Thursday, 18 December 2008Tonight we saw the film “Joseph Smith – Prophet of the Restoration.” It wasn’t anything new, but very powerful. I was in tears at the end. When I think of all Joseph went through that we might have the Gospel of Jesus Christ on earth again, I marvel at his courage and determination to do what the Lord wanted done. Of course, the Lord knows the end from the beginning and he never chooses wimps for prophets!
Tomorrow morning we pack up again and head out to Weymouth (pronounced Wheylmuth). We will be dropping off some Christmas presents along the way.
Friday, 19 December 2008
We got up, finished packing, and hit the road fairly early (10:00 am) to make the 148-mile trip to Weymouth being told it would take 3 hours. It was a stressful trip for Walt having to remember to stay on the left side of the road. I took this picture out the front windshield as we were leaving the Mission Office/temple grou
nds. Our first issue with the Google map came in leaving the Mission Office/temple. The map said to go northeast with a roundabout eight tenths of mile away. We went what we thought was northeast, but unfortunately, the roundabout wasn’t even a quarter of a mile away so we turned around. Well, the opposite way there was no roundabout for miles, so we turned back around. We finally decided that the map wasn’t calculating distance from the gate house (where the driveway is that we used), but maybe from the furthest corner of the temple grounds.We arrived in Weymouth about 1:00 pm. I did OK navigating until 3.4 miles from the flat – when we got distressingly lost. Weymouth is a large town with very small streets. We finally found where we were supposed to be and stopped at a supermarket to call the letting agency and the Elders. Since I hadn’t had anything yet to eat today, we went into th
e supermarket and bought several things.Well, here we are. The outside of our flat looks uninviting and 63 and 64 are the smallest units we’ve seen; however, inside it’s not bad. No. 64 is the left-hand side (two stories). Here are the Elders helping Walt bring in our suitcases from the car.
The downstairs consists of a living room with a couch and two chairs and a kitchen with dishes, pots and pans, etc., and a clothes washing machine (NO DRYER as you can see by the next picture – towels hanging in the living room). According to the letting agency, most English hang their clothes out to dry in the mist (I guess). Upstairs we have the only bathroom (I should get enough exercise just going to the bathroom!!) and two bedrooms. The big bedroom isn’t bad but it has a double bed (we haven’t slept in a double bed since the first two or three months of our marriage). The other bedroom has just enough room for two twin beds (at least we can have guests). Right now it’s being used for suitcase storage. 
By the way, if you can see it, right behind the towels is our first Christmas present in England. Our Elders gave this to us our first day in Weymouth (bless their hearts). It’s a picture Christmas card of both of them with holly leaves on the corners (Elder Ellsworth on the left and Elder Bang on the right), saying Merry Christmas, and framed. Here i
s a blow up of the picture in the frame. Aren’t they cute!!
Since it’s so close to Christmas and I still feel so lousy with this cold, I’ve decided not try to buy anything to decorate for Christmas. I firmly believe Walt is absolutely OK with that – he has always thought I made way too much of Christmas. Bless the dear old Scrooge – I love him dearly!!
When we got here this afternoon, we realized there was nothing in the way of bedding, so the Elders (Ellsworth and Bang) took us over to High Street (the local shopping street – no cars allowed but wall-to-wall shops) to a place called Rosebys that is going out of business. We bought sets of sheets for the double and one single bed, duvets and covers, and pillows, which cost 103.96 pounds (about $165). Tomorrow we need to go out and get our bank account set up, buy more towels (we brought two bath towels and several wash cloths to the MTC) and maybe a blanket (even with the gas on it’s cold/damp in the flat now). We have gas heaters in the living room, kitchen, and big bedroom. The bathroom isn’t heated and there isn’t a plug in there so we could put in a space heater (I guess I’ll just have to find a long extension cord). Most of the English feel that there should be no electricity in the bathroom (dangerous).
I
n about 30 minutes we will leave to go pick up Elders Ellsworth and Bang (pronounced Bong) – tonight is the Branch Christmas Party. That means we can meet most everybody on a social footing. The Elders are very happy to have us here. I hope we have what is needed to help turn the branch around.
By the way, if you can see it, right behind the towels is our first Christmas present in England. Our Elders gave this to us our first day in Weymouth (bless their hearts). It’s a picture Christmas card of both of them with holly leaves on the corners (Elder Ellsworth on the left and Elder Bang on the right), saying Merry Christmas, and framed. Here i
s a blow up of the picture in the frame. Aren’t they cute!!Since it’s so close to Christmas and I still feel so lousy with this cold, I’ve decided not try to buy anything to decorate for Christmas. I firmly believe Walt is absolutely OK with that – he has always thought I made way too much of Christmas. Bless the dear old Scrooge – I love him dearly!!
