Author: admin

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

https://photos.app.goo.gl/9QsVXWnMXFVcH8AV6

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! 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/9QsVXWnMXFVcH8AV6

Hey Yall! 

Apologies for my absence of a letter last week. I got preoccupied with painting a hotwheels car in the evening and forgot to write. 

To give a brief synopsis of the week before. 

-We put a friend on date for baptism!

-Walked alot

-Made cookies

-watched a bit of the Spain V France soccer (footi) game for youth night

-scared some chavs on dirt bikes. (Popped out of a bush)

-we’re getting ghosted by all our friends 🙁

-decided to hop on the prisoner diet. (I dont wanna be fat.)

This week

Had more great lessons with our friend on date for baptism. 

Did some fun service for a member right down our street. (I got to use a jigsaw to cut up pallets for firewood) 

Had flat inspections, passed with flying colours. The senior missionary couples have a competition for who has the cleanest flat, gets a box of gihradellis brownie mix from Costco. So you already know our beds were dress right dress with them hospital corners 😉 

Had a good long talk with my comp about the situation with his girlfriend. I won’t tell, it is his agency if he wishes. Got some stuff figured out and baselines set haha. 

Gave a blessing to a lady in a hotel room. That was new haha

Had some fire meals, 2 cans tuna, 200 grams cottage cheese, and 50 grams rice. With mustard and hot sauce. Banger, and I know bangerz

Sisters made blondie brownies on sunday. Fireee 

On P-day we went to X-Scape. It’s like a mall/activity centre. There is like bowling, Lazer tag, rock climbing, mini golf, trampoline park, etc. We ended up doing lazer tag. It was fun, got to demolish some little kids. 

Worked on some more hotwheels for my friends back home. I build and paint them too look like the derby cars they built and drove. 

A member in my ward is going to Utah for vacation, so I will send some that I have finished with them. 

Other than that, things have been great. Doctrine and Covenants is very cool. Here are a couple good ones I have read recently

Doctrine and Covenants 122:9

Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.

Doctrine and Covenants 123:17

Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.

I am now reading section 128. I need to read through it again. It is full of amazing deep doctrine. 

I love you all! Keep being good people. Don’t let anybody bring you down. God is good, the Gospel is true!

-Elder Burger (Berky)

Sorry for no week 14. I accidentally sent it without writing. 

Has zone conference this week. I played the flute for a musical number. Come come ye Saints. I flubbed a note. Embarrassing, but such is life. 

Have been averaging 22,000 steps a day for the past two weeks. Roughly 10 miles a day. Had some good lessons, spoke with some crackheads. Did alot of service this week too. Stained a deck, peeled wallpaper from a room. Had some goated meal appointments with the members as well.

Shoutouts:

Ruth and Jose Chiza – made us BBQ on Sunday. Pork belly, burgers, sausages, prawns, chicken legs. They are amazing people

Sam and Jeradine Frost, made cookies and a good meal after our service at their place

Mike Peel- for picking up one of our friends for church. 

Pontefract Sisters – for learning a musical number in 2 days for zone conference

Heron foods – cheap drinks 😉

Oh yea zone conference was great, talked about member relations and PMG.

I have still been working my way through Doctrine and Covenants, not done yet. But there are some banger chapters I have gone through. 

Doctrine and Covenants 88

Amazing chapter. Lots of doctrine within

Verse 40:  “For intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own; justice continueth its course and claimeth its own; judgment goeth before the face of him who sitteth upon the throne and governeth and executeth all things.”

This one is cool because it also tells why many Latter-Day Saints are encouraged to pursue education and learning. Because the secrets of the universe and Gods. And he has laid them out for us to uncover, and discover the wonder of his creation. 

I love you all! And remember to pray! God hears and sees every one of you.

Elder Berky

Hey yall! Transfer week was amazing

Said goodbye to Elder Olds, 🙁   so bittersweet.

Elder Koceja is amazing, he plays guitar as well, and is very good. From Mesa, Arizona. Very fit and “locked in” (except for P-day lol) He loves sweets, within moderation haha. 

The first day, of new companion, we did some service for a new member. who had a very overgrown backyard. like 3 feet tall grass, it was so fun to mow haha. Actually found 2 bumblebee nests inside the grass, so we had to leave a patch undisturbed. The next day we also did more service, for a member who has been going through some things, but he is cool. painted a patch of his fence, it was very warm. Found a cool guy from Zimbabwe in town centre who was very cool. Did mucho walking for the next couple days. The most we did was 30,500 steps (14.4 miles) on the hottest day of the week. 94 degress in freedom units, with like 40% humidity. So it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. But I did get a little well done. The collared shirt tan line goes crazy. 

It is getting late, I love you all! Excited for this next transfer. Pray for rain in Utah!

Regards, 

Elder Berky

Sorry I didn’t give yall a week 11. Not that much crazy stuff happened. Just England being England. One of the sisters baptisms got cancelled because she got sick. Still can’t find our friend James. Ian is ghosting me. Had exchange with zone leaders. It was chill. Walked alot. Bought a flute. 

Oh yeah. Bought a flute. I dont wanna learn guitar, because every elder does that. And I don’t want to pack around a guitar everywhere, its big. Flute small. And my aunt is a professional flute player. Also big tough guy playing a flute is funny. And if you know me, I’m down for that. 

Also I need to soundproof the closet under the stairs so I can practice. Because the only time I can is 9 to 10 pm. And the neighbor’s no likey that. But the door doesn’t latch to I need to figure that out. But that is what I love. Fixing problems. 

Transfers. 

I am staying in pontefract. Elder Olds is going to Sheffield to be a district leader. My new companion, I will meet tommorow. But everything I have heard about him is chill. So it will be good. 

