Missionary Journal

England (March Wks 3-4, April Wk 1 2009)

Monday, 16 March 2009 through Saturday, 21 March 2009
This month has just gotten away from me. Walt was sick this week and we accomplished very little. He managed to get up and take me to get my hair cut and colored on Wednesday. Fortunately, by Saturday Walt was feeling better since we had taken responsibility for the Mother’s Day (yes, they have “Mothering Sunday” the 3rd Sunday in March) candy that was being given out and we didn’t have quite enough to make sure every woman (over 18) and any extras that came to church that day were included. Sister Rowbotham (the Primary President) had made up some nice little candy favors by putting 4 Thornton’s chocolates in an 11-inch circle of netting and then tying it with ribbon with a heart. Since she had put names on the hearts and President and his wife were concerned that we would have investigators at the meeting (which was expected), I took the hearts off and put on some tags that read “Happy Mother’s Day” or “A Mother’s Love is the Heart of the Home” or “God couldn’t be everywhere, so He created Mothers.” I also made up about a dozen additional, just in case. To do that, we had to run around Saturday and get candy from Thornton’s, netting, and ribbon. It wasn’t easy! I was pretty sure I knew where Thornton’s was on the High Street, but wasn’t really sure. However, we did find it, and then found the fabric shop (after getting instructions from a curtain fabric shop that I did remember) and bought both the netting and ribbon there.

As we were on the way home from the High Street, we stopped at ASDA’s to get some food. Since our refrigerator is so small we seem to always be buying food. In order to not feel left out in celebrating the day, we bought me a small tea rose (which you can see here in our kitchen window.

Sunday, 22 March 2009
Today was Mother’s Day. Since Sister Rowbotham was not going to be in church this Sunday, I was going to help with the songs the Primary was singing for their mothers. Katie McKay (pronounced MacKai since Brother McKay is a Scot), who is a very talented musician (she is also our organist and music director) is 2nd Counselor and does music for the Primary asked another sister (our Relief Society President) to play the piano so Katie could lead the Primary. Unfortunately, one of our sisters has a rare disease and had an episode during Sacrament. Therefore, the Relief Society Presidency were all out in the lobby. I did step in and lead the music, which went surprisingly well. The rest of the meetings went well. Sunday School was good and I taught Relief Society today (using the projector which worked after everything everybody could do to get it working). My computer is dying – we can’t get the correct video card driver working (it just shuts the whole computer down). Brother Dadds went home and got his Mac and had it working with the projector by the time Relief Society started. This is the second time he has been my guardian angel.

On the way back to the flat from church, I took the following pictures of flowers on the “round-about” nearest our flat. They were just lovely; however, the walk to get from the sidewalk to the round-about was scary since there are just scads of cars going round from all directions (4 for this round-about). You can see it right there in the very center of the picture.

There are four patches (square) of primroses and hyacinths.

I also took some pictures of just the primroses. Some of them were just beautiful.






A lot prettier than mine (which were beaten down by wind and rain before I could take pictures).

Before dinner, we took Mother’s Day candy to Sisters French, Scott, and Woolrich (the sisters we are working with). Here is a picture of Sister French and her grand-daughter.

As we were walking down the sidewalk to the flat, we saw the Dadds family pulling in. We stopped and I took this picture (Sister Liz Dadds, Daniel (a very bright Valiant in Primary), and Brother Dadds).

They were on their way to dinner with Brother Dadd’s sister and had decided I needed some Mother’s Day flowers. They bought some daffodils and picked camellias from their garden.

I am humbled in view of their love and service as they took time to bring me flowers to make sure I had an enjoyable day.

Monday, 23 March 2009
“P” day with the Elders for dinner this evening.

Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Today was District Meeting in Yeovil. As soon as we returned and had lunch we went to President Chasteauneuf’s to give them the home teaching lesson. As we were discussing the lesson, Walt called Sister Chasteauneuf a curmudgeon since she is intrepid and direct when giving her opinion. (There are times when I just cringe, but the members seem to love my husband.) I love her dearly; she is a jewel in teaching and virtue. Then we visited several less-actives near their home.

