

In front of the Church building

Visiting Sister Kyme! She is a recent convert and we love her! She is so funny!

Dear Anyone Who Reads This,
How are aaaallll of you? I am doing fantastic. Sorry this e-mail isn’t coming on a Monday. It was Bank Holiday yesterday and everything shuts down on a bank holiday. They happen every few months. Also, next time I e-mail will be on Thursday because…..
IT’S TRANSFERS THIS WEEK!!!
I am so nervous/excited/sad/curious/

anxious/happy…. It’s a crazy range of emotions. I know that I will be getting a new companion because once your 12 weeks of training is up you and your trainer are separated. I am a little bummed about that. I love serving with E. Peterson. He is one of my best friends. But, I am excited to see who/where I will be next. It should be a great adventure. Nevertheless, I will miss E. Peterson a ton. I also don’t know if I am  staying or leaving Burnley.. but I do love this place.
Okay. I got a lot of e-mails this week so sorry if I didn’t respond.. I’ll try to next week. But I appreciate and love them! Thank you all so much.
Let’s see.. this week has been a really good one. I feel like I am finally starting to get into the groove of things. I still do a lot of things wrong.. haha.. but I am getting there! It’s so great to be in Burnley. I love it here.
On Monday we climbed Pendle Hill! It was so great. We went with Brother Leeds. He is a great man! I loved it. Pictures will show how amazing it is. We also had our first lesson with Mary! I will talk about that later…
Tuesday we did a lot of things… (I’m sorry.. I can’t remember what we did on Tuesday…). On Tuesday night we drove to Chorley because on Wednesday we had the…
CHURCH HISTORY TOUR!
It was so much fun. We were able to go to many historical sites. I had a very moving experience while we were in Liverpool.
On the docks of Liverpool there is a statue of a family that represents all of the saints that traveled to America to build up Zion. When I turned and looked off the coast I felt of a wave emotion roll over me. I pictured my Great Great Grandfather, John Nield, standing where I stood with his wife and his young baby. I could feel the emotion of excitement running through my body.. but I could also feel the anxiety of leaving my homeland and taking my young family on a journey where the end was very uncertain. I could picture him watching the boat that he would be leaving on pull into the docks knowing that it was my turn to leave…
 The spirit I felt was very strong. I am grateful for that experience.
We were able to travel through Chatburn and Downham (look up the experiences that went there, they are good.) I had the special experience to sing in the chapel (a catholic chapel I believe) with a few other Elder’s. We sang Come, Come Ye Saints. They asked me to sing part of it as a solo and I felt so privileged!
On Thursday – Saturday I spent the day with E. Rodgers on an exchange. It went well. I was in Rossendale Valley. Today I am on an exchange with Elder Kay in Burnley. Yay! I looove exchanges.. I learn so much and it’s great to become friends with another missionary.
Sunday was good. I played the piano…
Yesterday was fantastic! I had the opportunity to go to the temple with our Ward Mission Leader, Brother Burgan! I loved it. It was amazing. I learned so much. I love our WML. Bro. Burgan. We call him “Father Burgan” haha. It’s so fun. He is so willing to go teaching with the missionaries. I have learned so much from him. I am grateful that I am serving here and that I have learned so much from all of these experiences.
I love my mission. Everything about it is fantastic. I am nervous for transfers.. pray for me! Haha. I know that wherever I go or whoever I am with is all part of God’s plan for me. I am excited to see what will happen. Maybe I’ll stay.. Maybe I’ll go? Who knows! I will talk to you all on Thursday! LOVE YOU!
Love,
Elder Humpherys

 

 The first four pictures are from Sister Meese's Blog about the Church History Tour....if you look you can see Elder Humpherys

We began the tour hearing of how Heber C. Kimball and Joseph Fielding docked in Liverpool before coming into Preston to preach.

Next stop was Avenham Park in Preston near where the first European baptisms took place in 1837.   Here is President Preston recording this day with his beloved missionaries.   And they love their president.  This Japanese garden is where the memorial stands commemorating the early baptisms.

Liverpool's Maritime Museum

Last stop, the beautiful countryside of Downham, where we all congregated in a gorgeous old Anglican chapel to be briefly addressed by President Preston and three others.   Then we closed with the ringing tones of "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" - a cappella.   And we walked out into what Queen Elizabeth reportedly called the loveliest view in all of England.

