Edinburgh

Last week we sent 17 elders to Edinburgh Scotland. They had finished their MTC experience and were headed to their new field of labor -- the Ireland/Scotland Mission.

They were transported by bus, so at the invitation of the mission president, we boarded the bus with them and traveled to Scotland. As we drew closer the anticipation increased and when we finally pulled up to the mission home, they let out a cheer........their dream was becoming a reality. They were ready to go to work and convert the world!

As soon as they unloaded their bags we all reboarded the bus and went to Pratt's Hill. After a short and steep climb we were at the top of this historic hill that overlooks Edinburgh. It is on this spot that Orson Pratt dedicated the land of Scotland for the preaching of the gospel. President Griffiths, their mission president, gathered them around, told them the history of this spot and then gave them a few minutes to go off by themselves and commit themselves to the work. It was a sweet moment.

We had about a day and a half to see the beautiful city of Edinburgh. The royal mile is the main street that runs from the Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood House (where the Queen vacations)

Edinburgh is famous for it's summer festivals -- the most popular being the Tattoo! (no relation to body tattoos!). It is a pagentry of marching bands from all over the world. It is held in front of the castle so this becomes the back drop to these colorful and entertaining groups. Pictures do not do it justice (especially when they are fuzzy!)

The bleachers are portable and are put into place just for the festival. Ordinarily this is just a parking lot in front of the castle.

The Fringe festival is a street festival that is filled with street performers. They come from all over the world and perform wondrous feats -- magic, juggling, fire dancing, and you name it. Then they pass the hat! What a way to earn a living!!!!

Edinburgh is really one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. And the mission home is probably the most beautiful mission home in the church. We had a delightful visit with President and Sister Griffiths and found that our paths had crossed in many ways in the past. It was especially fun to see missionaries that we had trained here. Now they are trainers themselves and are doing a great work. Such a program!!!

The spirit is the teacher......

We have a rather large number of missionaries who are recent converts and they all come with their own story. Here are two.

Story #1

"My best friend and I took the lessons together and were baptized the same day. It was wonderful. We had always been like best friends. More like brothers. Together we began planning for the day when we could serve missions. For one year we talked about it, studied for it and got so excited. When the time came, we got the necessary forms filled out and decided we would send our papers in at the same time. When the day came, I sent mine! When I checked with my friend, he gave me some excuse but said he would do it right away. I received my call, and my friend was still trying to get to sending his papers in.... Months passed and nothing happened. I am now here and my best friend, my very best friend from childhood has left the church! And it makes me so sad!!!"

Story #2

"When I began investigating the church it made no sense to me. I remember when the elders asked me to pray. I about fell over.....but they kept asking and on the 3rd visit I consented. It was an amazing experience! And then I began reading the Book of Mormon. I did not understand one word. I had no idea what it was about. It was just a bunch of words, but I kept reading, because I was feeling something and I knew it was true. When I teach an investigator it all comes back to me and I know what it feels like to be the one sitting across the room wondering what it is I am feeling and where it is going to take me".

Both of these missionaries will be wonderful. Their testimonies are young and their knowledge of the gospel is limited, but they know the power of the spirit and what happens when it penetrates your heart!

There they go again....!

Fifty - four missionaries! They came from the USA, England, Canada, Norway, ElSalvador, South Africa, Germany, Netherlands, Australia, Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland and Austria and they will serve in Manchester, Leeds, Ireland/Scotland, Norway, Germany and Melbourne, Australia.

They were talented and talkative!

We shared the usual and the unusual.

We attended Sacrament Meeting in a ward that meets in the Stake Center that is located just across the parking lot from us. We were invited to speak to the theme of Lovingkindess, which of course is close to our hearts. And the missionaries sang like angels. My theory is that when you listen to children or missionaries, they don't have to sound good. Just looking at them is enough, but then when they sound good it adds a dimension that stirs the very depths of your soul. And these missionaries did just that. And it helps to have a sister at the piano who is a piano performance major! We had such a great time singing. They were so good, we cut a CD, made copies and sent each with the memory.

