One Dead Pigeon

I would not have believed it if I had not seen it!

 

We were street contacting with the missionaries in Manchester's city center square.  The place was flooded with pigeons -- encouraged by the people who were feeding them.  And of course, most of these people had dogs.  One dog in particular took a hankin' for a certain pigeon and started nipping at it.  The pigeon finally surrendered and lay as if dead.  Feathers were scattered in all directions and people were standing around helplessly looking.

We walked by just as the mortally wounded pigeon began to rally in obvious distress.  We continued walking but Richard kept worrying about this little pigeon who was just lying there in agony trying to die.  He finally insisted that we turn back and see if it was dead.  When he found it was not, he decided he MUST take it out of it's misery and so right there, with the crowd looking on, he lifted his big foot which bore a big shoe and slammed it down on the pigeon's head?  I could not watch and when I heard the collective gasp of the onlookers I timidly looked back to find Richard almost in tears -- but feeling so happy that the little pigeon was now resting peacefully in pigeon heaven.

 

Do you suppose that someday, when we get to that great beyond, that the little pigeon will fly by and flutter his wings as a token of gratitude for what he did for him?

Queen for a Day

 A Dinner Party and all I had to do was set the table!  The chef rolled the food in on a cart and layed it out for the guests.  I felt just like I was the lady of the manor. He even folded the napkins!

Yes, I am spoiled!!!

Missionary Fireside

 

Last Sunday evening we were invited to present a Missionary Fireside for the local stake members and investigators. 

Now, this is more than amazing, as we did not have an over abundance of talent, but my theory is that if you are working with children or missionaries you cannot fail.  Just to look at them is enough to stir heartstrings, but when they also sound good it is a double whamy!

and this was just that....

We began by having the missionaries enter the hall singing Called To Serve.  And that's when the tears started and they didn't stop until it was over.

They sang like an angelic choir -- amazing what the spirit can do to fill in the holes and mask the monotones!

and the short testimonies were inspiring.

I had asked several of them to write up their story  and testimony and be prepared to give it.  So many are still struggling with the language and when they speak you find yourself pulling for them and embracing their tender feelings.

One from Uganda told about her village and of her mother who is a peasant farmer and they draw water from a village well.  Her story of joining the church was amazing.

We have a brother and sister from the country of Georgia who haltingly shared their feelings.

We also had an American who grew up in an active home but had many years of wild living.  Another sister comes from a family of 17 children.  One young man has moved 28 times in his life and as a result his family is everything and he told of how difficult it was to leave them.

Richard and I each took a little group of them to the pulpit and had a little conversation with them.  Richard took 4 elders and then I took 3 sisters.  They told about their families and their conversion.  One little girl from Thailand, who is just so adorable, kept bowing to me and then to the congregation and then to me and then to them and on and on and then she wondered why everyone laughed.  All I could do was hug her and tell her how adorable she is and how much we love her.  As they concluded (one from Armenia, one from Thailand, and one from Paris) they all teared up and wept as each expressed their great love for Heavenly Father.

And then......they all  sang I AM A CHILD OF GOD, each in their own language.  They were seated by language and when it was their turn they stood, held up a sign indicating their language,  and sang their 2 lines.  They concluded with everyone singing simultaneously in their own language.  It was a show stopper!  There was not a dry eye left. 

At the conclusion an elderly man came to me and said he had served his career in the army and was tough but "tonight I have cried like a baby!"

 

So once again, a blog with no pictures.. but we did video it and one of the instructors is putting it on youtube

missionary letter

When the missionaries leave this MTC we give them a self addressed envelope and ask them to send us a picture and letter about their first baptism.  And....there is hardly a day that goes by that we do not hear from someone.  Most of them are glowing.  They express love for the work and love for the new convert.  Once in a while we receive one that is worth repeating.....like this one....

Two weeks ago my bike got stolen in front of us. We tried to catch up but he was too fast obviously.  I said a prayer and prayed for guidance.  After a few minutes we saw the man walking with the bike. We ran to him and got the bike back without using force. (The reason he was walking was because the pedal had fallen off).  He was really surprised that we didn't punch him in the face.  The first thing he said was, "I'm really surprised you didn't punch me in the face".

We said "bye" and thought that was it but later that night we saw him again and taught him in the chapel.  What I like most about this story is that later he explained it was the way we acted.  I'm really grateful for this experience.  It taught me that sometimes it's not what you say but how you act.

......a good lesson for all of us.

Scarborough, Robin Hood Bay, Whitby

Eleven sisters  in an
 International Relief Society
L to R - front row:  Armenia, Colorado, Michigan, Uganda
back row:  (Sister Walker) Spain, Thailand, Scotland, Paris, country of Georgia, Utah, England (Sister Williams)

Sister Tsankashvili from Georgia.  She is here with her brother but they are going to different missions.  They will be here for 6 weeks so they can learn some English.   The B of M is not translated into their language so they have a picture book to help them learn the names of the B of M prophets.
Sister Yapi is from Paris and has that Parisian flare!  When those braids have to come out, I am not sure what she will do with her hair.

Sister Cruz is from Spain and is also learning English.  Her companion is Sister Grigoryan from Armenia.  She speaks no English but is working hard to learn.  In the meantime, we do lots of sign language and hugging.

And these two -- aren't they just the cutest.  Sister Anena is from Uganda.  She joined the church as a young girl.  She had seen the church building and decided to try it......so she went and she immediately felt it was true.  This was the beginning of a long haul.  Her mother is single and is a peasant farmer which means she grows enough vegetables to keep her family fed but they do not have much beyond that.  A couple missionary have helped her prepare for a mission and when her call came to England they wondered if she could get a visa.  She prayed and prayed and prayed and it looked as if the visa was not going to be granted.  The day before she was to leave she got the call.  Her visa had arrived!  -- a miracle!  She had only a few hours to pack and be on the plane but she is SO HAPPY.  Gotta love that hair do.  She comes right out of the pages of  "Uncle Tom's Cabin"!
And sister Kannasut from Thailand is so adorable.  Funny but she looks Thai, she moves like a Thai dancer, she wears her hair like the Thais, and she is only as big as a minute.  Having been to Thailand, I can see her in native costume, with the big hat and long brass finger tips........
Again -- so adorable!!
 

Give this girl some castenets, a little music, and watch her move!