When we got here this afternoon, we realized there was nothing in the way of bedding, so the Elders (Ellsworth and Bang) took us over to High Street (the local shopping street – no cars allowed but wall-to-wall shops) to a place called Rosebys that is going out of business. We bought sets of sheets for the double and one single bed, duvets and covers, and pillows, which cost 103.96 pounds (about $165). Tomorrow we need to go out and get our bank account set up, buy more towels (we brought two bath towels and several wash cloths to the MTC) and maybe a blanket (even with the gas on it’s cold/damp in the flat now). We have gas heaters in the living room, kitchen, and big bedroom. The bathroom isn’t heated and there isn’t a plug in there so we could put in a space heater (I guess I’ll just have to find a long extension cord). Most of the English feel that there should be no electricity in the bathroom (dangerous).
I
n about 30 minutes we will leave to go pick up Elders Ellsworth and Bang (pronounced Bong) – tonight is the Branch Christmas Party. That means we can meet most everybody on a social footing. The Elders are very happy to have us here. I hope we have what is needed to help turn the branch around. When we arrived at the branch building it was decorated wonderfully and looked so very inviting. This building was built in 1994 and this is the chapel with the chairs pulled back and rearranged as a multi-purpose room (no pews).
We met the 1st Counselor in the Branch Presidency, Brother Webb. This man is stupendous – a superb showman even though he told some of the worst jokes (I’m sure this was exactly what he wanted to do). He comes from Wales where he was in the Stake Presidency. He was master of ceremonies and kept us in stitches from beginning until we had to get the Elders home. We next met the Branch President, President Chasteauneuf, who is a dear gentleman. He played all the games with the young people. As I said before, he is 83 (correction made by his wife) but still has a lot to give.
As the closing piece of entertainment, our Elders gave a “skit.” I’m not sure I would call it a skit, but it was very, very entertaining. While we were out shopping this afternoon, the Elders went shopping for a plan green shapeless dress with long sleeves (which unbelievably they found). After Elder Bang put on the dress, Elder Ellsworth (to the merriment of all the children and most of the adults) proceeded to give Elder Bang a Santa hat equipped with white braids tied with red bows (after all he is from Denmark). Then he asked if we shouldn’t have snow on our tree and started spraying Elder Bang with white tree snow. As a fitting end to the skit, Elder Ellsworth decorated the Christmas tree with lights as you can see. What a night. As far as I could see, a wonderful time was had by all.
Saturday, 20 December 2008
Today, exhausted from yesterday’s excitement, we slept in until 9:30 or 10:00 am. We needed to get moving since we still had to get our bank account opened. We got up, had breakfast, cleaned up, and left for High Street. We parked the car in a car park (1.60 pounds for two hours) and started walking (couldn’t remember where things were from yesterday). We found the HSBC Bank and thought we were going to have trouble when she told us the bank was closing in 20 minutes. However, since we had a goodly portion of the information already in the system, the nice lady at the bank had us all set up and ready to go only a few minutes after the bank closed. We gave her a cashier’s check for $10,000 but, since it is a foreign currency, will have to wait for it to clear (a week to ten days).
As part of our shopping today, we bought a few more towels, bath mat and toilet mats, and an English power cord for the computer. We’ve been using the normal power cord that attaches to the transformer with just a white converter which doesn’t have a hole for the ground plug. Using that converter made the smooth portion of the keyboard where the mouse pad is evidence a static electricity buzz. I wasn’t at all sure that was good for my beloved DELL laptop, and I definitely couldn’t have that. Fortunately, the new power cord works wonderfully.
Walt decided to wash our bath towels and the towels we bought today this evening. He said the washer went on and on for quite a while washing and rinsing. As you could see in that earlier picture we have towels drying all over the flat (Walt is complaining about the humidity in here???). We’re having a disagreement about using the Launderette that is just a few blocks down the street instead of trying to dry things on a line or hanging from cords. Tomorrow is Sunday, and I expect we will have to dry ourselves on stiff, damp (hopefully not still wet) towels. Of goody!! (For Mary Lynn: “Grumble in the morning, grumble at night. . .)
It’s time for bed, even though I had a nap when we came back from shopping. I just can’t seem to get over this cold and am still coughing and sneezing more than is at all comfortable. Walt is frantically looking for the charger he was given along with a cell phone at the Mission Office. I guess I was responsible for all the electronics and managed to get all the adaptors, etc., packed when we left. I really don’t remember seeing or packing the charger.
Sunday, 21 December 2008
Today was our first Sacrament Meeting at the Weymouth Branch. It was just like being at home. Everybody was friendly and, after Friday’s party, we didn’t feel at all like strangers. Brother Webb asked Walt and me to introduce ourselves during Sacrament Meeting and for me to give a [Christmas] scripture. I knew the speakers probably wouldn’t like me using the scriptures from Luke, so I used Doctrine & Covenants 76:22-24:
22 And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
23 For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—
24 That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.
And a quote from President Monson:
“We need not visit the Holy Land to feel him close to us. We need not walk by the shores of Galilee or among the Judean hills to walk where Jesus walked.
“In a very real sense, all can walk where Jesus walked when, with his words on our lips, his spirit in our hearts, and his teachings in our lives, we journey through mortality” (Ensign, May 1974, p. 48).
