Staff Party

 The staff party was a great reason to dress the tables, eat elaborate food and have some fun!

 The Christmas Crackers are a must and everyone dons the regal crown that are part of the surprise.

 The dessserts were worth the party......

 One of our chefs is a "peanut butter" junkie -- and this is the result.

 I personally prefer the key lime pie

 But the treat of the evening was the chocolate log.....and it was as good as it looks.

Even the swans came to dinner -- and went ice skating on the frozen pond outside our window.

Stockland

 The Moon & Sixpence was the little B&B we stayed in at Clevedon (a small coastal community in England)  This was part of our 2 day trip to Wales to see Sister Louis.  It is all SO English!

 

 We then drove to Stockland -- a small village in the county of Devon.  It was here and the surrounding area that the Summerhays (Richard's mothers people) were born and buried.

We immediately went to the churchyard cemetary -- the burial place of several great grandparents.  We combed the graves and searched in vain for a Summerhays, only to find later that all stones that were more than 100 years old had been removed and destroyed and not recorded!  Someones cute idea of tidying up the church yard!  Such a shame!!

 We wandered in the church where once they worshiped, altho the church itself looks quite moderized.  While there we met three cute village women who had just completed their morning prayers.  We told them of our mission -- both here and in Stockland and they directed us to the home of Frank and Barbara Durrant --- the village's self appointed historians. 

We knocked on the door and this cute couple invited us into their kitchen where we chatted and shared stories.  (the neighbor was also visiting at the time).

They told us that many years ago a man in their village had moved to Salt Lake City where he had married and settled. (must have joined the church).  Eventually he inherited some property in his native village of Stockland, England.  At that time (1800's) this event was published in a Salt Lake newspaper and Mr. Durrant had a copy of that newspaper.  He promised to find it and send it to us.

 Mr. Durrant suggested we visit with Bryan and Rowena Drew who lived in the neighboring village of Membury.  So we drove a few miles  on a small single lane road across the rolling fields, around the winding bends and up and down the slopes until we arrived at the home of the Drews who kindly invited us in.  They took us into this beautiful sun room that overlooked the green valley and began to talk about the history of the area. 

Before long he had pointed out the Summerhays farm that rested on the slope below them. 

 And then he began to pull out old records.  After searching through several documents he found this one and sure enough -- right there the name of William Summerhays appeared.  This is a list of those who served in the Napoleonic Home Guard in the 3rd Parish of Stockland of 1775. He was 40 years old at the time and was a Mason by profession.

It was one of those electrifing experiences.  It is one thing to know about him, another to actually see this old document in its original form.

We discovered that Bryan Drew's grandfather was also a Mason, living at the same time in the same place.  Undoubtedly they knew each other.

 We felt an instant bond with this cute couple who were tending their grandchildren on that day.  Just a reminder that the world is full of wonderful people who need the gospel.

 As we parted that afternoon a beautiful rainbow that stretched across the sky brought to an end a perfect day.             

Three Stories

Seems my computer has been experiencing holiday stress and has just gone bonkers on me....but I am in the process of tending to it and hopefully I can write something that requires no pictures, as they seem to be the focus of the trouble....

 

So.....a couple of missionary experiences

 

STORY #1

We recently attended a Mission Zone Conference and the mission president told the story of his father's conversion back in the 50's. It went something like this...

 

The missionaries knocked on their door and his mother invited them to return that evening when her husband would be home.

That evening they taught the first discussion.  The mother then looked in the encyclopedia (that's what we used to do back in the 50's) and found that Mormons were associated with polygamy and she told her husband the missionaries were never to come again.

Like any good husband, he obeyed but continued to meet with them elsewhere.  He gained a testimony and decided to be baptized.  His wife threatened that if he did she would leave him and take their two sons with her. 

He did, she didn't!

Time passed and he longed to have his wife join but her heart was hardened.  He prayed for help and  he heard a voice say "Bible".  He answered "where in the Bible, it's a big book" and again he heard "John 12:7"   He turned to that verse and it begins by saying "let her alone."

So he did!

Years passed and she longed for a baby girl.  Her husband felt prompted to give her a blessing wherein he would promise her that she would have a baby girl and she would join the church.

He approached her about giving the blessing and she refused stating if she wanted a blessing she would go to her priest at her church!!!!

Fast Sunday was approaching and she went to fast meeting with him. He got up in the meeting and announced to the congregation that they were expecting a baby girl and as a result his wife would be joining the church.

This was new news to her!

How brave can a man be!!!

Soon after she became pregnant.  The week-end she was due to deliver he was to attend a church conference in a neighboring town.  His wife insisted that she was going to have the baby and he was not to go.

He asked her if she believed it was a girl and if she believed that she would join the church and she gave him an emphatic NO!!!

He then told her that she would not have the baby this week-end and off he went to the meeting.