 

The Titanic

 Statue at Liverpool

 Me and Brother Leeds (E. Osborn in the background. He looks like a little man..haha).

Book of Mormon on Pendle Hill! 

 Me and E. Peterson

 Champ

Sister Hargreaves!

 E. Rodgers!

E. Calder! 

me and E. Peterson

 

Dear family and friends,
Wow! What a week. This has been such a fun and fast week.
On Tuesday I went on an exchange with the Zone leader. Elder Cox came to Burnley and it was so fun! I learned so much from him. He is a fantastic missionary. I loved having the opportunity to learn so much from someone who is so experienced. He is a fantastic finder and talked with everyone. He had such a great attitude as well. We had dinner at a members house. It was really good. We taught her the plan of salvation with emphasis on obedience.
I have learned a lot about obedience this past week. Elder Cox is super obedient and sticks to the rules. I do too. I feel like I try my hardest to be perfectly obedient. I notice the blessings that come from obedience. If you and your companion are obedient than you will be so much more unified and will see many great miracles. I know that to be true. I went on another exchange right afterwards with another Elder. He was pretty lax on the rules. He didn’t start things on time and it made such a huge difference. The spirit wasn’t as strong with us. We weren’t as unified. It was just a huge change. I am so grateful to be serving with E. Peterson because we are so unified. We have become best friends. I feel like I’ve known him my whole life. We are striving to be obedient together. It is marvellous.
We get rejected a lot and that is okay. It’s so sad to see members of the church go less active because of something someone said to them or because the bishop did something they didn’t agree with. The gospel is true and will never change. If we are obedient and have daily scripture study (from the BoM especially) and prayer then everything will be okay. Don’t go less active because of another person. Don’t let anything anyone says to you keep you from receiving the blessings of the sacrament and church attendance.
We had a lesson with an older woman in the ward. She gave us burrito’s with… raisins’ in them… It was smothered with cold mushy pea’s. Mmmm! My favourite!
We got 16 referrals this week! Miracle!? YES! It is amazing. Even if some of the referrals weren’t super solid, it still had a seed planted.
I had tea at the Ross’s on Thursday. Mmmm. I love sister’s Ross’s meals. They are so delicious. She is from Canada and I think that makes a difference in her cooking. I am always so full when I leave her house. Haha.
On Friday we taught a man named Derek. He is one of the most humble people I have ever met. He is so sensitive to the spirit. We taught him the restoration and he said he feels “so peaceful” and the only thing he can compare his feelings to is “sitting on a beach watching the sunset.” Sadly, he didn’t come to church. We had 5 people lined up to go to church and none of them came! I was so bummed.
We taught a young girl named Amber as well. It was a really good lesson.
I can’t believe it is over halfway through August. I feel like I just left yesterday.. but at the same time I feel like I have lived in England my whole life.
I am short on e-mail time because we are hiking a hill today so I gotta go. But, I love you all so much!
Love,
Elder Humpherys 

Pictures from Clitheroe Castle!!! 

And me with sunglasses! :)

Bristish Pageant and Full Mission Conference

Dear Family, Friends, Countrymen, Mates, Blokes, Lads and Lasses of all ages,

I love this work! This week has been a great week full of so many testimony building experiences.

On Monday we went to the pageant with Brother Burgan and a girl from the ward named Lisa. We took her to the pageant and she loved it! It was only the dress rehearsal but it was still amazing. I have loved every opportunity I have been given to go to the pageant and be surrounded by such an incredible spirit. I can't even begin to explain how much I have loved working here at this time.

On Tuesday we had Zone meetings. They were so good. We talked about obedience and how agency and obedience has ALWAYS been part of God's plan. We are meant to be here on earth to prepare ourselves to meet God. I know that this is why I am here on earth. To prepare myself to meet God. I am blessed with the privileged. I am truly am glad of heart as I travel far and wide to proclaim God's love for his children.

