LONDON is......... So colorful!

Daffodils must be to England what tulips are to Holland. Everywhere they spring up in the grass. No flower beds, just random plantings in clusters in the grass. These were just waving in the middle of a large grassy area in St. James Park. Such a beautiful spot of spring!

The red double decker buses are a city highlight. We had a bus pass that we had acquired here in Chorley and took it with us on a chance that they might be valid in London. Low and behold, they were! Very quickly we learned the bus system and spent our days seeing the city from up top and jumping off when we saw something interesting. Tis a great way to travel and believe it or not, it is very fast as buses come along every 2-3 minutes.

However, I have a theory about bus drivers. I think that some of them get up each morning and decide that they will put a smile on their face and help every lost tourist they meet. Others must figure out ways to torment the lost souls that get near his bus. Not hard to guess how they feel about their job..........some probably look forward to each day and some really hate getting up in the morning. All a matter of attitude!

Olympics are coming to London -- summer 2012.

The city shows all the pre-Olympic signs! Road construction at every turn, buildings being whitewashed, signage being updated, and the clock in Trafalgar Square ticking away the days, minutes, seconds until the games begin!

De je vu!

LONDON is.........

...........One of my favorite cities in the world!

.........Music, color, history, theater, royalty, cathedrals, museums, shopping, parks, double decker buses, statues, River Thames, people galore, an Olympic City.

Today's feature:

Theater

Much like New York, only cheaper. We showed up at the box office one hour before show time and bought CHEAP tickets! (about 75% off).

We had great seats and saw great shows!

WICKED

What can I say. Many of you have seen it. One of the great live theater shows!

and then....

MAMMA MIA

I know, I know, the story line is junk, but the music and dancing has you tapping in the aisles. Everyone, from little children to old grandmas (we won't mention anyone by name) joined in . The theater was alive with clapping, tapping, swaying, dancing, singing. Half the fun was in the audience.

Loved It!

More to come.......

Signing Off

I am signing off today for a couple of weeks. The MTC shut down yesterday for cleaning and fix up and it was suggested that we leave since there will be construction, re carpeting etc. So, being forced out -- we are on our way.

First: LONDON

A few days in that vibrant city, walking the streets, dodging the pigeons, going to the theater (we hope) and waving at Buckingham Palace!

Then.......on to PARIS

The Eiffel Tower, Arch de Triumph, the Louvre, and people galore

Finally........BARCELONA

Time with family, warmer weather, and more missionaries.

I know it sounds insane, but bouncing around Europe is like going to St. George!

I will check in when we return.....

Bon Voyage

door to door!

Last Friday the missionaries went door to door. It was cold and drizzly and could have been very discouraging.
On the contrary..........
When we had our "return and report" meeting, these were their comments:

"It's the most cheerful I've ever been being rejected!"
"We got rejected a lot and it was super much fun!"
"I decided that no matter what they say to me, I will be happy!"
"I didn't care that I was freezing and wet and couldn't feel my fingers -- I was just so happy!"
"I'll never again be afraid of rejection!"
"We just told them that we would like to sing a song for you!"
"Since when is being rejected fun, but it was!"
"What made me happy is that we did everything we could. We knocked on EVERY door!"
"It doesn't matter if they accept or not, we are planting seeds!"
"I've never prayed out loud right on the street before, but I did and it worked!"

The end result:
Three companionships were invited in and asked to return. They all went back that evening and taught in the homes. They were excited beyond belief. The others, who suffered rejection the entire day were bouyed by the success of the few and were not in the least discouraged.

The Lord knows what he is doing when he sends these young, daring, excited and wonderful young people. They haven't lived a lot of years, and yet they know so much about the spirit and how it teaches.

And in the process, they teach us.

Q and A

I thought I would just respond to a few questions that some of you are asking:

Q: What determines which MTC a missionary goes to?
A: There are several determining factors. If a missionary is going to serve in England, Scotland/Ireland or Germany and speaks English they come here. However, there are other things that add into the equation. Visas are a big issue. For example, we currently have an elder from England who is going to Oregon Portland but he did not go to Provo, because he does not yet have a visa for the USA. Chances are he will not have one by the time he is finished here, so he will become a "visa waiter" in London until his visa arrives.
We have another missionary who is from Poland and is going back to Poland for his mission.
And yet another who is from Italy and is going to Romania.
The biggest challenge right now has to do with a sister whose passport was issued in Columbia, but she has been living in England. She has been called to serve in England, but her visa does not allow her to preach. We are hoping that this will be resolved before she is to leave here.
There are so many different kinds of visas and some restrictions on the number of visas issued. It is getting increasingly difficult to get visas for most countries and "visa waiting" is becoming quite common. You can be grateful that you are not resonsible for missionary visas around the world!!!

