Missionary Journal
England (April 2010 Weeks 1 and 2)
April Week 1
In the afternoon and evening Walt worked on the taxes (Federal and California). It is looking better: less than $500 to the Fed and $200 to California.
I also got a call from the Elders in Salisbury requesting two sets of discs of the Mormon Messages I’ve been downloading from YouTube for them and two more sets for the Christchurch Sisters. I’ve been using Windows DVD Maker for making the discs and it only recognizes AVI format. That means I take the mp4 format that comes from YouTube, covert it to flv, and then convert the flv to AVI. It is time consuming and tedious. Then it takes an hour or so for the program to encode the first disc (you have to encode every time you start again). After the first disc you can make additional copies for that session fairly quickly (about 20 minutes a disc). I spent the evening looking for software that I could download (it isn’t easy to find software in Weymouth to do what I want) that would make a DVD direct from an mp4. I downloaded several different trial copies of software so that I could make an informed decision to buy.
Wednesday we were out early (8:00 am) to head for Poole, Bournemouth, and Christchurch to do flat checks there. As we were speaking with the Zone Leaders (Bournemouth) we found out that President Shamo was “whitewashing” our Weymouth area. I’m sure I’ve spoken about it before, but it seems the “infallible” Church Computer System decided a few months ago that the London England South Mission had its full complement of missionaries and didn’t need any more. Unfortunately, in May and June we have over 40 missionaries leaving the mission field with none coming in, and it takes at least 3 months for a missionary to be called and get ready to leave. This means missionaries are going to be spread mighty thin over the south of England for the next few months. President Shamo started calling Salt Lake as soon as he recognized the discrepancy (and this was 4 or 5 months ago). Salt Lake told him: “The computer systems is always right and would never short you missionaries to do the work.” Sure! The old joke is: “To err is human. To really mess up, you need a computer.” Well, the computer did mess things up royally and Weymouth is temporarily missing our Elders. President Shamo had to close down 13 areas (that’s 26 missionaries) based on what has been offered up to him as young men in the mission area ready to serve a 6-week mission (that includes young men who are contemplating missions, returned missionaries, etc. that can be made available for 6 weeks). So far President has some of the 45 he needs to reopen most of the closed areas. Our area was shut down because we are here and can teach. We just don’t go out and knock on doors and do “finding.”
After we returned from Poole, the middle of Wednesday afternoon, Walt went over to help our Elders get ready to take the train at 6:07 pm to stay the evening with the Zone Leaders and go with them to the Mission Office in London on Thursday. That meant they had to get their flat cleaned, all the food out of the refrigerator and it cleaned out, and he took our vacuum over so the Elders could vacuum (they have been borrowing ours since they are having trouble with theirs). While that was being done I made dinner so that they would get on the train well fed since I expected the Zone Leaders wouldn’t have much in their refrigerator either. Usually the week of moves the missionaries eat whatever they have on hand and buy very little since they can’t and don't take much of anything in the way of foodstuffs with them when they move from one area to another. I made burritos, Mexican rice, and bought a chocolate trifle (and custard). The worst was that with all this happening, I forgot it was Walt’s birthday (66). Am I bad??
Well, the Elders didn’t. They came prepared with a cake and candles spelling out H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y. First they put the candles on the cake. Next, they wanted a match to light the candles. Of course, between the four of us, there wasn’t a match anywhere. In the year and a half we’ve been here we’ve never had a power outage, so have never needed to light a candle.
That’s Elder Trevisan suggesting we use the stove (which is gas) to light the candles.
This is Elder Trevisan handing Walt the cake so he can blow out the candles. How very much we love these young men. We are really going to miss having them in our lives for the next few months.
Thursday and Friday we were out in Weymouth visiting folks and doing what needed to be done after baking chocolate chip cookies in the morning.
We got home from Costco in time to watch General Conference on the Internet. The streaming video is very good and makes it easy to watch. Due to conference being on at the same time we usually speak with the kids, we didn’t catch up with them this week. Sunday was also spent at home watching conference.
April Week 2
This seemed to be a catch-up week. Monday was again “P” day with laundry, vacuuming, etc. We checked the speaking assignments for this coming Sunday (Walt’s responsibility) and realized that the Elders were supposed to speak with Brother Graeme Hutchings (Branch Mission Leader) on Missionary Work. So, guess who is speaking on Sunday?? I actually pulled together most of a talk today, but I’ll have to think about it.
“A senior couple came to the Visitors' Centre on 26 February 2010. On greeting them at the entrance, the husband stated that they were not members.
