A red banner day!!!!

Colin Lucas and Richard Walker

Last Saturday -- January 21, 2012 -- we had a red banner day!! It really began last March when we were street contacting with the missionaries. Our usual format for those days consists of two things. First we walk the streets and observe the missionaries. If and When we find them standing frozen with fear we can encourage them or even split up and go with them to get them started. Once we know they are up and running we engage in our own contacting. Over the course of time we have met many, placed many Books of Mormon, given out ever so many pass along cards and referred people to Mormon.org, sent many referrals to the missionaries and have made some wonderful friends, but this one was special.

On a particular day in March we saw Colin sitting on a bench eating a sandwich. A woman was sitting across from him and as I approached the woman, Richard was drawn to this man so for a time we were each teaching separate people. Mine soon fizzled, but this little man showed a lot of interest. He was headed out on holiday but he took a Book of Mormon and promised to read it. We got his email address and kept in contact with him.

In subsequent months, he would meet us in Manchester when we came with the missionaries. When we went caroling at Christmas time he joined with us. He finally agreed to let the missionaries teach him and then invited us to his baptism. In fact he asked Richard to speak at the service. (but he forgot to button his shirt!)

Those of you who have served missions have a sense of the kind of thrill you get when you watch a person change their lives. And it is a thrill. Actually it was just WAY FUN!

These two cute missionaries were here with us not long ago.....

and so the work goes on......

And if it be tht you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father.

D&C 18:15

Liverpool, Beatles, Elvis

What do Liverpool, the Beatles and Elvis have in common?

Well all you have to do is visit the Albert Dock in Liverpool and follow the signs and you will soon find yourself amist a mega amount of Beatlemania.
Most of the world knows that the Beatles fame was born in Liverpool. This city has christened every corner they stood on, every club they sang in, every school they attended, every job they ever worked at........
and at the Albert Dock they have created museums in their honor.

Yesterday was our day between groups so we went to Liverpool and the Beatles Museums. Actually, it was quite fun. The Beatles Story is housed in two different buildings and is rather well done. Basically their story is one of the destructive powers of fame and fortune. They were young kids -- 14 and 15 -- when they began their careers and fame swept them up before they really knew who they were or what was important.....and in the end.....it destroyed them.

But, that aside, their music makes your toes tap and you find yourself singing along. When you walk through the Yellow Submarine you just can't help bouncing to the music.

New to me was their affinity with Elvis. He was their inspiration and because he came along just a few years ahead of them, he became their idol and the king of rock and roll. In the end Elvis had 20 Number 1 hits and The Beatles had 18 but together they dominated the music world for many years!

......and so they have also erected an Elvis museum that will begin to travel when it leaves Liverpool in 2013. And to think we saw it here!

But more that all of that is the statue that has been erected by the church on the Liverpool dock where your ancestors and mine left their native land and followed the counsel of a prophet to join the saints in Zion and help build the kingdom of God.

My own great grandmother who, at the age of 12, sailed from Liverpool in 1856, wrote, "We came to Liverpool and went on board the ship, Horizon, that evening. It was a sailing vessel and there were nearly nine hundred souls on board. I well remember how we watched old England fade from site. We sang, "Farewell our Native land Farewell".

I must admit, I felt that familiar lump in my throat as I looked out towards the sea and thought of my dear little grandmother and my many other grandparents who made such remarkable sacrifices. They and many like them saved the church at a time when it was in trouble. Mobs raged, testimonies faltered, discouragement was rampant and these faithful English saints who lined up at the Liverpool docks, left everything, and infused new faith, new commitment and remarkable courage into this struggling band on the American continent. The church grew and flourished with their help and today -- well, how can we ever thank them!

Looking to the future and hanging on to the past.....

Hump Day! January 14, 2012

Today is Hump Day! It was one year ago today that we began our service here. Wow! What a difference a year makes. Those first few days I walked around in a daze. I was swimming with jet lag and I didn't have a clue what I was supposed to be doing. But the saving grace was this group of missionaries. They arrived just a day ahead of us so we all went through the "daze" phase together. They were so amazing and we fell in love with them almost immediately! From that moment on, we knew we would be OK. Well, we have been more than OK. It is hard to believe that they too are experiencing their hump day. We still hear from them, we still remember them, we still love them and we still pray for them!!!

And one year later...........
They continue to come -- from across the world......like......
These three sisters who are in every sense of the word like sisters. Sister Ho from Hong Kong, Sister Webster from Arizona and Sister Naseem from Pakistan!

Three elders........brothers in every sense of the word. Elder Hlatshwayo from So. Africa, Elders Frimpong and Eckelt from Maidstone, England. They are so cute. When they greet people on the streets they tell them they are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and they are black! Duh! and then they laugh!!!

One of our favorite activities continues to be the Church History Tour......

They never miss the red telephone booths! Always a Kodak moment.

15 Wadham Road

and walking along the River Ribble!!!

Our sister from Pakistan asked if the trees in England always look like sticks. She had never seen trees without leaves!

This has been a great year full of adventure, new knowledge, remarkable experiences, and the ever present spirit of missionary work. We stand in awe of these wonderful young people who have so recently stepped out of the world and put themselves on a course that is challenging, scary, exciting, and hard. There are moments when the little child in them surfaces and you catch glimpses of who they were just a few short days ago.

for example.....

Yesterday one of the instructors brought a young man to Richard's office. As they stood a moment waiting for him, I noticed that this elder was mopping the tears between heaving sobs. This put me into tears and the mother in me wanted to rush to his rescue. In those moments you catch a glimpse of the little boy who is trying so hard, but is still struggling to grow up and take on the heavy responsibility that has suddenly been thrust upon him. I might add that after an hour with Richard he came out of his office happy as a lark -- just like a little kid!

But......the flip side of this is the missionary (and that means most of them) who will boldly walk up to a total stranger and find a way to share the gospel. I stand in awe of them, as I have walked in those shoes and I know it is a lot harder that they make it look!!! Last Friday these 21 young, inexperienced, frightened missionaries from 10 different countries and languages, went out on the streets of Manchester and in 2 1/2 hours brought back 42 referrals for the Manchester Mission! They returned as conquering heroes. A testimony of their commitment and trust in the Lord. WOW!

And so......as we bring down the curtain on one life changing year, we look forward to another..more adventures, more experiences, more knowledge, more spiritually rich missionaries and more Postcards from Preston!

NEW YEARS EVE!

Well, it wasn't the kind of New Years Eve every 19 year old dreams of!!! But it was enough and it was fun.

No midnight fireworks or parties but tables set with hats, blow horns and poppers!

And Baked Alaska for dessert!

Simple, festive, FUN! and a rousing rendition of "Auld Lang Syne"

This new group of missionaries is HIGH ENERGY! They talk, they laugh, they sing, they cry, they smile and they are just terrific! This is such a mixture ie. Bulgaria, Spain, Pakistan, Romania, Hong Kong, Austria, South Africa and the usual Americans and Brits. So far, so good. They seem to be mixing and enjoying.