Wednesday we took Paul and Crissy to the pageant.. rather.. They took us. They knew the man who produced the pageant. They were taken behind the stage and got to see all the behind the scenes stuff. As they did the producer asked me and E. Peterson to take a man and woman he invited to the temple to teach them what it was about and why we have them. We walked up to the temple with them and they were greeted by Sister Sun and were able to go into the very front doors of the temple and look up through a window in the ceiling which you can see the angel Moroni at the very top.

When they came out we were waiting for them and stood on the side. Somehow I ended up teaching the woman and E. Peterson taught the man. We started out the conversation and she had no belief in God at all. Throughout all the time we were talking I knew the spirit was teaching her. I was simply letting the spirit work through me. I honestly felt like I wasn't talking. It was almost an "out of body" experience. It was like I could hear myself saying the words but I wasn't meaning to say them. I don't know. I can't really explain it. All I know is ever since then I can hardly STOP myself from teaching. Once I get going I just can't stop myself from testify of Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith and the beauty of the gospel

Thursday was the full mission conference. If only I could express in words what I felt that day. I know that I was privileged to hear from 2 apostles of the Lord, Jesus Christ. I know that they are called of God. Jeffery R. Holland pleaded with us to cherish our missions. He said he has thought about his mission every day of his life for 50 years. They and their wives were so full of love. I wish I could explain it. It was such a special experience. As they left, we stood up, and the pianist started playing God Be with you Till We Meet Again. We all started to sing it.. we didn't even know the words. WE would hum until the chorus and when the chorus happened we just start singing. It was a beautiful experience.

Well I am out of time. Sorry about that. Wish I could share more.

I love you all!

Love, 

Elder Humpherys  

 Me and Bro. Burgan and the pageant. Sorry I don't know why I am standing so awkwardly.

What the pageant was inside. They built that in a week. Boom baby.

 My bed on my Birthday

E. Peterson decorated for my birthday. SURPRISE!

 

August 2013

Hello family and friends!
Okay, I haven’t done a proper update in quite awhile so I thought this time I would devote more time to writing this then responding to other emails. If your response from me is shorter I am sorry.
Things have been going well here in Burnley. E. Peterson is the district leader which has been fun because we get to see everything that is going on in the other areas of the district. I am learning so much just by watching him take on this leadership position. It’s been a fantastic experience.
Something that we do every Saturday night is we read with a man named Robin. He is the sweetest old man. He has some handicap issues. But he has the strongest testimony and a fervent love for God. He expounds the scriptures, he loves the missionaries, he loves his callings, he loves church. He is so kind. He loves music as well and he likes to direct us in singing some hymns when we go to his house. He loves it. haha. It is such a fun thing!
This week has been so busy (as always) we have been going everywhere! The British Pageant was AMAZING! I have never been to something more spectacular in my life. I think it was even better because we were able to take Karen and Lee to it. They really enjoyed it and I think they had quite a fun evening! I loved going with them. When we pulled up Karen said "Oh yes, this place is definitely sacred. This is paradise!" haha. It's at the preston temple. She loved being there and meeting other missionaries and church members.
 The pageant is amazing. It is so professional. The dancing, singing, and the acting is top notch. It is a fun filled evening full of love, happiness and very moving and poignant stories about families. I am learning so much from it. The Pageant is definitely divine. I wish everyone could see and experience it. It is softening so many hearts of so many people. It is rekindling the testimonies of those who have grown dim in the gospel. For me, I could feel angels watching over the performance. It was amazing. The spirit was so strong. I am going again tonight and this Wednesday as well with a few Less Active families.
I forgot to mention a small announcement in my last e-mail..
So we are having a full mission conference with..
Jeffry R. Holland
Russell M. Nelson
Patrick Kearon
Elder Evans (I forgot his first name)
 WOW! I am so excited. It is this Thursday. They are coming to the pageant. I am so blessed to be serving here at this time.
We are going to the Pageant this Wednesday with a man named Paul and his wife Crissy. They are such a sweet couple and they have a lovely daughter named Katie! She is so funny. We have visited them a couple times and we get a long great. I can’t wait for them to see the pageant.
 This week we teamed up with some Muslims and worked at something called “Iftar.” We helped them make bags of food for the homeless - a fabulous experience. We were interviewed and everything. They took our pictures and we were able to make some friends. It was so great.
 I love the members here in Burnley. I am learning a lot from them. Brother Burgan is our ward mission leader. We are working on something called “meet the Mormons.” It’s going to be two nights and we are getting the ward together and going to advertise it like crazy. We are hoping to get a great turnout and show people that we are normal people who live normal lives but we love God and follow Jesus Christ, and that makes all the difference. I can’t wait to see what happens. I am just anticipating some people will come just to bash.. but we’ll see. We will have food soooo, that should make it all worth it right?
 England is pretty interesting. The weather here is crazy. Styles are different. The culture is so different. But I love it. I love serving here. I love being an obedient missionary and meeting so many wonderful and good people. Hopefully we can meet someone soon who will want to accept the gospel.
 I love you all so much. The Church is true!
 Love,
 Elder Humpherys