“However, after stating that everyone is welcome here, and giving them our presentation and showing them the facilities and displays, the wife said it was only fair to tell us that they had both been excommunicated years ago (he had gone to the restroom and she was waiting in the small room to listen to the testimonies of the Living Apostles and Prophet). After listening to a few of the testimonies, we had them watch the film, 'Joseph Smith, Prophet of the Restoration.' As they left we thanked them for coming, invited them to come back, and made the statement: ‘Maybe it is time to consider “coming back. The church needs you - we miss you.’
“On 17 March, Sister Matthews and her husband were on the Isle of Wight - and met this couple. Sister Matthews had been her Maid of Honor at her wedding. They had grown up together on the Isle of Wight. The couple explained how excited they were on having gone to the Visitors' Centre, and had been talking about it ever since. They had started the process of 'coming back' into the Church. They have even asked the father of Sister Matthews to baptize them when all is in order - he is 84 years of age.
“On Wednesday, 01 April, they returned to the Visitors' Centre to tell us all about it. They are so excited - wanted us to know and share in their excitement. The Spirit of the Holy Ghost has really touched their lives in a way that caught them both at the same time.”
I finally bought a download of software that will make DVDs from the original mp4 format. I didn’t start pulling anything together since I sent out the newsletter at 10:16 pm.
Wednesday morning Walt baked peanut butter cookies, and we took President Chasteauneuf out visiting with us in the afternoon and evening. The first couple of places we went, no one was home. However, after that everybody was in. I think it was a bit of an eye-opener for President. Just everywhere we went they were so very happy to see us. Of course, we were bringing cookies (I still can’t believe what a door opener they are). We just love the people here in England. They are so welcoming and delightful!
Thursday I called the U.S. Embassy in London fairly early to check in on my Social Security. It’s been over a year and a half since I filled out the first paperwork to withdraw my claim. We finally got a letter on 23 March 2010 at home approving my withdrawal and telling me to reapply for benefits. Well, I’ve already reapplied via the Embassy (the application went out in January). Oh, well. I asked for it to start January 2010 – maybe I’ll get a great big retroactive check in December. I’ll use it to buy a car for me to uses when we’re home.
After the call, I made up twelve sets of Mormon Messages for the missionaries (we will be seeing them at Zone Conference tomorrow in Poole). There are 52 Mormon Messages that I want to put on the discs and with the new software and mp4 format, I can put them all on two discs. The first disc of any DVD takes about an hour to encode, set up the menus, and burn. After that, it takes about 15 minutes per copy (a small savings over the Windows software). For twelve sets of 2 discs each, it took me most of the day to burn, title, and put them into sleeves. The Missionaries just love these discs – they use them all the time for teaching investigators, less-active members, and part-member families. The Mormon Messages (if haven’t already seen them) are taken mostly from Conference Talks (the choice parts embellished with lovely pictures or video clips and sometimes music), are anywhere from two to nine minutes long, and cover such topics as “Testimony of the Book of Mormon”, “Infinite Power of Hope”, “Lifting Burdens – The Atonement of Jesus Christ”, “In Sickness and Health”, and “The Miracle of the Restoration.” While I was doing that, Walt did the Oklahoma taxes on the oil well interests we inherited from his Dad (very small interests – just enough to be a hedge against the increase in gas prices).
Friday was Zone Conference. We left for Poole at 8:00 am to arrive at 9:00 for a meeting with the Poole Zone. Then, at 10:00 am Zone Conference started with the Bristol, Plymouth, Poole, and Portsmouth Zones in attendance. We filled the chapel, but at the end of the meetings when President Shamo had the Elders who were leaving 06 May all come up and sit on the stand to give their testimonies, there were way too many empty spots in the pews. The Zone Leaders asked us to take the Salisbury Elders to the train station as we were leaving (about 6:00 pm). We did that and headed home. We stopped and had dinner in Dorchester at the Admiral Hardy, went home, and went to bed shortly.
Saturday I spent my day on the computer. First I completed my Gospel Doctrine lesson. Then I completely redid my talk for tomorrow (the Spirit was telling me He wanted something different than I had put together earlier). In my talk I explained why I was speaking – the Elders were gone due to the computer glitch and spoke about the need for Member Missionary effort to step up in the Weymouth Branch:
“Brothers and Sisters: In 2nd Nephi, Chapter 25, Nephi, who was a mighty seer, prophesied about future events involving the Nephites and Lamanites, the Jews, and the Gentiles. Nephi saw our day and the great work that would be accomplished in this, the dispensation of the fullness of times.
“2 Nephi 25, starting in verse 22, Nephi tells us:
22 Wherefore, these things (the writings or scripture) shall go from generation to generation as long as the earth shall stand; and they shall go according to the will and pleasure of God; and the nations who shall possess them shall be judged of them according to the words which are written.
23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.
24 And, notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the law of Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled.
25 For, for this end was the law given; wherefore the law hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments.
26 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.
