Across the Pond: Valentines Roller Coaster

First, before I forget, Happy late Valentines Day everyone!! :)

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Valentines Day full of love & sweets. It's not a widely celebrated holiday here in the UK unless you're engaged or very old, but we had some fun in the visitors centre giving out valentines, and chocolates. My favorite part of the day was when a random lady walked into the VC in the morning holding a package. She turned to the member I was talking to at the time and asked "Are you one of the Mormons?" To which he responded "Umm, yes I am," and she handed him a wrapped package of chocolates with a card that said "Happy Valentines Day to all the Mormons." Talk about the sweetest thing ever!! haha Made my whole day. :)

This week was really a roller coaster. It always seems that when you have the biggest miracles, and best spiritual experiences, they always come with the most difficult trials and hugest growing pains. Opposition in all things I suppose, but wow! I am spent.

Just to share a few miracles that happened:

*Sunday was full of miracles (Valentines Day and all), but it all started with the lesson we had with our friend R------. He is great, but he has lots of questions and so the lesson was kind of going around in circles. As he was talking on and on I was praying silently to Heavenly Father that I would know what to say, and suddenly I found myself stopping him mid sentence and inviting him to be baptized. As silence filled the room, and I was asking myself "Why in the world did you do that Sister Croft?!" but a familiar spirit filled the room, and he said "Yes, of course I will be." :) The spirit is real guys. That was not me talking! Later in the day when we were at the visitors centre a cute Chinese girl walked into the VC and asked to be taught. Miracle of miracles! She'd been taught in the past, and almost got baptized but moved away at the last minute.

*On Monday we saw this sweet girl, and she is so golden! We asked her what having faith in Jesus Christ meant to her and she pulled her phone out and played a song from the children's hymn book. "Faith is knowing the sun will rise, lighting each new day. Faith is knowing the Lord will hear my prayers each time I pray. Faith is like a little seed: If planted, it will grow. Faith is a swelling within my heart. When I do right, I know."

The Spirit was so strong as she sung along to one of my all time favorite songs! :) It was a little tender mercy.

This week my eyes were also opened even more to the reality of this gospel, and the need for a Savior. There are so many problems in this world, and so many people suffering through individual trials. My heart is full because I love these people SO much, but this week I realized just how helpless I am to help them, and just how inadequate. I honestly couldn't do any of what I'm doing without the Saviors help! The Atonement of Christ is real, and I can't say words enough to express the gratitude I have for this knowledge.

I also have some shocking news... I will be leaving Britannia Ward on Wednesday! :( Transfer calls were yesterday and I learned that I will be being transferred to Hyde Park 2nd Ward. I'm brokenhearted because I love these people to death, but the good news is that I'll still be here at the VC and I'll still see them fairly often. Also, my new companion is Sister Griffeth (my original MTC companion)! I've honestly learned so much this transfer, and we've worked so hard. I'm really sad to be leaving it all behind, but I know that I'm needed somewhere else. If the Lord is in charge of this work, and I know He is, then I'm needed in HP2 now. But I'll still miss this chinese family of mine, Sister Wai, and everything else! Maybe I'll come back to this ward one day, but for now wish me luck! :)

Love you all across the oceans!! Have a wonderful week and remember how much the Savior loves you as well. :)

Love, Sister Rebekah Croft