I noted that at this season we all think about His birth, but we must know that he lives in the very center of our being. The Spirit must testify to us that He lived and died for us. Also that we must believe what He said; that if we would repent and follow Him, we will return to the presence of our Heavenly Father. That was it – Short and Sweet!
Tomorrow we have to get the utilities set up (gas and electricity, and possibly trash) and find a charger for the cell phone. Then I need to come up with two white elephant gifts and an appetizer for dinner at President Swinton’s this evening. As much as I would like to see the sisters and elders from the Mission Office, I don’t relish a 6-hour trip back and forth (especially when the last 3 hours are at night). If I thought we wouldn’t be missed, we’d stay here. Unfortunately, I don’t think that would be the case.
Tuesday, we expect to shop for an internet connection and a microwave. That may be the only appliance we need to get. Sister Walton from the Mission Office gave me a hair dryer and curling iron that had been left behind by missionaries returning home. Both work fine and are really, really appreciated. I expect that is exactly what will happen when we return home.
After lunch, I went up to take a nap and was awakened when Walt called up to me not to come down because the Elders were here. It seems we had been invited to dinner with Brother Hutchins and his daughter. So, back on went my nylons and skirt, etc., and we left taking the Elders with us. What a sweet man!! He served us a lovely typical English dinner (roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, roasted potatoes, vegetables, and a rocky road treat with custard). As we were talking around the table and I was saying how we felt so at home this morning in church, he quoted: Ephesians 2:19—Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
While we were at the Hutchins the Elders humbled me again. These two young men had taught a lesson last month when they were at dinner here on virtues and had asked what virtue (giving 4 or 5 choices) the Hutchins most treasured. Brother Hutchins picked Hope and his daughter, Sarah, Joy. The Elders had brought them some Danish sweets, a Christmas card, the same Christmas picture they brought us minus the frame, and two ornaments (one with Hope painted on it and the other Joy). Their thoughtfulness, dedication to the work, and just plain sweetness is amazing. I just hope Walt and I can come close to their joy in service to others.
I found a quote from President Monson that kind of sums it up: “Our opportunities to give of ourselves are indeed limitless, but they are also perishable. There are hearts to gladden. There are kind words to say. There are gifts to be given. There are deeds to be done. There are souls to be saved.”
Monday, 22 December 2008
This morning we went shopping first thing (almost). We took the car down to High Street and parked in our usual parking lot then walked. The first thing on our list was the phone charger. There was one issue; Walt didn’t have the phone with him. He did talk to several people about internet hookups. We went into Woolworths (who are going out of business) and there we found some skirt hangers and some candy for our white elephant gifts for dinner at President Swinton’s this evening. After a fair amount of walking and asking, we finally found Wilkinsons, which seems to have most everything and bought plastic hangers (shirts, blouses, etc.) and a small silver Christmas star to hang in the living room. Walt wasn’t at all sure, but I wanted at least one piece of Christmas in the flat.
Walt drove the 126 miles to President Swinton’s with me trying to navigate backward from instructions that went from the Swinton’s to our place and only getting us lost once for a few minutes. However, Walt did cut off another car on one of the roundabouts. Fortunately, everyone is so cordial here – no road rage! Thank goodness!
It was good seeing the sisters and elders we met at the MTC and in the Mission Office. Dinner was nice. The entertainment was wonderful! The Mission Office elders have been putting on a Christmas program along with several members of the local ward for any investigators the missionaries in and around London have at the moment. It wasn’t just home entertainment; these elders, brothers, and sisters were very, very good. The program was the Christmas Story with carols interspaced. The music was superb. One young missionary played the piano, led the music, and sang (his goal for the future is to conduct the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and he just might do it). Elder Howard from the Mission Office played the piano and violin quite professionally. All in all, it was a beautiful evening, and I’m really glad we went.
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
Still shopping; we received a call from Sister Hanson at the Mission Office that Elder Ellsworth had not yet received any packages from home and would we please buy him socks, a tie, and some kind of a sweet. We did that today and also bought something small for us to give to each of the Elders – they’ve been so wonderful to us.
While we were shopping today Walt broke down and bought a Garmin (remember I said a Tom-Tom was going to be a necessity). I think it will save our marriage. I was so exhausted by the time we got to the dinner party at President Swinton’s from trying to decide which roundabout the Google map was talking about, I could have cried. This is SO easy – just put where you want to go and it tells you where to go. Mummmmm?
Maureen – This is a great elder and needs someone to write him. I believe Elder Bang is constantly being sent things by his folks in Denmark. Yet, Elder Ellsworth is always happy and positive about things. Everything for the elders goes through the Mission Office. They do have an address, but could be transferred at any time. The address is:
Elder Anthony Ellsworth
England London South Mission
The London Temple
West Park Road
Newchapel, Surrey
England RH7 6NB
Tonight was also the Weymouth Branch Carol Concert. What fun!! Walt and I were already part of it. We both had reading parts, Walt sang in the choir, and I (don’t laugh) sang in the Relief Society choir. For dessert we had Mince Pies (a Christmas MUST in England), which Walt loved and ate many.
I was asked to teach the 4th Sunday Lesson in Relief Society this evening. That makes me feel more at home – back in the saddle!