Three days later she delivered a baby girl and shortly thereafter she joined the church.

Now, have you ever??????

 

STORY #2

Last week-end we were in the Preston Christmas Market.  While Richard was making a purchase I wandered off to a neighboring booth and began chatting with the couple selling their homemade jams and jelly.

The conversation soon turned to the church and the angel Moroni that they had seen on top of the temple.  It was a perfect introduction to the Book of Mormon and before I knew it I was asking if two missionariers could come to their home and bring them a copy of the book.....and they could read all about Moroni and many others.....

Wow!  They said YES. 

Yesterday we heard that the missionaries had a wonderful visit and will be returning again.

Just thrilled me beyond description!

 

STORY #3

A few days ago we were in Chorley.  Richard was walking along behaving himself and a man ran up from  behind and stopped him.  He asked about his missionary badge and what church it was. 

When he heard he was a Mormon he said, "I want to come to that church this Sunday and not just this Sunday but every Sunday after that"! 

Now, can you imagine how excited the missionaries were to get that referral!

Honestly, it is so fun!!!

A post script is that we are speaking in that ward in 2 weeks.  Hope we see him there!

 



Sister Louis

Thirteen months ago Sister Louis came to the MTC from India.  When she arrived she was almost overwhelmed with this new culture.  The food was tastless, the people were bold, the dress was boring and she would sometimes wear her native silk tunic over silk pants (beautful but a bit out of place here) and the biting cold chilled her to the bone.   She struggled with the language and missionary work but she had determination and a strong testimony and she stayed the course!   Her family are members but none of them have the commitment she does.  It was a HUGE leap in her life to serve a mission.  By the time she left she had attached herself to us and we to her. Since then she has written often and  asked us repeatedly to find a way to see her again before we left for home.  So.....we called her mission president and arranged a visit with her.  Last Monday we headed out for the south western tip of Wales (about a 5 hour drive) where she is currently serving.  When we called  her to tell her we were coming she was  ecstatic.     

She is serving in the little town of Newcastle Emlyn where there is a strong ward but the missionary work is very slow.

The town is charming, the streets lined with brightly painted flats.

I suppose when giving directions you just say, I live in the blue house, or the pink, or the green.  How clever.

And this is Sister Louis with her companion Sister LeFevre, who was with us 8 months ago.   Both girls are terrific.  It was absolutely delightful to watch Sister Louis.  She has blossomed into an amazing young woman.  She talked to everyone she met.  She never wiped that broad grin off her face the entire time we were with her. And she has reason to be sad. In the 13 months she has been here she has never received a letter from home.  Finally last October the mission president suggested she call home and find out what is going on.  She talked to her brother who told her that her mother and father have separated and they do not know where the mother is.  She still doesn't know why no one writes her but she does not seem to care.  She LOVES her mission.  She LOVES the people and or course they love her.  She has simply given herself over to the work!  She does not ever want to go home.  (and supposedly her family is active in the church!!!)  We sat together over lunch and then walked the streets.  We bought her a new skirt for Christmas (probably all she will get) and when we parted it was with many hugs and tears.  We may never see her again but she will always remain in our hearts. (altho she calls us mom and dad so who knows.  She might just show up on our doorstep some day.) But it was worth the 10 hour round trip.

This is the beautiful chapel that sits on a hill overlooking this valley. 

And this is the valley with the beautiful river and arched bridges that are the focal point of so many towns.

A cozy group

These are the Karyan sisters.  They are from Armenia and are one year apart in age.  They recreived their calls the same day.  One is going to London and one to London South Mission.  It will be the first time they have ever been apart.  They have even slept together their entire lives.  They arrived at the MTC carrying their teddy bears (their new nighttime companions).  We call them by their first names,  Sister Araks and Sister Ani.  Sister Ani speaks English very well and Sister Araks is still learning.  She is so funny.  When she is at the pulpit, she is always stopping and asking her sister for a word.....don't know what she will do when they are apart.  It is a good thing they are in a threesome and have a 3rd companion.   They are slowly get used to being with others. 
One of them told me she has a dream -- she can see a big table with grandma and grandpa sitting at the head, then she and her sister and their families all down the sides of the table.  "We be a BIG family and we all be in church!"  Right now only her mother is a member. I so hope her dream comes true.

But they are such beautiful girls -- and so full of faith.  They are the only children of their parents.  Their father works construction in Russia because there is no work in Armenia.  He comes home every 8 months.  They rarely see him but they idolize him.  Their mother is now alone but is so happy these girls are serving.  She will probably go to Russia to be with her husband while the girls are away.  They are little jewels.  We would love to bring them home with us.  They tell us they will be coming to Salt Lake to be married in the Salt Lake Temple, but it will be in a few years.   (We hope there are young men in this world who are good enough for them).