Q: Where is our elder from Ismir, Turkey serving.
A: He is serving in the London South Mission. Can you imagine the British English with a Turkish accent?! Amazing how the Lord opens the ears and hearts of those who are ready to listen!

Q: Do you live right in the MTC or in another building on the grounds?
A: We live in the MTC. The door to our flat is about 10 steps from the President's office and I want you to know, we walk to work every day!!!

Q: Is the English food still refered to as "A Heart Attack waiting to happen!".
A: I think so. Lots of fish and chips, eggs, bacon, ham, etc. However........we don't eat like this. We have amazing chefs.......lots of veggies and we just avoid the grease!

Q: Is this fun?
A: Over the top FUN!

Finding Activities

Eight art students we found while street contacting

I have talked before of our "finding activities". The first Friday the missionaries are here we take the train into Manchester and do street contacting. The last Friday they are here we go "door to door".

Well------yesterday we did street contacting. We had the usual amount of nervousness. Sometimes it becomes pure terror!!! I have such empathy with the missionaries in our own families who have and are doing and will do this in a 2nd language. It's hard enough when you can speak the language of the people!!!

This was our 3rd time to go and I must admit that although it is getting easier, it is still not easy. It's almost like going to the street markets and bargaining. I remember the first time I ever did that. We were in Hong Kong and were told that you never pay the quoted price, you always bargain. In the beginning it was very uncomfortable, but it soon became almost a game. It was fun just jostling back and forth, and finally arriving at a price you were willing to pay. I got so it was very comfortable for me.

I am hoping that street contacting will soon become very comfortable as well. It is already beginning to feel like a game. You stand in the square, look around for someone who is sitting or does not seem to be in a hurry and then you make a bee line for them. That opening sentence is the killer. Usually goes something like this, "Hi, are you from around here?" "We have just moved here" (how long do you think we can say that?) etc. Very soon they are asking why you are here and then you go for it!

Each time we have gone we have had a completely different experience. I wrote up our first experience. Our second experience turned out to be very fun. We met a group of 8 young art students (pictured above) who are studying at a near by college. They were sitting on a ledge and as we began to talk with them they moved in closer. It ended up that I took one end and Richard took the other end. They were fascinated with Richard's name badge which says, "President Richard Walker" and asked if he was like the President of the United States. I told them "no ---that he was much more important, to me at least!" They had never known a president and they were quite impressed (and we just let them be). We asked them if they believed in God. We went right down the line and they answered "yes" "no", "kinda". They loved our accent (imagine it!) and just wanted us to keep talking! Before we finished, we were joking, laughing, (I told them by the time we were finished with them they would all believe!!!!) and we laughed some more. But 5 of them took copies of the B oM and promised to read it. They all took pass a long cards and said they would go to Mormon.org. I passed a little notebook and pen and they gave me their email addresses. When we said good-bye they all gave us hugs and as they walked away they turned around and called, "Good-bye President!"

Since that time we have kept in contact via email. We are trying to set up a time to meet with them again, but so far, no luck.

That brings us to yesterday. Richard had a long discussion with a man on the train -- he is a lawyer (a barrister) so they had much to talk about. However, he is a proclaimed atheist and is not much interested in a pre or post life. Just lives for the present. But he was happy to listen to our beliefs. He had been to Southern Utah to the canyons and had talked with many Mormons but no one ever really explained to him what we believe and he seemed to appreciate knowing.

When we arrived in Manchester we again hit the streets. For a while we were not having much luck. People turn you away in numerous ways. Some look at your badge and tell you quickly they are not interested. However, I found 2 women sitting on a park bench. I sat down and gave my usual approach "Hi, are you from around here....." Soon they were telling me they were mudders. I told them I didn't know what a mudder was and they said it's one who watches children so I asked if they were like nannies. "No No No" they said, "we are mudders!" And then it dawned on me......they are mothers! Their accents can be so heavy you strain to understand them. But mothers is something I relate to so it was the beginning of a great conversation -- one that led to the church, our views on family, etc. I explained the eternal nature of families and why we are sealed in the temple. One of them raised their hands in despair and explained, "Mercy me! What if you don't want these children forever! Goodness knows there's one of them I could do without!" So how do you respond to that, I ask!

We ended up friends. I told them when I would next be in Manchester and we planned to meet. In the meantime Richard connnected up with a man named Colin Lucas -- related to George Lucas. He has authored several books. They had a great discussion that ended with a BoM and a promise to read it and to email Richard with questions.

Sometimes these promises do not materialize, but we just figure our job is to do the best we can and then it is up to them.

All in all it was a great day. The group gave out 34 copies of the BoM and had 18 referals. And we had fun.