On our way out of the chapel this evening, Walt grabbed one of the cardboard Christmas trees that had been used for the Christmas Party earlier this week. As you can see, Christmas will be slightly humble for us this year. We really don’t feel left out; we just keep pinching ourselves so that we can believe we are really here.
Wednesday, 24 December 2008
We immediately got moving this morning looking for a launderette to do our laundry. We found two in the immediate vicinity. One was very expensive 4 pounds to do one washing (about $6.50) and the other was closed until Monday. We brought the washing home and will do it in our washing machine and then take it to the launderette to dry. It didn’t take Walt long to realize that stiff wash boards are not nice to wear.
Once that was complete, Walt got on the phone to get the gas and electricity switched over to us. Then he tackled BT (British Telephone) about broadband for internet. The reason you haven’t seen anything from me is that we are totally cut off from any internet capacity at the moment. We hope to have broadband hooked up by the 30th. It seems that with this comes a land line so that we could get phone calls from the US. We’ll see when it gets here.
At about 2:00 pm this afternoon, Brother Dadds (from the Branch) and three of his four boys came over to do a VERY Christmas thing. They brought a small Christmas tree, put it together, put lights on it, decorated it, and livened up the rest of the living room. I can’t think of anything more loving to do than take part of your Christmas Eve to do this for two missionaries you’ve just met. How humble the people in the Weymouth Branch make me feel (and how wanting in the pure love of Christ). They are wonderful!! If we get to spend our whole mission with them, what a blessing and a learning experience it will be.
Tonight we took another car trip to deliver a Christmas package to an elder outside our district – we are the senior couple closest. We had dinner out (KFC with coldslaw not quite like the US but no KFC Bowl because the UK doesn’t do mashed potatoes). KFC and McDonalds were about the only thing open except for pubs on Christmas Eve.
Thursday, Christmas Day, 25 December 2008
It’s 7:11 am and I’m up and down stairs. I was in bed and asleep by 10:00 pm last night. With this cold (which has at least gone into bronchitis I think) I have no energy to do anything.
We had to make sure we had everything we might need since today (Christmas Day) and tomorrow (Boxing Day) are holidays and nothing is open. We have been invited to
dinner this afternoon at the Kagis. Sister Kagi is the Relief Society President and Brother Kagi is the High Priest Group Leader.
I hate being out of touch with the family, especially on Christmas. I don’t think this has ever happened even when the boys were on missions. This is the hardest thing about being on a mission – the separation from the family. I’m having a pity party!! (NOTE: This is me alone on Christmas morning. I’ll be better when Walt is up and downstairs.)
This afternoon we had a visit from our Elders and then we left for the Kagis. We had a nice dinner (shrimp cocktails, turkey, ham, roasted parsnips, roasted potatoes, carrots, brussel sprouts with bacon, bread pudding, gravy, etc.) and great conversation.
The Kagis have broadband and a wireless router. Walt asked and tried to get to any of the children who might be on the internet, but we seem to have missed them. At least we got the opportunity. I sent out a message to the “Blog” community telling them we would get broadband ourselves on the 30th. Hurrah.
Friday, Boxing Day, 26 December 2008
Sister Kagi asked us to deliver a cake for a sister who is ill and lives close to us. We went to the house but no one answered the door, tried calling both numbers on the Branch list, and struck out on both.
I thought you should see what it is like to navigate on the residential streets. I took this picture this morning while we were coming back from trying to deliver the cake. As you can see, there are cars parked on both sides of the street and the idea is to weave back and forth between them. The street is really three cars wide. The issue is when you meet a car coming the other way. The only good thing about this is that the cars are usually quite small and can fit into a smaller space than US cars.
Both yesterday and today were bright and sunny but cold (3.6 degrees C or 38.3 degrees F) with a nasty cold wind blowing off the ocean.
There are people walking all over town today, all bundled up and out with families or riding new bicycles, etc. As we were leaving a store I picked up a Weymouth postcard with what looks like summer in this little costal town. I thought there were loads of people on the streets of downtown now, but this looks crazy! Yes, all those specs in the water are people.
As the closing piece of entertainment, our Elders gave a “skit.” I’m not sure I would call it a skit, but it was very, very entertaining. While we were out shopping this afternoon, the Elders went shopping for a plan green shapeless dress with long sleeves (which unbelievably they found). After Elder Bang put on the dress, Elder Ellsworth (to the merriment of all the children and most of the adults) proceeded to give Elder Bang a Santa hat equipped with white braids tied with red bows (after all he is from Denmark). Then he asked if we shouldn’t have snow on our tree and started spraying Elder Bang with white tree snow. As a fitting end to the skit, Elder Ellsworth decorated the Christmas tree with lights as you can see. What a night. As far as I could see, a wonderful time was had by all.