“President Spencer W. Kimball speaking of these verses said: [Quote] ‘One of the most fallacious doctrines originated by Satan and propounded by man is that man is saved alone by the grace of God; that belief in Jesus Christ alone is all that is needed for salvation. . . . One passage in the Book of Mormon, written perhaps . . . to stress and induce appreciation for the gracious gift of salvation offered on condition of obedience . . . is particularly enlightening: "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." (2 Nephi 25:23)
“ ‘. . . However good a person’s works, he could not be saved had Jesus not died for his and everyone else’s sins. And however powerful the saving grace of Christ, it brings exaltation to no man who does not comply with the works of the gospel.
“ ‘Of course we need to understand terms. If by the word salvation is meant the mere salvation or redemption from the grave, the ‘grace of God’ is sufficient. But if the term salvation means returning to the presence of God with eternal progression, eternal increase, and eventual godhood, for this one certainly must have the “grace of God”’ as it is generally defined, plus personal purity, overcoming of evil, and the good ‘works’ made so important in the exhortations of the Savior and his prophets and apostles’ [Unquote] (Spencer W. Kimball, Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, pp. 70–71).
“Weekly at District Meeting and others Missionary meetings we recite:
“Preach My Gospel says: Your Commission is to Teach the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. You are surrounded by people. You pass them on the street, visit them in their homes, and travel among them. All of them are children of God, your brothers and sisters. God loves them just as He loves you. Many of these people are searching for purpose in life. They are concerned for their families. They need the sense of belonging that comes from the knowledge that they are children of God, members of His eternal family. They want to feel secure in a world of changing values. They want ‘peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come’ (D and C 59:23), but they are ‘kept from the truth because they know not where to find it’ (D and C 123:12).
‘President Ezra Taft Benson: [Quote] “We are commanded by God to take this gospel to all the world. That is the cause that must unite us today. Only the gospel will save the world from the calamity of its own self-destruction. Only the gospel will unite men of all races and nationalities in peace. Only the gospel will bring joy, happiness, and salvation to the human family’ [Unquote] (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 167).
“Save the world from the calamity of its own destruction?? Just Friday, at Zone Conference, Sister Shamo was speaking of the major earthquakes we have been having and wondering if the earth was angry and getting ready for the second coming.
“In Mark 13 starting with verse 7, Jesus was speaking to his disciples about the signs of the second coming:
7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.
8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
“Who are we to ignore the signs of the times and our friends and neighbors who want peace in their world? Who are we to dismiss the mission of the Lord: For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (Moses 1:39)?
“Since our Father in Heaven is so unselfish that this is his whole work and glory to bring happiness and eternal life to His children, shouldn’t we have as our purpose in life to be of service to one another and help spread the Gospel to bring to pass His mission? Otherwise, how can we ever hope to become like He is.
“The Great Plan of Happiness or Salvation is the plan whereby Heavenly Father will bring to pass His work and glory. As you look at this Great Plan, Jesus Christ is the central figure. He was the Creator of this earth under His Father’s direction; John records, 'without him was not anything made that was made' (John 1:3). He was the great Jehovah who spoke with the prophets of old. He was the lowly babe who came to earth and brought to us the gift of Christmas. He was the Resurrection and the Life, who brought to us the wonder of Easter. There would be no Christmas if there had not been Easter. The baby Jesus would be only another baby boy without the redeeming Christ of Gethsemane and Calvary and the triumphant fact of the Resurrection.
“Let me share what this great plan of happiness means to me.
“One: My knowledge of the plan tells me that there is a God and He has a Son, Jesus Christ. As missionaries we testify to this truth when we tell our friends and neighbors (our investigators): 'I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—Joseph, this is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!'
“Two: Knowing the identity of the Father and the Son helps me know that all of us are placed on earth to acquire a physical body, gain experience, be tested, and prove ourselves worthy to return to our Heavenly Father. Physical and spiritual or eternal laws govern our time here on earth. When we transgress the laws, we sin. When we sin, we break eternal laws, and the law of justice requires a penalty or a punishment. I know that through the atonement of Jesus Christ it is possible to repent and forsake sin. After we faithfully endure to the end, we can then return to live with our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. This is made possible by the eternal law of mercy. Mercy satisfies the claims of justice through our repentance and the power of the Atonement. Without the power of the Atonement and our complete repentance, we are subject to the law of justice.
“Third: The power of Christ’s Atonement overcame both physical and spiritual death. Physical death is the separation of the spirit from the physical body. Because of the Fall of Adam, all mankind will suffer physical death. The second death is spiritual. It is separation from God’s presence. Currently, I believe we are all in the state of spiritual death. We are separated from God. He dwells in heaven; we live on earth. Following His Crucifixion and burial in a borrowed tomb, Christ was resurrected on the third day. This Resurrection reunited Christ’s physical body with His spirit. The Resurrection from the dead is truly a part of the plan of happiness; the Resurrection is universal and applies to everyone.
