"The British are coming! The British are coming!"
Happy July 4th everyone!! I hope that you're all enjoying the fireworks, parades, watermelon, sunshine, and all things American! Here in England they don't celebrate Independence Day... big shocker! ;) But we're still planning on celebrating anyway. Elder and Sister Mullen have invited us over for a BBQ in their back garden, and basically all of the missionaries are wearing red, white, and blue. Even Sister Apiyo from Uganda, Sister Lung from Hong Kong, and some of the Elders from various places. It just makes me laugh!
Sisters Apiyo, Croft, Griffeth, Fuhriman, Lung, Hannig, Wai and Von
Well, it sure has been a long time since I've written all of you. A whole 10 days that is. It's been a really long week, but also a week chuck full of miracles, and eye opening experiences.
On Thursday we had a Mission Tour from Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the 70!! Wow, this was such a powerful day! I can't even begin to describe the feelings, and thoughts that I had during this conference. If any of you don't know who he is, Elder Kearon is the President of the Europe Area, and he spoke last general conference and gave the talk all about refugees called "Refuge from the Storm." (If you didn't get a change to listen to it, definitely do!) The thing that really got to me however, is that he was first stopped by the missionaries {and introduced to the gospel} right outside the Hyde Park Chapel doors, and then taught by the sister missionaries in the very chapel that I'm in every single day! It never ceases to amaze me how much history this place has. Wow!
Although I'm pretty sure I could go on and on about the things I learned from him, I'll just share one thought. Recently I've been thinking a lot about the song/phrase "I am a Child of God" and what it means to me. I've grown up hearing these words, but while I've been here in England I've met so many people who don't know this. Well, Elder Kearon is super in tune with the spirit because in the middle of his training he just stopped mid sentence and looked into the audience. I felt like he was looking directly at me! And then he said something along the lines of this "... the knowledge that we are all children of God is something quite astounding! This knowledge changes everything. Has it just become something we say, rather than something we feel?" Oh my goodness! As he said this I was just hit with the most powerful feeling of love and happiness. It just washed over me, and in that moment I knew without a doubt that I was a daughter of a loving Heavenly Father. I still do! :)
Other then that Sister Wai and I did a whole lot of finding this week. In our escapades we talked with people from all sorts of backgrounds and cultures, we were given a free pineapple, and found some prepared people to hear the gospel. While OYMing (open your mouth), we have the most hilarious, and also the most spiritual experiences!
Sorry this email is pretty short... I always feel like I sit down to write these and I forget everything that happened in my week. All I have to say is that this gospel is true! It really is, and it brings so much joy! :) Happy Independence Day again everyone!
I love you all, and couldn't be more grateful for everything you do for me! Have a fantastic 7 days!
Love, Sister Croft
Dinner at the I-----'s house with M---- and L------, our recent converts! :)
We saved a butterfly off the Christus Statue! It was so pretty, and we think it escaped from the butterfly exhibit at the Natural History Museum. :)
My good friend Patricia sent Mac and Cheese in the mail and it save us when we didn't have any food left on Sunday!! :) Thanks Patti!
Brother Lusvardi's visit and training.
And some more Tower Bridge pictures!
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