Month: August 2026

Hey Yall! 

It was a pretty good week

Highlights

-Elder Grimm hitting a pidgeon at 60 mph (bird was just chillin in the middle of the road)

-Exchanges, did yard work service and put a friend on date 🙂

-hit our goal of 8 FRIENDS ON DATE FOR BAPTISM!!! (Some of them stopped responding tho  )

-Got sick, (sorry friends, didn’t make to church)

-My brother sent my the Animusic songs, IFYKYK ( shoutout James, and Pipedream)

This week has been good. I forgot to mention in last week’s letter that our wardshare/ district had 18 friends at church that Sunday. So now you know. Things are popping off in Donny.

I have been reading in the beginning of the Book of Mormon during my studies. I usually try to find a verse I read that day to send to our friends for Daily Contacts (shoutout Daily Contacts). Something that stands out to me. How often are we like Laman and Lemuel? Seeing the miracles and being led by a Prophet, having miraculous encounters and literal divine intervention in their lives. Seeing angels and God providing for them in the wilderness. And still doubted, and turned away.

Now we (at least I dont) see angels appearing, or see a little compass ball appear in the middle of nowhere, to guide us to a promised land. If you do, let me know. I wanna hear that story. But how many small miracles do we see in our lives? How many times have we prayed for something to come to pass, only for it to happen, and us chalk it up to coincidence?

As I relflect on many things in my life, I have consistently seen prayers answered when I do the right things, but then shortly forget and go about without much recognition of the prayer being answered.

I invite you all to find the small miracles in your life, and show your appreciation for them, for Gods blessing that he gives all of us liberally. 

I love you all! Be kind to all. Protect your liberty and religion (shoutout Captain Moroni)

-Elder Berky

Hey yall! It was a good week. Had alot of lessons. Found some people. Blessed a guys car because he was worried about witchcraft curses from Jamaica. 

One of our friends on date stopped replying to us and didn’t show up to the lesson we had planned. And the member meal appointment that he was invited too. Turned out that he got robbed and beat up a little. But he is chilling now. That was crazy. 

Had a BBQ on Saturday because a member canceled their meal appointment. So I grilled up some burgers. And my Mom’s famous “Honey Lime Cilantro Chicken” it was a hit. 

Zone Conference was on Thursday. It was great. Talked about District unity. But also focused some on the Apostasy and history of churches after Jesus Christ apostles were killed. Very interesting to hear more about it. And definitely strengthens my testimony of the Restoration and Jesus Christs true gospel. 

We did some fun contacting role plays with the AP’s

Oh, and we (our district) sang. I played the flute. Was pretty baller. Faith in every footstep. Ill see if I have the video. (It will be on the google photos album.

Also, one of the new sisters in my zone, met my Mom at the temple while she was in the MTC. So thats pretty chill too. 

Things have been going well. Elder Fungavaka is really cool and we mesh well. Just not during basketball haha. He is a fun guy and very funny. 

This week in reading the Book of Mormon. I am still in 1 Nephi. I like taking my time when I read. Its like eating a tasty meal. If you stuff it down quick, you are not going to feel well. But if you take your time to savor and ponder the words, your study experience will be much more effective. Coming back to the beginning of the BoM after reading through D&C and PoGP is pretty cool to recognize all of the doctrial key points and even phrases and teachings. It just shows you how intertwined scripture is. Just like our family history is intertwined with everyone in the world. 

I love you all! And keep doing your best.  Go and Do, the things which the Lord commands : ) 

-Elder Berky

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Hey yall! This week was a very good one. We had an amazing meal appointment on Wednesday. And saw a bit of a solar eclipse that day too. 

Friday and Saturday we’re amazing. We put 2 people on baptismal date both days. So now we have 4 friends who want to make that covenants with Christ, which is amazing! Those days were amazing feeling the spirit as we taught. Now the real work begins, making sure we have battle plans for them 🙂

Highlights;

Getting yelled at by a street preacher (THE BLOOOD!!!! NOT RELIGION!!!) Lol, okay lady, you are litterally streaming and gathering donations haha. 

4 people on Bappy date!!!

Good lessons with members

Sisters made baller fajitas for dinner on Saturday. 

Gihradellis brownies

Agency/friends canceling lessons 🙁

All is well 🙂 I have really appreciated being in a 4-man flat. And the ward is amazing too. (But dont buy us groceries please. I’m trying to lose weight )

I have done the most common missionary thing as well. Starting the Book of Mormon from the beginning. But it has been really nice. Especially after all the deep doctrine I have been reading. To get back to the basics, and it is cool to see the similarities and how things tie in together. 

I will be posting daily scriptures from my P-studies on FB messenger notes. So if yall see those, cool. 

