Hurst Green

Another walk in the English Countryside
Through the pastures, stepping carefully in order to miss the droppings!!!
Did you know that sheep come in all varieties - white, black, black and white, grey, thick coats, short coats, you name it!

We tried to stare this cow down, but it wouldn't budge. I don't really love being this close to a cow!!!

An ancient bridge....like really ancient......called Cromwell's Bridge because it was vandalised by Cromwell's forces in 1684. Mostly folklore!

Stonyhurst College was once the home of Tolkein's son. Tolkein himself stayed at a cottage in this area while he was working on Lord of the Rings. Perhaps the little town of Hurst Green is really Hobbiton!

Looked like the perfect place for lunch. We settled into this hobbit type forest, pulled out our peanut butter sandwiches and enjoyed the wonderment of this secluded area.

Woodcarving at it's finest. Some farmer -- who had a lone tree trunk sitting in his back yard -- took out his whittling knife and whittled away. It just sits here amid a pile of farm tools and farm junk! Maybe it keeps the crows at bay!

Stone walls, stone bridges, stone monuments! At one time this land must have had an over abundance of stone masons.

Over the river and through the woods.......

English landscape at it's best.

Now, the story of the hike. We had a book and a map which is a necessity because you go across pastures, through woods, over bridges, down lanes, along rivers, over stiles and in and out of private barnyards. You practically kiss the cows, pet the sheep, and stay clear of the horses!

Every walk is an adventure and this was no different. It was to have been 6 miles, but after we had gone 7.5 miles we realized we were lost! We emerged from the woods thinking we would be back to our car, but alas, we were standing on a small road and had no idea which way to turn. The road stretched in both directions as far as the eye could see. There was not a soul around to ask and it was starting to rain. My legs were screaming and I was not about to walk until I knew which direction would take us to our destination.

Now, for the faith promoting part.....

As we stood there trying to make sense out of our little scanty map, a car came down the road and pulled over right by us. Richard went to them and asked if they knew which direction to Hurst Green.

Turns out they were also lost but pulled out a big map and discovered that we were about 2 miles from destination! And then, being the guardian angels that they didn't know they were, they invited us into their car and said they would drive us there.

Now, just one hiccup! They had a big dog that was taking up most of the back seat. I hesitated for one brief moment and then realized I was so tired and wet that I would climb in that car if a bear was sitting there.

Their halos glowed as we drove along that lonely road. And of course, we had a chance to give our speel with a pass a-long card and invited them to a big geneology event that is being held on these grounds.
Things don't just happen by chance!

In the early morning hours amidst the misty English fog we waved good-bye to another group. As the bus pulled out, we felt that familar tug to the heart strings. It always feels like we are throwing them into the world knowing they will suffer discouragement, disappointment, and some anxiety, but we are bouyed by the fact that the will have moments of great joy as they feel the direction of the spirit and watch people's lives change.
This was a wonderful group but there were a few that we worried about. Richard had as many as 5 interviews with some of them. He gave many blessings and taught them individually in many ways. We saw wonderful things happen as a result. When you spend that much time with them, they get into your heart. We had one that was such an infant in the gospel, he knew so little and there was so much to learn and his language skills were very limited. We had another one with learning disabilities but he tried so hard and made so much progress and we were so proud of him!
One of the wonderful things that happens is that these missionaries bond with each other in such a way that they really help each other. When one is floundering the others step forward and encourage and praise and cheer them on. It is so hard to one day be a teen ager with all the toys and the next day to be a missionary with only the scriptures and Preach My Gospel. The leap sometimes is agonizing. They try so hard and then the "boy scout" in them surfaces and they begin to act out.
But, the miracle of it all is that by the time they leave they look different, they act different and they are different. And you just pray that they are strong enough to withstand the gale force winds that will hit some of them.

Copenhagen

Don't ask me what happened to this blog. Just when I think I have learned a few tricks, it back fires and pix seem to pop up in odd places. Such is this one. You will find no sequence in these pix. They just appeared. Nevertheless, this pix is of our friends Kent and Barbara Murdock who are serving in the France Leon Mission.

Last week we spent 3 days in Copenhagen at the Mission President's Seminar. Everything about it was "brilliant", as they say in England! We were taught by Elders Kopischke, Causse, and Teixeira, the Europe Area Presidency and then were blessed to have Elder David Bednar and his wife Susan join us for the last day. It was wonderful to mingle with the fine men and women who are serving as Mission Presidents in the Europe area, some of whom are old friends.

In between meetings we did some sightseeing and saw many of the exquiste wonders of Copenhagen.

Above is the Frederiksborg Castle, one of the more beautiful castles in all of Europe. Many compare it with Versaille in Paris.

Our first evening we had some free time and used it to wander in the city. We were sitting on a bench outside the Royal Copenhagen Store wondering how we could connect with Clark (my brother) and Kathleen who were coming from Barcelona. No sooner had we said it than we looked up and they were walking right in front of us. Such fun! That was the beginning of many moments of chit chat. We had such a great time together.

The Kristina statue was sculpted by Dennis Smith who lives in Alpine, Utah and has Danish roots in Denmark. This statue represents the 20,000 Danish saints who immigrated to America. It is an expression of the deep feelings that rest with the immigrants who are always torn between the past and the future. It is a beautiful piece that stands on the shores of the canal.