 

We only have 8 missionaries in this group......three sisters and 5 elders. As you can see, we practically have one on one with them.   It is so cozy and so fun!  We love them to bits!

 

Elder Tikoicina is from Figi.  He flew here via Suva, Nandi, Auckland, Singapore, London, Manchester and here.  It took him a mere 29 hours of air time.  He arrived exhausted and freezing cold.  But he has done so well and is so happy.  Once his feet got used to shoes and he got a coat, gloves and scarf, he settled right in.
The others are from England and the USA other than Elder Popa who is from Romania. (just R of tree)

 

Missionary Work

I love being a missionary!

It is like living in a different world! 

You eat, drink and sleep missionary work.

You talk differently, you work differently, you listen differently, you focus differently.

You really begin to understand what is meant by "being in the world but not of the world".

 

I am beginning to understand how "re entry" into the world can be difficult.

We will soon see why...

In the meantime,

 

We savor our mssionary experiences.  They sometimes surface in odd ways.

Here are the latest.

 

We were in the Preston Market wandering among the vendors.  Richard picked up a jar of shoe polish and the man offered him 3 for £1.  They began chatting -- and wouldn't you know it -- they were soon talking about the church and our assignment.  A few days later we were in the cafeteria having lunch and someone came down to say there was a man upstairs asking for President Walker.  Low and behold, it was the man from the market with a bag full of shoe polish jars for the missionaries.  He had taken a bus from Preston to the MTC to bring this gift to the missionaries!  This is only the beginning of that friendship.

 

Yesterday we took the missionaries to Manchester for their first "finding" experience.  On the train home I sat by 2 women and Richard stood by a young Chinese student from Mainland China.  I had a most delightful chat with my women but could get no further than a pass along card.  Richard, on the other hand, hit a gold mine.  The young man asked if he could have a Book of Mormon before Richard even offered it to him.  He wants missionaries and we have sent a referal.

 

And then....last night...

Our stake does a Nativity  Festival in the stake center that is adjacent to our building.  It is such an amazing event.  Monday we went to the Chorley market to invite the vendors who have become our friends.

And last night while we were in a meeting with the missionaries, an instructor came in and said there was someone in the lobby who wanted to see us.  Richard went out and found one of our vendors and his wife who had come to see the Nativity Festival.  They were all dressed up like they were going to a party.  We took them downstairs, fed them dinner and then took them to the stake center.  They simply absorbed everything they saw.  They looked through the entire building and listened as we told them what we believe and bore our testimonies.  It was one of those really warm fuzzy evenings.

 

Like I said, "I love missionary work".

 



Welcome to the holidays!

A little postscript from the last blog -- the curtain going up on 42nd Street!

More war memorials --more poppy wreaths -- more Christmas lights!

 And now.....THANKSGIVING.  It is interesting that the Brits love the holiday.  In fact they love all American holidays, even tho they do not celebrate them. 

This year Thanksgiving Dinner for us was on Friday as we had new missionaries arriving on Thursday.  In addition we invited the American couples who serve in the temple and the Area medical Advisor who is also an American.

Setting the table was fun -- just open the walk-in frige, load some baskets with fruit and veggies, sprinkle some autumn leaves around, grab a few candles, fold the napkins and it's a go!  We even had children at our table as the MTC Manager brought his wife and 2 children.  They wore their little turkey hats and added a bit of "home" to our fun.

We placed 5 kernels of corn at each place and shared the story that goes with it and then had them share something they were thankful for.  We only have 8 missionaries here in this tiny group but 3 of them had never tasted turkey and had never heard of Thanksgiving.  They loved it all and learned something along the way!

 

 We have a very creative chef - Stephen - who built a swan out of tin foil and towels!  Such a work of art.

 Now, these chefs!  They have been working for weeks on the food.  I gave them a Lion House Cook Book with holiday recipes and sure enuf!  It tasted just like home.  They even made my mother's Pumpkin Chiffon Pie! (along with K Lime, Chocolate Peanut Butter, and Apple Blueberry)

 And wasn't it cute -- Our swan flew in just for occasion and parked himself right outside the window!

 Now this is the way to do it.  Put together a few decorations, tell a few stories and wait for the food to be served!  I AM SPOILED! 

 In the middle of it all, Christmas came to the MTC.  The foyer is decorated

 And so is our apartment!

Sister Fusco from Brazil and Sister Stoica from Romania stopped by to say good-bye!  Hardly seems possible that they are on their way home.  They were here just yesterday -- or so it seems.  Such wonderul sisters.  They told us that their mission was the hardest thing they have ever done, but the best thing....they learned more than they can comprehend and the difficulties and challenges were interspersed with such spectular moments and miracles that the hardships faded in their shadow.  Such is the story of most of them.  As Dickens says, "it was the best of times and the worst of times"  but they wouldn't trade it!

And neither would we!!!