Remember that you are loved. And you have infinite potential and worth in Gods eyes. He knows you. 

-Elder Berky

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Hey Yall! 

I am in Doncaster. It is very nice

Goodbye.

Just kidding… 

Transfers was a fun day, the elder coming into Pontefract was in Doncaster previously. So we pretty much switched places. But I still had to go to Crossgates to pick up one of the new Zone Leaders for the Doncaster area. Said bye to our favorite fish and chips shop guy, Raz. May blessings be upon him. Made him some banna bread (cake) to remember me by. And gave some to our friend Louie and said bye as well.

Crossgates was fun. Got my gihradellis brownie mix that I won from flat inspections. Said hi to a bunch of missionaries. Lots of fun. Then drove to Doncaster. We didnt have the adress to the flat, so we just drove to a random parking lot and called the elders who live with us. 

Made it to the house. Did a bit of unpacking. Then drove to a meal appoint at a massive house. Pretty average by American standards, even small by Mapleton standards (shoutout Mike Klauk Custom Homes) but it was great, pretty much had like a ward correlation meeting. The son of the older couple is the ward mission leader, and we had a good discussion. They made some fire Costco ribs and frozen pizza. I ate about 20 wings as well (protein maxxxing).

The rest of the week went well. Had some good lessons with new friends. Found a non active member and he wants to come back, but works as a carer for someone on sunday. 

Did some knocking in an elect neighborhood. 

Got harassed by a homeless guy because we wouldn’t buy him a burger. (bro yes I know we look “smart” and have money, but we are missionaries.) All while I had a good doctrine discussion with this catholic guy, who couldn’t wrap his head around the difference of Salvation (gift from Jesus everyone gets) and Exhaltation (gifts we get by our ordinances/deeds in this life) but he was really cool. Hope we see him again. 

Interpreted this guys dream about a previous life. He wants to learn more 🙂

Been building more hotwheels and painting another one for a friend 🙂 shhh. Don’t tell him… none of you know him haha, well the derby guys will. 

P day was fun. We went to Connisborough castle, built in the 1300s. Took some pics, and played some soccer (footie). Then went to the chapel and played ping pong and bad minion for 3 hours. And some more footie outside. Then Elder Fungavaka got a trim, showered, then we went to a little lesson that happens every Monday evening for our friends and some members to come to, about gospel doctrines. Twas good. 

My new Comp, Elder Fungavaka is really chill. He is a great district leader, who actually cares about his district. Reads people really well. He is from Australia, but parents from New Zealand and Polynesia. It will be a good transfer. 

I FINISHED DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS FINALLY.

yup, took me way too long. And I should probably read the first half again, but ill do that later. I am going to run through POGP (Pearl Of Great Price) now. Moses is spitting baller knowledge. 

In my time reading D&C, I have really grown to appreciate how the Lord reveals his gospel. Mostly through small and simple means. Many of the writings are sprinkled with doctrine, that can sometimes slip through our fingers as we read. Most times i need to read the same page at least 2 or 3 times before I fully recognize what is actually going on haha. But persistence is key. 

I would like to thank each and everyone of your for your well wishes and prayers (especially Sister Knocklby in Mountain View ward) I am grateful for each and everyone of you. And wish for you to know that your Heavenly Father loves you. Pray, ponder. Appreciate all you have. For it is given to you, not only through your agency and actions. But through the love of God. Give thanks to Creator of all. 

-Elder Berky

Hey yall! It was a great week. 

Highlights

– Meal appointment with the cat lady

– fun text lesson with ultra nervous lady. 

– attended a lovely funeral for a member. (The food was amazing)

– had lesson with an elect new friend. He came to church as well and really liked it. 

– Got transfer news

– Had a fun district picnic by the river for Pday. 

– Louie is getting baptised this Friday! 

-Walked 23.5 miles on Friday (50,000 steps)

-talked to some chavs on dirt bikes in the park for an hour lol. 

Transfer News!!

I am….

Going….

To…..

DONCASTER!!!!

I have heard many good things about it. Bigger city. I will be in a 4-man flat with the Doncaster Zone Leaders. My new companion is Elder Fungavaka.He is from Sydney Australia. And he is jacked. So I will counsel with him and see if he is willing to have a “locked in transfer” but I will update you on the plans for it next week : )

Pontefract has been an amazing place for me to be in my first experience on the mission. The ward has been extremely supportive and they are amazing people. 

I still have been reading in Doctrine and Covenants. I am almost done. There are some amazing things in the later bit of it. 

Doctrine and Covenants 130

18 Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.

19 And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.

I really like this one because it tells us that we should seek knowledge and understanding in this life, because it will follow us in the world to come. Always seek learning. 

I hope all of you are doing well. Jesus loves you! 

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