“We will all be resurrected. This is an unconditional gift from our Heavenly Father. But to be resurrected does not overcome the second death. To gain eternal life and live in the presence of the Father and the Son, we must repent and become eligible for mercy, which will satisfy justice.
In Alma 34:31-32
31 Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.
32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.
“At this season of beauty and renewal, I would hope that we would renew our commitment to teach one another the Gospel of the Kingdom.
“OK, so what do we need to do to prepare to teach the Gospel to others?
“First: Don’t be afraid. Think of our ancestors, your ancestors, who left the land of their birth to cross the Atlantic Ocean and then braved crossing the plains to Zion. I don’t believe that our challenges today are more or less severe than the challenges faced by those who have gone before us. They are just different. The Lord isn’t asking us to load up a handcart; He’s asking us to strengthen our faith. He isn’t asking us to walk across a continent; He’s asking us to walk across the street to visit our neighbor. He isn’t asking us to give all of our worldly possessions or crush our cherished china to build a temple; He’s asking us to give of our means and our time despite the pressures of modern living to continue to build temples and then to attend regularly the temples already built. He isn’t asking us to die a martyr’s death; He’s asking us to love one another and share the message of the Gospel.
“Second: The Lord has said, ‘Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men’ (D and C 11:21). To teach effectively, we need to obtain spiritual knowledge by a developed habit of gospel study. And, when our heart seems to fail us and our courage leaves us, remember in D and C Section 68, verse 6, we read: ‘Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come.’
“Brothers and Sisters, I know that the Lord will stand by you and me, and as we bear record of Him, he will bless us and make us instruments in His hands to bless others. This is missionary work; yes, even member missionary work – bringing others to the knowledge of the love of God and the redemption brought about by the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
“Elder M. Russell Ballard puts what I’ve tried to say today beautifully: [Quote] ‘Brothers and sisters, I believe that if we could truly understand the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, we would realize how precious is one son or daughter of God. I believe our Heavenly Father’s everlasting purpose for His children is generally achieved by the small and simple things we do for one another. At the heart of the English word atonement is the word one. If all mankind understood this, there would never be anyone with whom we would not be concerned, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, or social or economic standing. We would strive to emulate the Savior and would never be unkind, indifferent, disrespectful, or insensitive to others.
“ ‘If we truly understood the Atonement and the eternal value of each soul, we would seek out the wayward boy and girl and every other wayward child of God. We would help them to know of the love Christ has for them. We would do all that we can to help prepare them to receive the saving ordinances of the gospel.
“ ‘Surely, if the Atonement of Christ was foremost in the minds of ward and branch leaders, no new or reactivated member would ever be neglected. Because every soul is so precious, leaders will counsel together to see that each one is taught the doctrines of the gospel of Jesus Christ’ [Endquote] (M. Russell Ballard, “The Atonement and the Value of One Soul,” Ensign, May 2004).
“We may well be here in the last days and it is our opportunity and should be our pleasure to help bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of our fellow brothers and sisters.
"So Brothers and Sisters, get to work and spread the Good News to all you know. Elder Reimers and I are available to teach. Just let us know and we’ll be there."
OK, that’s my soapbox for the day. This is what I had on my paper, but I don’t read my talk, just give it as I go along, but it’s got the idea of what I said.
We try to tell everyone that:
(1) Missionaries will come and go, but the members will be there for a long time (especially at Alma and Weymouth).
(2) We need to LOVE the less-active members back into fellowship.
(3) Don’t leave it until it’s impossible to mend fences (DO IT NOW!).
We had a lovely chat with Dee over Google Video Chat and got to hear all the latest news.
Before bed we put together a Crockpot of lentil and bacon soup for the Munch and Mingle tomorrow and let it cook all night on low.
By the time we got home (about 4:00 pm) after taking the tithing to the bank and President Chasteauneuf home, I turned on my computer to start on my next week’s Gospel Doctrine lesson (since I do have responsibility for Sharing Time next week also) and just went, “Ahh.” At which point, I turned off my computer, went upstairs, and took a nap until 8:00 pm. I got up, had something light to eat, did next week’s bulletin, and worked on my lesson for a while. I also extended the Excel Workbook I use to keep track of speakers and music for Sacrament Meeting to include the next four months (currently I only have speakers and music through April month-end) so Walt can decide what topics he wants to hear and who the Presidency wants to hear from. When that is done (shortly I hope), I send it off to Katey Mckay (our music director) and she puts the hymns down. When I have that completed it makes doing the bulletin very quick and simple (15 minutes to pull it together). The most time-consuming thing is deciding what missionary message I want to have the folks read.
Hope you all had a good Easter. Love and hugs, Jackie (Sister Reimers)
