4 Months ~ 121 Days ~ 2976 Hours and Going Strong
Sorry its been so long since we have updated the blog. We hope you understand ~ to say the least, we have been very busy. So here is a run down on what’s been going on over here.
We continue to teach with the “younger missionaries.” In fact, we love having them and their investigators over for dinner and a lesson. Most recently we were blessed to have twin sisters from Iran over for a wonderful evening. They will be baptized soon and they have invited us for dinner in the near future where their mom has promised to make us a traditional Persian dinner … sounds great!
We continue to teach Shaun out in Stourbridge, which we have mentioned in the past. Without any previous religious upbringing he has lots and lots of questions which we are, of course, happy to answer for him. We witnessed an incredible miracle with him! Recently he has been drawn to those concepts taught by Scientology and he recently informed us that he intended to join their church. While we were obviously disappointed in his decision, we simply asked that as he meets with them that he seeks the Spirit. During that first, and thankfully only, meeting with them he noticed a complete lack of the Spirit, which he always feels when meeting with the missionaries. He really has a very uncomfortable experience and actually sent a text message during his season with them asking that we prayer for him to get out. He was so relieved and happy to meet with us later that evening.
Shaun - the man, the myth and the legend with
Elders Salehian and Winder.
We recently had the opportunity to teach Institute in Lichfield, which is one of our neighboring stakes and is about 45 minutes from our flat. We split the teaching assignment with Chris teaching about the Relief Society and Steve teaching about the early years in Nauvoo. Due to the late hour and unfamiliar roads we spent the night in Lichfield in a converted watermill called the Netherstowe House, which dates back over 900 years. It was an amazing experience complete with creaking and uneven wooden floors, a canopy bed and, most importantly, a tub … yep, a real bathtub, which is something we don’t have in the flat.
Jennie decorating for a dance celebrating the Queen's birthday.
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One thing you can say about the weather over here is that if it is not raining it soon will be. We often experience all four seasons in a single day! We must admit, we do miss our beautiful California weather. It even snowed on us last week and there is more snow in the forecast.
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| Let it snow, let it snow.... |
We received an amazing package in the mail from our dear friends John and Lauri Weston, whom we served with in the California Roseville Mission. The package included a box of Sees peanut brittle, which we devoured in a single sitting like gluttons, a box of Girl Scout cookies and, a California State flag, which was signed by a lot of returned missionaries whom we served with in the California Roseville Mission and who attended the mission reunion a few weeks ago. We loved attending those reunions and to see all those amazing young men and women many of whom show up with their fiancées or spouses and children. It has been so fun to watch them grow in the Gospel. Although we know we are where the Lord wants us to be right now we really missed seeing them all at the reunion. To them we want them to know how proud we are of them, that we miss them and that we love them.
On P-day a few weeks ago we took a five mile walk up to Moseley Village and on the way we discovered Cameron Hill Park, which is less than a mile from our flat. It was absolutely beautiful with its well groomed lawn, its colorful array of flowers and a pond full of ducks and geese.
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| This picture is actually of one of the many canals near our flat. Its one of our favorite walks! |
We recently received approval from the reverend at the Edgbaston Old Church to have the Young Single Adults photograph the headstones in their cemetery. This may sound a bit strange, but it is all in connection with the worldwide Billion Graves project, which will assist genealogists around the world to do their family research. If you haven't heard of the project check it out at BillionGraves.com - they could use your help!
We continue to conduct flat inspections for the missionaries serving in the Lichfield Zone. This was our second round of inspections and what a remarkable improvement we have seen. The best part of doing these inspections is that it gives us an opportunity to visit missionaries that we would not normally have the opportunity to visit and to see parts of the English countryside we normally would not see. We had a real surprise the first time we did this as we drove through these rolling hills and around a blind corner we came face to face with four cooling towers to an active nuclear power plant. It just sat there like a big sore thumb. We must admit, it was a bit unnerving being so close to it.
We recently had a speaking assignment in the Sheldon Ward. The members were so friendly and welcoming to us. We really liked the building they meet in. It was purchased a number of years ago from the Presbyterian church and with a few modifications quickly turned it into a Mormon church. We would not have recognized it as one of “ours” and would have driven right by if it was not for the spire in the front that was added just a few years ago.
Best of all, this past month we had some family visits. First, our oldest son, Steve, he had a series of meeting in London recently after which he took the train to Birmingham and stayed with us for a few days. We had a wonderful time sharing our missionary experiences and showing him some of historical sites in the area.
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| Waiting for Steve at the Moor Street Train Station. |
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| Downtown Birmingham |
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| Litchfield Cathedral |
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| Busted ... AGAIN! |
Just a few days later, Dave and Meg had business in Birmingham so we also had a wonderful P-day with them as well and visited Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden, which was founded in the early 1120s and was subject to a six month long siege in 1266. Both visits were wonderful, but, as you can imagine it was so difficult to say goodbye to them and it only fueled the homesickness.
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The best part of the day was just sitting on this bench in the castle and sharing family stories.
It just reminded us how thankful we are that families can be together forever! |
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| So glad there are no transfers for this companionship! |
It is true that there is "no growth in the comfort zone and no comfort in the growth zone;" nevertheless, Chris recently accepted the assignment to be the chorister at our zone meeting and she is also facilitating a twelve work Self-Reliance Job Search workshop every Sunday night. So proud of her!
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| Self-Reliance Workshop |
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| Selfie at our Zone potluck Easter dinner. |
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| District Sports Day |
One of the best things about serving a mission is dedicating more time to studying the scriptures, I mean really studying, pondering and prayering about them and as we do our love for and faith in Jesus Christ grows stronger and stronger. While we don’t understand how the Atonement works, we have faith that it does! Similarly, our testimonies of Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the Restoration, grow stronger each and every day. We are so thankful for his courage and humble faith in doing as James said, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). Each of us, like Joseph, NEED to pray with real and sincere intent to know the truth and then have the courage to follow the answer to those prayers.
Just in case you wonder what we believe ~ please watch this 60-second video.
Jesus Christ Lives