Highlights 

Got a fresh haircut today. Looking sleek. 

Elder Olds broke his chair this morning

Flute purchase

Elder Olds driving test

Getting yelled at

Car show last week (forgor pictures, sowwy)

Tub leaking

Spiritual thought

D&C 42 : 40

Thou shalt not be proud in thy heart; let all thy garments be plain, and their beauty the beauty of the work of thine own hands.

I love you all! And Jesus does too. 

-Elder Berky

https://photos.app.goo.gl/9QsVXWnMXFVcH8AV6

Wow, 10 weeks is crazy. 

This week wasnt too crazy. Though we did have Zone conference. It was awesome. One thing we talked about that I like, is knowing God. He knows us perfectly, because He created us. One other thing I liked, increase your intellegence. It is what sets us apart from other beings. But also brings us closer to God. 

One of our breakout sessions was about mornings… It was fun to hear peoples inputs on the reason why they are important, and how to use our time wisely. “Joy cometh in the morning!” and “What you do between 6:30 and 10 am will make or break your mission”. Which are all very true. I have been alot better at my workouts, but I can still improve. 

One thing I need to find is a foam roller haha. My legs are very stiff from walking. But stretching will suffice for now. I got a step tracker from my Mom on amazon, that has been fun to use. we average about 13,000 steps a day. Or roughly 5.75 miles. Which is decent. 

Highlights:

Zone conference

Getting called a heretic by a couch potato

Free cinnamon rolls and sourdough from local bakery. @23rd street food co. On FB and Ig

Nan for sunday dinner roast, and service.

Once again, England isnt real. But I will get down to the bottom of this mystery island and preach the gospel to all its inhabitants. Inviting them to follow Christ and repent. 

I wish each and everyone of you a tiding of great joy. And I hope you can be more like Christ, be kind to those who dispise you, but let not evil, nor contention reside within you. For the day you let contention rule among you, corruption hath overtaken ye. And Corruption can only be clensed through Jesus Christ and the fire of the Holy Spirit. 

I love you all!

And Jesus does too!

-Elder Berky

(Cottage cheese maxer)

Also here are the pictures of the couches, I forgot to include them last week. But peep the google photos for updates. 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/9QsVXWnMXFVcH8AV6

Twas an Interesting week. 

Highlights,

Elder Gilber devotional!

Free couches sidequest

Traveling all day just for my companion to fail his driving test (lol)

People yelling at us from cars

Goated member meal appointments

Cool people on the bus

New Friend at church!

Non Highlights

Friends not responding

Appointments falling through

Heat (it wasnt fatal, just uncomfortable) Not as bad as South Carolina last year!

Having to leave church early, (even if it was to travel to see Elder Gilbert)

The Devotional with Elder Gilbert was really good. He talked quite a bit about PMG. Preach my Gospel is very good and key to being a successful missionary. Also about exact obedience will bring miracles. Which I would be enthused to see and receive. He also mentioned how lucky we are to serve a mission. Whenever I would say how lucky I am, my Mom’s reminder pops into my head. It isnt luck, its blessings! So how blessed am I that I am here serving. Elder Gilbert also talked alot about the spirit, how it is our most useful tool on a mission. The gift of recieving revelation through the spirit is the greatest gift. Also to pray, write down your thoughts and feelings, follow up on them. And we have the most important message to share. So share it!

Some other thoughts I had during the devotional from other speakers are as follows; 

We (Elders) have 700+ hours of studying throughout our mission. How much can we learn, and how much can we grow in those 700+ hours. Which really did put into perspective how amazing this time is to learn the most important things in life. 

Another thing I wrote down, we work for peace, no matter how difficult. Which reaffimed my studies of Moroni, how he fought for peace, and liberty. And we must do just that. It is different nowadays compared to how Moroni did it. Much more complicated, but we fight a spirtual warfare, guiding others to Christ. 

Other Quests

We also got 2 couches for our flat. One day we were walking to our bus stop from our house and passed by two, 2 seater couches in front of someones house, stacked on top of each other. We made a mental note of it and continued our day. Later, after we had done some knocking in our area, we were about to make our way to our meal appointment. The sisters texted us and told us that our appointment got pushed back a little bit. So we had about 40 minutes until then. I looked at Elder Olds, raised eyebrow. He looked back, raised his. “Couch?” “mmhmm”. Queue Gravity Falls episode when dipper clones himself and gives himself ideas. “Yeaaaa. Yeeeeaaaa” (if you know you know)

So we made our way over to the house, about 2 streets from ours. and knocked on the door. After a little bit, the window opened on the second floor and an African guy stuck his head out the window. We asked him if he was getting rid of the couches. He said yes. We asked if we could have them. He was confused at first, i guess reluctant at why two dapper dressed men wanted the couches he threw out. But told us sure. 

So we said thanks, and Elder Olds carried one of the couches by himself, while i took a load of cushions. After dropping of the first couch, we got the second one. Then took off the covers from the pillows and pads, as they smelled harshly of B.O. Washed the covers. And even the bottom coushins I brought up to the bathtub, soaked them with hot soapy water, and massaged/punched and squished them to work the soap through them. Then stuffed them in the washer, and put it on spin to get the majority of the water out. Now they are drying and we will put it all back together soon.

The couch itself still has odor to it, but I had bought sanitizing spray and fabreeze. so a couple good soakings in that will suffice haha. I will attach picture of couches. See google photos for a video of me and my companion carrying one of them back. 

That is a majority of the goodies last week. This upcoming week we have zone conference, so that will be fun. But thank you all, I appreciate you, and just know…

The Book is Blue

The Gospel is True

Jesus, Loves, YOU!!

– Elder Berky

https://photos.app.goo.gl/9QsVXWnMXFVcH8AV6