Saturday, 20 December 2008
Today, exhausted from yesterday’s excitement, we slept in until 9:30 or 10:00 am. We needed to get moving since we still had to get our bank account opened. We got up, had breakfast, cleaned up, and left for High Street. We parked the car in a car park (1.60 pounds for two hours) and started walking (couldn’t remember where things were from yesterday). We found the HSBC Bank and thought we were going to have trouble when she told us the bank was closing in 20 minutes. However, since we had a goodly portion of the information already in the system, the nice lady at the bank had us all set up and ready to go only a few minutes after the bank closed. We gave her a cashier’s check for $10,000 but, since it is a foreign currency, will have to wait for it to clear (a week to ten days).
As part of our shopping today, we bought a few more towels, bath mat and toilet mats, and an English power cord for the computer. We’ve been using the normal power cord that attaches to the transformer with just a white converter which doesn’t have a hole for the ground plug. Using that converter made the smooth portion of the keyboard where the mouse pad is evidence a static electricity buzz. I wasn’t at all sure that was good for my beloved DELL laptop, and I definitely couldn’t have that. Fortunately, the new power cord works wonderfully.
Walt decided to wash our bath towels and the towels we bought today this evening. He said the washer went on and on for quite a while washing and rinsing. As you could see in that earlier picture we have towels drying all over the flat (Walt is complaining about the humidity in here???). We’re having a disagreement about using the Launderette that is just a few blocks down the street instead of trying to dry things on a line or hanging from cords. Tomorrow is Sunday, and I expect we will have to dry ourselves on stiff, damp (hopefully not still wet) towels. Of goody!! (For Mary Lynn: “Grumble in the morning, grumble at night. . .)
It’s time for bed, even though I had a nap when we came back from shopping. I just can’t seem to get over this cold and am still coughing and sneezing more than is at all comfortable. Walt is frantically looking for the charger he was given along with a cell phone at the Mission Office. I guess I was responsible for all the electronics and managed to get all the adaptors, etc., packed when we left. I really don’t remember seeing or packing the charger.
Sunday, 21 December 2008
Today was our first Sacrament Meeting at the Weymouth Branch. It was just like being at home. Everybody was friendly and, after Friday’s party, we didn’t feel at all like strangers. Brother Webb asked Walt and me to introduce ourselves during Sacrament Meeting and for me to give a [Christmas] scripture. I knew the speakers probably wouldn’t like me using the scriptures from Luke, so I used Doctrine & Covenants 76:22-24:
22 And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
23 For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—
24 That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.
And a quote from President Monson:
“We need not visit the Holy Land to feel him close to us. We need not walk by the shores of Galilee or among the Judean hills to walk where Jesus walked.
“In a very real sense, all can walk where Jesus walked when, with his words on our lips, his spirit in our hearts, and his teachings in our lives, we journey through mortality” (Ensign, May 1974, p. 48).
I noted that at this season we all think about His birth, but we must know that he lives in the very center of our being. The Spirit must testify to us that He lived and died for us. Also that we must believe what He said; that if we would repent and follow Him, we will return to the presence of our Heavenly Father. That was it – Short and Sweet!
Tomorrow we have to get the utilities set up (gas and electricity, and possibly trash) and find a charger for the cell phone. Then I need to come up with two white elephant gifts and an appetizer for dinner at President Swinton’s this evening. As much as I would like to see the sisters and elders from the Mission Office, I don’t relish a 6-hour trip back and forth (especially when the last 3 hours are at night). If I thought we wouldn’t be missed, we’d stay here. Unfortunately, I don’t think that would be the case.
Tuesday, we expect to shop for an internet connection and a microwave. That may be the only appliance we need to get. Sister Walton from the Mission Office gave me a hair dryer and curling iron that had been left behind by missionaries returning home. Both work fine and are really, really appreciated. I expect that is exactly what will happen when we return home.
After lunch, I went up to take a nap and was awakened when Walt called up to me not to come down because the Elders were here. It seems we had been invited to dinner with Brother Hutchins and his daughter. So, back on went my nylons and skirt, etc., and we left taking the Elders with us. What a sweet man!! He served us a lovely typical English dinner (roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, roasted potatoes, vegetables, and a rocky road treat with custard). As we were talking around the table and I was saying how we felt so at home this morning in church, he quoted: Ephesians 2:19—Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
While we were at the Hutchins the Elders humbled me again. These two young men had taught a lesson last month when they were at dinner here on virtues and had asked what virtue (giving 4 or 5 choices) the Hutchins most treasured. Brother Hutchins picked Hope and his daughter, Sarah, Joy. The Elders had brought them some Danish sweets, a Christmas card, the same Christmas picture they brought us minus the frame, and two ornaments (one with Hope painted on it and the other Joy). Their thoughtfulness, dedication to the work, and just plain sweetness is amazing. I just hope Walt and I can come close to their joy in service to others.
I found a quote from President Monson that kind of sums it up: “Our opportunities to give of ourselves are indeed limitless, but they are also perishable. There are hearts to gladden. There are kind words to say. There are gifts to be given. There are deeds to be done. There are souls to be saved.”