Wednesday, 25 March 2009
We were out again today visiting people here in Weymouth; we have been wanting to get to Dorchester, but haven’t had enough time to visit everybody there. It just took too long for us to get out and moving since I was working on preparing lessons. I took these pictures of one of the homes we passed to demonstrate that spring has hit the United Kingdom.

Most of the homes have flowers even in yards that are black-topped for parking cars (we see flowers growing in holes cut in the blacktop). This home was especially lovely, so I couldn’t walk away without taking pictures.

Friday, 27 March 2009 and Saturday, 28 March 2009
We finally got out to Dorchester Friday and Saturday. We had a lovely time visiting the members and talking with them. We visited one home to find the sister we were looking for was not home. We left a card with her son and came home to find both a text message and an e-mail message stating to not try to visit again unless she called to say she had changed her mind. It’s hard to see people who have had the spirit, but have forgotten how they felt and of the testimony they once had of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We had a most wonderful visit with a Sister Jones (we’ve seen her before) who, when we were ready to leave and asked her if we could have a word of prayer, asked in a small voice, “Could I do it?” You take your little positive moments when the Lord gives them to you. We love the people of this area and hurt to see them forsaking the truth of the Gospel, but it fills our hearts to see them take a step forward. We see the hand of the Lord in the missionary work that is happening in this area now. Two convert baptisms this month and two more expected hopefully in April along with the baptism of one child of record.

Friday evening, we had Liz and John Dadds over for dinner. What a lovely couple. They have been married since right after John returned from his mission and have lived here in Weymouth all their married lives. They know everybody intimately. John was once Branch President (as with almost every worthy priesthood holder in the branch). Weymouth has been a branch for 40 years.

Sunday, 29 March 2009
Today was fast Sunday. It still is a wonder to me as this small branch has constant testimonies every fast day. We find such strong testimonies among a humble people who characterize love for the gospel and for others as they try to keep the spirit of the work moving forward in this small area of the Lord’s vineyard. We are learning so much just from being here and witnessing the strength of these members of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Monday, 30 March 2009
Today is “P” day. We cleaned (it only takes 30-40 minutes to clean everything), washed clothes, and worked in the yard. Here is Walt mowing the grass with an electric lawn mower (plugged in inside the flat since there are no outlets outside nor water taps). We also washed the car (it was really dirty and oily). The only issue was the lack of a source of water. We used a bucket, a small plastic tub with soapy water, and my watering can. Let me tell you, using a watering can to rinse a car is miserable, but we got it done and the car looks pretty good.

Since we have the Witthreads coming over to dinner on Tuesday, I took Walt out to dinner for his 65th birthday this evening. We went to the Marquis of Granby (a restaurant not a pub) that is near to the chapel. Dinner was quite nice, but you can see Walt is not really into anything.

Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Today was District Meeting. After the meeting we did a little shopping and saw a couple of members. Then we went home and prepared a roast beef dinner with baked potatoes and gravy, salad, cooked carrots, and lemon bars and custard.

While dinner was cooking, John Dadds and Daniel came over with a box of chocolates for Walt’s birthday, along with a card (see left), and flowers for me. John even found a picture of Natural Bridges to put on it.

We had a lovely dinner meeting with Brother and Sister Whitthread and the Elders came over to have dessert with us. They brought Walt a card and 3 chocolate bars (can you believe that they already of know he is the “Cookie Monster”).

Wednesday, 01 April 2009
Today was Zone Conference for Bristol, Plymouth, and Poole. We took apart some Book of Mormon chapters on Faith (verse by verse with my thoughts after discussion).