My District in Burnley! Love them all!

Elder P. and I at the Preston Pageant

This is the doors were sent to knock on. Classic.

working at the "iftar"

Robin!

The crazy amount of rice they gave us. yum!

I am staying in Burnley

 Wow.

I never have anytime for these weekly updates. I am doing well though.

Elder Peterson's birthday was this week and we were able to celebrate at the Moore's house! The Moore's are such a wonderful family. I love them so much. They are so kind. 

Friends. Send me pictures. I would love them!! 

Service!  Look how much we pulled!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Here is an experience I want to share with you: 

Burnley is such an interesting place. There are so many interesting people here. I have honestly met so many crazy people... they are insane. But I love them nonetheless.There are so many Muslims that live here. We have had the opportunity to teach a few but it is really hard. They don't believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.. and the ones we've taught are really engrained into their religion. Each Muslim I have taught can talk for 30 minutes on one aspect of their religion. It makes it hard as a missionary because we need to be polite and not interrupt so we just have to find a point in the conversation where we can pipe in parts of the lesson. I admire the Muslim faith though. It is incredibly close to what we believe. In Bolton (I'm not sure where that is..) there are some amazing things going on. One Muslim family was converted to our faith. After that, miracles happened. They referred all of their friends and family after family began to be converted. Elder Miranda, who just went home, told us a story of a woman he taught. He explained to her that if she converts to our faith then if she has to go back to her country she may be brutally beaten and even put to death. She looked him in the eyes and said "I'd rather die following Jesus Christ than live while knowing the truth about him." The work in England is moving forward.

Unfortunately in our area we are not seeing too much success. Elder Peterson (my trainer) and I whitewashed into the area and it's taken awhile to build a good foundation here. But we are expecting miracles in this next transfer. 

My companion was just made district leader which means a lot of responsibility will be placed on me in regards to my area. I will be the one planning and staying in Burnley while he goes on a million exchanges.

 

 

Elder P's birthday with the Moore's

 JULY 15, 2013

 

No weekly update this week. Sorry. :( I will be better next week. 

I'll tell you a few things. I have 4 minutes left.

1. Karen has chicken pox still. Looking good though. We think we'll be able to see her this week.

2. Lee (husband) wants to stop smoking! 

3. I am getting a haircut today! :) 

4. I have been in the field for 5 weeks. woah. 

5. I love letters.. *hint to everyone to send me letters... hahah* 

6. I love you all

Love Elder Humpherys 

 

 

It's Hot. Hot. Hot.

There has been a heat wave in England! Seriously. There is such a great stench of sweat when we get on the bus...

I love it here. Things are going well. We have a new investigator named Wilf. He is so great. I hope things continue to go well with him. People still don't really want to talk to us but we are working on that.

I am grateful I bought a sidestrap bag because backpacks are no longer allowed in the mission.

We went and visited Karen's parents last night. They are so nice. I enjoy my visits with them. Karens father is one of the happiest old men I have ever met. I asked him to give me a big smile last night and he opened is mouth and gave me the biggest smile I have ever seen! 

Anyways, I am short on time again.. But know that I love this gospel. I know that it is true. Thank you for all the encouragement everyone! 

Love, 

Elder Humpherys. 

 A view from one of the members house

View from my back window

Companionship unity. Oh ya.

View from my front window

 A member has the hand of Sauron in his house.. WILL SOMEONE PLEASE SHOW THIS TO ARISSA!!