Monday, 22 December 2008This morning we went shopping first thing (almost). We took the car down to High Street and parked in our usual parking lot then walked. The first thing on our list was the phone charger. There was one issue; Walt didn’t have the phone with him. He did talk to several people about internet hookups. We went into Woolworths (who are going out of business) and there we found some skirt hangers and some candy for our white elephant gifts for dinner at President Swinton’s this evening. After a fair amount of walking and asking, we finally found Wilkinsons, which seems to have most everything and bought plastic hangers (shirts, blouses, etc.) and a small silver Christmas star to hang in the living room. Walt wasn’t at all sure, but I wanted at least one piece of Christmas in the flat.
Walt drove the 126 miles to President Swinton’s with me trying to navigate backward from instructions that went from the Swinton’s to our place and only getting us lost once for a few minutes. However, Walt did cut off another car on one of the roundabouts. Fortunately, everyone is so cordial here – no road rage! Thank goodness!
It was good seeing the sisters and elders we met at the MTC and in the Mission Office. Dinner was nice. The entertainment was wonderful! The Mission Office elders have been putting on a Christmas program along with several members of the local ward for any investigators the missionaries in and around London have at the moment. It wasn’t just home entertainment; these elders, brothers, and sisters were very, very good. The program was the Christmas Story with carols interspaced. The music was superb. One young missionary played the piano, led the music, and sang (his goal for the future is to conduct the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and he just might do it). Elder Howard from the Mission Office played the piano and violin quite professionally. All in all, it was a beautiful evening, and I’m really glad we went.
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
Still shopping; we received a call from Sister Hanson at the Mission Office that Elder Ellsworth had not yet received any packages from home and would we please buy him socks, a tie, and some kind of a sweet. We did that today and also bought something small for us to give to each of the Elders – they’ve been so wonderful to us.
While we were shopping today Walt broke down and bought a Garmin (remember I said a Tom-Tom was going to be a necessity). I think it will save our marriage. I was so exhausted by the time we got to the dinner party at President Swinton’s from trying to decide which roundabout the Google map was talking about, I could have cried. This is SO easy – just put where you want to go and it tells you where to go. Mummmmm?
Maureen – This is a great elder and needs someone to write him. I believe Elder Bang is constantly being sent things by his folks in Denmark. Yet, Elder Ellsworth is always happy and positive about things. Everything for the elders goes through the Mission Office. They do have an address, but could be transferred at any time. The address is:
Elder Anthony Ellsworth
England London South Mission
The London Temple
West Park Road
Newchapel, Surrey
England RH7 6NB
Tonight was also the Weymouth Branch Carol Concert. What fun!! Walt and I were already part of it. We both had reading parts, Walt sang in the choir, and I (don’t laugh) sang in the Relief Society choir. For dessert we had Mince Pies (a Christmas MUST in England), which Walt loved and ate many.
I was asked to teach the 4th Sunday Lesson in Relief Society this evening. That makes me feel more at home – back in the saddle!
On our way out of the chapel this evening, Walt grabbed one of the cardboard Christmas trees that had been used for the Christmas Party earlier this week. As you can see, Christmas will be slightly humble for us this year. We really don’t feel left out; we just keep pinching ourselves so that we can believe we are really here.
Wednesday, 24 December 2008
We immediately got moving this morning looking for a launderette to do our laundry. We found two in the immediate vicinity. One was very expensive 4 pounds to do one washing (about $6.50) and the other was closed until Monday. We brought the washing home and will do it in our washing machine and then take it to the launderette to dry. It didn’t take Walt long to realize that stiff wash boards are not nice to wear.
Once that was complete, Walt got on the phone to get the gas and electricity switched over to us. Then he tackled BT (British Telephone) about broadband for internet. The reason you haven’t seen anything from me is that we are totally cut off from any internet capacity at the moment. We hope to have broadband hooked up by the 30th. It seems that with this comes a land line so that we could get phone calls from the US. We’ll see when it gets here.
At about 2:00 pm this afternoon, Brother Dadds (from the Branch) and three of his four boys came over to do a VERY Christmas thing. They brought a small Christmas tree, put it together, put lights on it, decorated it, and livened up the rest of the living room. I can’t think of anything more loving to do than take part of your Christmas Eve to do this for two missionaries you’ve just met. How humble the people in the Weymouth Branch make me feel (and how wanting in the pure love of Christ). They are wonderful!! If we get to spend our whole mission with them, what a blessing and a learning experience it will be.
Tonight we took another car trip to deliver a Christmas package to an elder outside our district – we are the senior couple closest. We had dinner out (KFC with coldslaw not quite like the US but no KFC Bowl because the UK doesn’t do mashed potatoes). KFC and McDonalds were about the only thing open except for pubs on Christmas Eve.
Thursday, Christmas Day, 25 December 2008
It’s 7:11 am and I’m up and down stairs. I was in bed and asleep by 10:00 pm last night. With this cold (which has at least gone into bronchitis I think) I have no energy to do anything.
We had to make sure we had everything we might need since today (Christmas Day) and tomorrow (Boxing Day) are holidays and nothing is open. We have been invited to
dinner this afternoon at the Kagis. Sister Kagi is the Relief Society President and Brother Kagi is the High Priest Group Leader.I hate being out of touch with the family, especially on Christmas. I don’t think this has ever happened even when the boys were on missions. This is the hardest thing about being on a mission – the separation from the family. I’m having a pity party!! (NOTE: This is me alone on Christmas morning. I’ll be better when Walt is up and downstairs.)