A highlight of this group was a visit from Elder Kopischke, the area president. He spent an evening with the missionaries responding to their questions. The missionaries love him and he loves them and as a result both are edified.

With each group we have a "Best of Britain" night where the cooks fix fish and chips, meat pies, and trifle. We put out the British flags and sing, "God Save the Queen", reminding them that for the next 18-24 months (for most of them) this will be their homeland and forever more they will carry with them treasured memories of this remarkable country.

Wednesday morning we once again big them farewell with a prayer in our hearts that they will grasp the magnitude of their calling and be blessed with success.

Joseph and the amazing...........

Anyone who knows me well knows that I belong to a family of "Joseph Junkies" which simply put means that we have seen every production of "Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" that has ever found itself within a reachable radius of our domain.

In fact, in some of our crazy family moments we have spontaneously wrapped towels around ourselves, turned on the kareoke machine and produced our own version of this fanciful little musical.

So....is it any wonder, that when I saw that a traveling company of "Joseph" was coming to the Opera House in Manchester (a mere 30 minute drive from us) I felt compeled to go.

I went on line, ordered two tickets for a Preparation Day Matinee and then settled in to wait!

And wait we did -- for about 2 months.

But, as is the case with all things, the day finally came and Thursday we found ourselves in Manchester tapping our feet and singing along to the lively tunes that make that show so fun.

Every production has its own flavor -- and some are better than others. But this was a first -- I did not know until now that Joseph had a British accent! But when he began to sing "I aum a wuking wuk of aut" or as we would say "a walking work of art" I knew, that perhaps Egypt was closer to England than to America -- thus -- a well deserved representation of this famed biblical character!

The English flavored pervailed and there was a new twist to each number -- including the finale that went on for a good 15 minutes. Lots of children in the audience were on their feet clapping, singing and dancing

Bottom line ----- a great production, but there will never be another Joseph quite like Donny Osmond!

All in all, we had a great day out! It provided some wonderful diversion.

Missionaries....the Hope of Israel

THE RIOTS

Yesterday I was on line reading about the terrible rioting caused by youth gangs in England. It has been world wide news and you have all read or heard this news.

As I sat at my computer absorbing the whore of devestation in London, Liverpool, and Bristol I was taken by the young age of so many of these gang members -- the news reported that children as young as 7 years old were involved.

The copy cat effect has caused this bizarre movement to spread rapidly and last night they ravaged Manchester on the very street where we take the missionaries street contacting!

As I sat here musing over these terrible events, I looked up and saw a group of missionaries standing in the hall. There they were -- in their crisp white shirts, suits and ties, shiny shoes and short hair. They were the picture of angelic youth. A lump rose in my throat and two thoughts floated through my mind.

The first......how can we thr0w them out into that violent, evil world where sin is so prevelant it grips at you from every direction!

And then the second thought......how soon can we get them out there.....they are so badly needed! I thought of what Elder Holland said in an MTC devotional in January. He looked at those missionaries, leaned across the pulpit and with great emotion said,

"We have a world in trouble, and YOU are the hope of Israel! And you're only 19, or 20 or 21 years old!"

Missionaries are walking miracles and it is a privelege to walk among them each day.

Walkabouts........

The Darwin Moors on a misty day...
The wild flowers seem to change weekly

This walkabout meant climbing hills -- moors -- not mountains!

A walking stick is the English way

and at the top of the hill in the middle of nowhere we find a mini castle, more like a monument built in honor Queen Victoria.

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Whenever we get a partially pleasant day that coinsides with our preparation day, we go on a walkabout. This day we went to Crook o Loon, a beautiful pastoral walk along the banks of the Loon River. Such scenes are postcard perfect......water, children playing, flowers, sheep, cows, pastures, stone bridges, blue skies and wide open spaces with no one around.......

Couldn't help but sing "Up the Lazy River by the old mill stream......"

Even the lanes are green right to the pavement

Flowers, flowers and more flowers.....

Every color of the rainbow

a lazy afternoon in the life of a sheep

what do you think it means when you really are the black sheep of the family

and a day would not be complete without a dip in the river.......