The seminar was held in the Marriott and was first class in every way.This beautiful canal wraps around the city.Our view from our hotel window.One of the hightlights was our visit to the section in Frederiksborg Castle that is home to the Carl Block paintings. Interestingly enough, these magnificent paintings are displayed in a small dark room that is passed over by many visitors. The only light comes in from a small window. Apparently this is intentional, the idea being that Christ becomes the light of each painting. And interestingly enough it works and there is a wonderful spirit in that little room.

This was my favorite painting. Mary's face is clear and innocent and has a pure kind of beauty.

The paintings are all familiar to us as the church has used them in many publications.

The interior of the castle is exquisite. This ceiling is 3 dimensional with sculpted figures hanging among the paintings.

more castle --

and then the Christus..... Surely the highlight. Richard was thrilled beyond words. For whatever reason he has always dreamed of seeing this piece of work. The church that houses this is unlike most European churches that are dark and almost sullen. This one is very bright and quite simple which creates a beautiful background for the Christus and the statues of the 12 apostles that line the sides of the chapel. The entire feeling is one of spiritual worship.

more friends -- Anne and Rick Clegg serving in Malaga, Spain.

A wonderful 4 day break. Made rich by friends and instruction.

Bolton Abbey and Skipton

Another beautiful preparation day spent in another beautiful place. Bolton Abbey is a village built around a monastic ruin of an abbey that rests along side a beautiful meandering river. You can cross the river by bridge or by stepping stones. We tried the latter and did just fine but a little girl in front of us fell in -- water up to her knees -- cold and wet but not fatal!

It was a bank holiday and families were out picnicing and playing in the river.

The rolling green hills were, as always, very English and very beautiful.

If you like old cemetaries, England is the place for you. There is one in every church yard!

The little town of Skipton is a neighbor to Bolton Abbey. It, like so many small towns, has its own castle. Actually this one serves as a cozy little home to a cozy little family!

A walk along the riverside brought us to the wishing tree. If you push a penny (pence) into the bark and make a wish, it will come true. For sure!! I think President Walker is a believer....at least he didn't want to be left out.

Do you think all these people had their wishes come true?

Street Markets are every where and if you don't have a booth, you just put a blanket on the cement!! I am told that you can go to the auctions and buy a pallet of junk, sight unseen. You then take it home, unload it in your living room, sort it out, throw out the broken bits, price the rest, grab your blanket and head for the street! And you are lucky if you break even!

Look at this suit!

Meet Sister Wheatley. A great young woman in a suit that belonged to her great grandmother! Her great grandmother wore it......her grandmother wore it.......her mother wore it......and now she wears it! Note that wonderful gross grain ribbon trip on the bottom of the jacket! Barely visable but really classy!!!! Give you any ideas?

Surely she feels wrapped in love!

A Missionary Miracle

We see them every day, mostly in little increments. But today --- well, it was a true miracle.

We have a missionary here who has really been struggling. He has been very homesick (mostly for his girlfriend) and frankly has been disengaged from the work. He has goofed around, distracting his companions and others. In fact he began to gather a group around him that was buying into his program and causing all kinds of disruptions. We saw it in the halls, in the cafeteria, in the large group meetings and the instructors were seeing it in the classroom.

President talked with him and he said he wanted to go home. He just didn't feel cut out for the work -- didn't feel committed -- didn't have a testimony and a list of other "didn't's". After a lengthy discussion he committed to stay and give it a go. But things did not seem to pick up. Last night we had an area seventy come to speak and through the entire meeting he was playing with his companion's book, looking out the window, fidgeting and you name it.

We felt almost alarmed. So alarmed that we began to wonder if we could save him. We petitioned the Lord on his behalf and went to bed.

This morning he was standing by the president's door waiting for him. He was smiling and even excited. But the smile turned to tears as he shared this experience.

"Last night in his nightly prayers he pleaded with the Lord for help. He needed something that would assure him that he could do this. He needed the strength to commit himself to the work. He needed to be releaved of his homesickness and have the ability and mindset to stay and become a missionary.

He got into bed and began to think about his farewell and his friends at home. When he left, they all wrote a message to him. He had a friend that had gone to Brazil and because of a medical problem was now home. This friend had written "read D&C 67:10"

He decided he would do that --- in the morning! And then....his water bottle, that had been sitting on his desk all evening, suddenly and for no known reason, fell off the desk. He jumped up to get it so that it would not spill water on the floor and then thought that while he was up he might as well read this scripture. And there it was.......

'and again, verily I say unto you that it is your privilege, and a promise I give unto you that have been ordained unto this ministry, that inasmuch as you strip yourselves from jealousies and fears, and humble yourselves before me, for ye are not sufficently humble, the veil shall be rent and you shall see me and know that I am -- not with the carnal neither natural mind, but with the spirtual.'"

HUMBLE YOURSELF. That was the message. And it resonated with him. He got it! And he slept peacefully. This morning he is smiling. He is happy. And he is working hard.

Don't ever tell us that the Lord doesn't love each one of us!!!!