This afternoon we had a visit from our Elders and then we left for the Kagis. We had a nice dinner (shrimp cocktails, turkey, ham, roasted parsnips, roasted potatoes, carrots, brussel sprouts with bacon, bread pudding, gravy, etc.) and great conversation.
The Kagis have broadband and a wireless router. Walt asked and tried to get to any of the children who might be on the internet, but we seem to have missed them. At least we got the opportunity. I sent out a message to the “Blog” community telling them we would get broadband ourselves on the 30th. Hurrah.
Friday, Boxing Day, 26 December 2008
Sister Kagi asked us to deliver a cake for a sister who is ill and lives close to us. We went to the house but no one answered the door, tried calling both numbers on the Branch list, and struck out on both.
I thought you should see what it is like to navigate on the residential streets. I took this picture this morning while we were coming back from trying to deliver the cake. As you can see, there are cars parked on both sides of the street and the idea is to weave back and forth between them. The street is really three cars wide. The issue is when you meet a car coming the other way. The only good thing about this is that the cars are usually quite small and can fit into a smaller space than US cars.
Both yesterday and today were bright and sunny but cold (3.6 degrees C or 38.3 degrees F) with a nasty cold wind blowing off the ocean.
There are people walking all over town today, all bundled up and out with families or riding new bicycles, etc. As we were leaving a store I picked up a Weymouth postcard with what looks like summer in this little costal town. I thought there were loads of people on the streets of downtown now, but this looks crazy! Yes, all those specs in the water are people.
We were told the main occupation in Weymouth was tourism. I guess we will see in a few months.
Sunday, 28 December 2008
Up and out this morning. After we scraped ice off the car windows (it was 0.5 degrees C), we were on our way to a 9:30 missionary correlation meeting and church (from 10:00 to 1:00). They are the only unit meeting in their building and the branch boundaries are just like Alma’s (quite extensive).
I gave my lesson (the October Conference talk was “You Know Enough” by Elder Neil Andersen). Great talk! We had some pretty good discussion going – not as quite good as at Alma (I do miss you sisters), but good. I believe some of the sisters were trying to understand my “brash American way” of sparking discussion on gospel topics and weren’t quite sure whether or not to trust me as I asked some rather probing questions (no different than I would at home).
We have dinner appointments set up for twice this week and a dinner with the missionaries on Monday evening (they didn’t get enough dinner appointments for the week and I believe the senior missionaries are supposed to make sure they don’t starve). Walt is going home teaching with one of the members Monday evening and I have set up to go visiting teaching with several of the sisters to meet sisters they are visiting tesaching who are home bound and can’t get to church. Things seem to be going slower than I would like them, but with Christmas, Boxing Day, and now New Years it’s been hard to get to people. What am I thinking; we’ve been here just a little over a week and no miracles yet?
Wednesday evening is a New Year’s Eve party. It starts at 9:00 pm with a BBQ and potluck, then games, etc.
Monday, 29 December 2008
Since this is the end of the year and we’re on a mission declaring the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I’ve decided my personal scripture study will be reading the Book of Mormon (BOM) again. Walt is reading and studying Jesus the Christ by Talmage. As a companionship, we will study the Doctrine and Covenants along with Sunday School. Fortunately, I bought a CD with the Institute Manuals on them and will use these as I do my studying. In reading through the preface to the Book of Mormon and studying the manual, I was taken by the words of Bruce R. McConkie:
The Prophet’s expression that ‘the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion’ means precisely what it says. The keystone is the central stone in the top of the arch. If that stone is removed, then the arch crumbles, which, in effect, means that Mormonism so-called—which actually is the gospel of Christ, restored anew in this day—stands or falls with the truth or the falsity of the Book of Mormon. . . .
Sunday, 28 December 2008
Up and out this morning. After we scraped ice off the car windows (it was 0.5 degrees C), we were on our way to a 9:30 missionary correlation meeting and church (from 10:00 to 1:00). They are the only unit meeting in their building and the branch boundaries are just like Alma’s (quite extensive).
I gave my lesson (the October Conference talk was “You Know Enough” by Elder Neil Andersen). Great talk! We had some pretty good discussion going – not as quite good as at Alma (I do miss you sisters), but good. I believe some of the sisters were trying to understand my “brash American way” of sparking discussion on gospel topics and weren’t quite sure whether or not to trust me as I asked some rather probing questions (no different than I would at home).
We have dinner appointments set up for twice this week and a dinner with the missionaries on Monday evening (they didn’t get enough dinner appointments for the week and I believe the senior missionaries are supposed to make sure they don’t starve). Walt is going home teaching with one of the members Monday evening and I have set up to go visiting teaching with several of the sisters to meet sisters they are visiting tesaching who are home bound and can’t get to church. Things seem to be going slower than I would like them, but with Christmas, Boxing Day, and now New Years it’s been hard to get to people. What am I thinking; we’ve been here just a little over a week and no miracles yet?
