Elder McKinley's Stint Across the Pond

Wow this week has flown by and I can't believe that the week is gone but here we go. Last Wednesday we actually didn't go to the museum but instead had a picnic with cinnamon rolls because it was a fantastic day outside.  Thursday  was zone conference! In this mission we just have a massive missionary pow wow every 6 weeks and this was my first time going to the one that happens out here in the eastern part of the mission. Its weird because our missiom president goes home  in 9 weeks , which mean the mission changes  in 9 weeks  and that means that I'll be in a new mission! It was weird to think about how fast time has gone. Elder Burton and I hit our 8 month mark  on Monday . I can't believe I'm 1/3 of the way done with my mission. It feels like I've been put here for just a month but it also feels like it's been my whole life. My sense of time and it's passing has become massively distorted. Oh well. But, in honour of hitting the one third mark, I...

So this week has been a bit crazy but also really normal. So let's get into it.  Thursday  we had a broadcast from President Nelson (the prophet of our church), Sister Nelson, Elder Holland (an apostle of our church), and Sister Holland. There were two broadcasts, one for all the missionaries in the United kingdom and then one for all the members. They were both amazing. I know he's a prophet of God and is inspired. He and all those who spoke shared some really deep and powerful thoughts and I loved them. It was also fun because we had a dinner appointment with a BYU sociology professor and his family. They're just here for 5 months. It's weird to think I could one day take a class from him at BYU. It was a blast.  Friday  we had exchanges! I was with Elder Pongbundit. He's such a kind person. He's from Thailand and only has a month left as a missionary. He's a really great cook. It was fantastic begin able to work with him and being able to get to ...

Okay so here we go once more. Wow this week has been amazing. Oxford is the best. Like I love it so much here. It's so rich with history, people, culture and just everything that I could ever want. It's the best.  This week has been spent getting to know the area and the people in it. I love the members here. They're so kind and just cool people. There's professors, movie producers, students, and everyone in between here. It's so radically different than Holsworthy. I don't want to say it's better because both places have beauties and quirks unique to themselves that I love and cherish. It is a wonderful change of pace however.  So fun fact, busses don't really run after a certain time, so if you are out late, and there isn't a bus, you have to walk home in the rain. So that's fun.  Also, there are so many good places here to eat. I legitimately am so torn because I can't decide where to spend my limited funds because everything ...

My dad and mom are the only ones who will get this subject line but it explains the car ride down to the temple very well haha. So, I want it to be made known that I do, in fact, care about the Oxford comma. That's because I am now serving in Oxford! I received a call  Saturday  asking if I would go to Oxford and be the district leader there. I happily said yes. I'm so excited to be here. There are six missionaries in this area, two congregations, a proper chapel, and it's Oxford! It's a place I've dreamed of and I'm humbled the Lord is allowing me to serve the people here.  However, leaving Holsworthy was tough. It's been my home for the last 6 and a half months. I've grown to love the people there and they will always have a place in my heart. As I said goodbye to so many people there, tears filled my eyes on more than one occasion. I'm just grateful I got to serve there for the time I did. The Lord knew that there were things I needed to lea...