Wednesday evening is a New Year’s Eve party. It starts at 9:00 pm with a BBQ and potluck, then games, etc.
Monday, 29 December 2008
Since this is the end of the year and we’re on a mission declaring the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I’ve decided my personal scripture study will be reading the Book of Mormon (BOM) again. Walt is reading and studying Jesus the Christ by Talmage. As a companionship, we will study the Doctrine and Covenants along with Sunday School. Fortunately, I bought a CD with the Institute Manuals on them and will use these as I do my studying. In reading through the preface to the Book of Mormon and studying the manual, I was taken by the words of Bruce R. McConkie:
The Prophet’s expression that ‘the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion’ means precisely what it says. The keystone is the central stone in the top of the arch. If that stone is removed, then the arch crumbles, which, in effect, means that Mormonism so-called—which actually is the gospel of Christ, restored anew in this day—stands or falls with the truth or the falsity of the Book of Mormon. . . .
The Book of Mormon—which has come forth to prove that God inspires men and calls them to his holy work in this age and generation—establishes the verity of these great truths which comprise the message of the restoration. If the Book of Mormon is true, our message to the world is truth; the truth of this message is established in and through this book. . . .
The Book of Mormon stands as a witness of the divine Sonship of Christ; it has come forth for ‘. . . the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations— . . .’ (Preface to the Book of Mormon.)
This book also is a witness of the divine mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith and of the divinity of the Church set up under his instrumentality. It establishes and proves to the world that Joseph Smith is a prophet, for he received the book from a resurrected personage and translated it by the gift and power of God. And since the Book of Mormon came by revelation, which included the ministering of angels, then obviously Joseph Smith also received other revelations and was ministered to by other heavenly beings. Among those revelations was the command to organize the Church. The Church is thus the one true Church because it was set up by a prophet acting under command of God. Thus, the truth of the message of the restoration is established in and through and by means of the Book of Mormon” (Bruce R. McConkie, Conference Report, Apr. 1961).
I love the Book of Mormon – it always astounds me how much it was written for our day. The Book of Mormon people never had this book—it was meant for us (those of the latter-days). I read Mormon 8:35: “Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.” How precious it is to me to know that the Lord loves his children so much He gave us just the right book that we might know how to return to our Father in Heaven. I am so powerfully thankful for my testimony of the Book of Mormon and the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ upon the earth. My testimony and the covenants/promises I have made to the Lord do truly define who I am and what I want to do with my life (grow old in the service of the Lord).
Tuesday, 30 December 2008
Quiet day today. I took the Branch Membership List and sorted it according to activity, city, and district so we could get ourselves organized about who we need to work with to get more people attending this great little branch. We met with the Elders to go over the list and get their read on all the folks (along with our two weeks ([almost]) of experience. We now have a list of a dozen inactive members to start work on. I will call tomorrow to see if we can set up appointments.
I’ve been so excited. We were supposed to get our broadband installed today and I would be able to communicate with the rest of the world. Unfortunately, the courier dropped off not a package for broadband, but a digital TV package for a Mr. Roger Reimers (doesn’t even have our order number on it). Walt will have to call BT (British Telecom) and complain.
Walt did call BT and he did complain. It really didn’t do much good. Now we will have the equipment on the 7th (I wonder what will happen then?).
Wednesday, 31 December 2008
This morning at 10:00 I started calling people on our list. We met with one brother this afternoon. He was just coming out of a disastrous divorce and found the church years ago. The church and members really helped him during that time. Then he met and married his current wife six years ago and she attends (sometimes) the Church of England. He works very steady throughout the week and Saturday and spends time with his wife on Sundays. We see this over and over—part member families (usually because of divorce and remarry). I certainly wouldn’t tell him not to spend time with his wife (it would just be nice if they could spend part of it coming to church). They were both charming to us even though we had just dropped in because we didn’t have a phone number to warn them first.
Of the 11 remaining on our list, we currently have potential appointments for lunch tomorrow (Thursday) and next Tuesday evening. Then we have real set appointments for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday next week. Not too bad a start.
At 6:00 pm we picked up the Elders and drove them to Yeovil (about 30 miles) for a District Meeting (missionary stuff). As we were coming back we started seeing people dressed on costumes. The first group we saw were Crayola crayons (a whole box full) walking down the street, then a group of “Teen-Age Mutant Ninja Turtles,” then the Joker and Robin and Catwoman, then a large group dressed in Cammo with their faces streaked with camouflage paint, etc. According to one of the counselors in the Branch Presidency there are thousands of them that get together and parade down the Esplanade (by the beach) every New Years Eve. OK.
We came back from Yeovil and dropped the Elders off at their flat (they have to be in by 9:00 pm). Then we went over to the branch building to say hello and Happy New Year to the members. We left about 10:00 pm and came back to our flat to read and write in my journal before we go to bed. It is now going on 11:30 pm (which is late for missionaries), but I’m tired and I’m going to call it a year.