My favorite was Mormon 9:15-21

- Verse 15 - And now, O all ye that have imagined up unto yourselves a god who can do no miracles, I would ask of you, have all these things passed, of which I have spoken? Has the end come yet? Behold I say unto you, Nay; and God has not ceased to be a God of miracles.
§ We should ask, “What miracle happened today?”
§ Go out with the eye of faith and miracles will happen.
§ As we read through this verse, I thought of the March First Presidency Message by President Monson: Faith, nothing wavering:
+ Now, if we have hesitated in supplicating God our Eternal Father simply because we have not as yet made the attempt to pray, we certainly can take courage from the example of the Prophet Joseph. But let us remember, as did the Prophet, our prayer must be offered in faith, nothing wavering.
+ It was by faith, nothing wavering, that the brother of Jared saw the finger of God touch the stones in response to his plea.
+ It was by faith, nothing wavering, that Noah erected an ark in obedience to the command from God.
+ It was by faith, nothing wavering, that Abraham was willing to offer up his beloved Isaac as a sacrifice.
+ It was by faith, nothing wavering, that Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt and through the Red Sea.
+ It was by faith, nothing wavering, that Joshua and his followers brought the walls of Jericho tumbling down.
+ It was by faith, nothing wavering, that Joseph saw God our Eternal Father and Jesus Christ, His Son.
+ Now, the skeptic may say that these mighty accounts of faith occurred long ago, that times have changed.
+ Have times really changed? Don’t we today, as always, love our children and want them to live righteously? Don’t we today, as always, need God’s divine, protecting care? Don’t we today, as always, continue to be at His mercy and in His debt for the very life He has given us?
+ Times have not really changed. Prayer continues to provide power—spiritual power. Prayer continues to provide peace—spiritual peace.

- Verses 16 & 17 - 16 Behold, are not the things that God hath wrought marvelous in our eyes? Yea, and who can comprehend the marvelous works of God? 17 Who shall say that it was not a miracle that by his word the heaven and the earth should be; and by the power of his word man was created of the dust of the earth; and by the power of his word have miracles been wrought?
§ “Begin your day with personal study.”
§ By the power of His word, miracles have been wrought.
§ From April’s First Presidency Message: Alma was the leader of people faced with destruction by ferocious enemies. In the face of danger, he could not do everything, so he had to choose. He could have built fortifications or trained armies or created armaments. But his only hope of victory was to get God’s help, and for that he knew the people must repent. He chose to try one spiritual thing first: “And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God” (Alma 31:5).
§ The word of God is the doctrine taught by Jesus Christ and by His prophets. Alma knew the words of doctrine have great power. They can open the minds of people to see spiritual things not visible to the natural eye. They can open hearts to feelings of the love of God and a love of truth. The Savior drew on both of those sources of power to open our eyes and open hearts.
§ He taught His doctrine to those whom He wanted to serve Him as missionaries.

- Verses 18 & 19 - 18 And who shall say that Jesus Christ did not do many mighty miracles? And there were many mighty miracles wrought by the hands of the apostles. 19 And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles.
§ The quieter, subtler actions of the Holy Ghost that affect only one person, or a few, are common.
§ Saints of all ages have been blessed with special experiences with the Spirit—and those are indeed miracles—such as healings, prophecies, answered prayers, spiritual insights, changes in lives, and dreams.
§ Most miracles today occur privately and are kept privately within the heart or within the family. Sometimes they are shared as expressions of gratitude and faith in fast and testimony meeting.
§ Ours is a Church of miracles. Our faith is strengthened by the spiritual experiences of our fellow Saints.
§ Trust in God is vital, as is confidence that He will do what He says He will do.
§ Faith implies enough confidence to act on your belief and to conform your life to truth.
§ Having faith means doing our best to bring about a miracle, but it also requires having the patience to realize the Lord understands His eternal timetable better than we do.

- Verse 20 - And the reason why he ceaseth to do miracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should trust.
§ The process begins with doubt, then we dwindle in unbelief, depart from the right way, and not know God.
§ However, if we serve a faithful mission we will return from that experience with increased faith, devotion, and leadership.
§ Faith is not just something you feel, it’s something you live.
§ We will learn by our sacrifice what only personal experience and devoted service to others can teach.
§ A missionary learns that God can use him as an instrument to accomplish His work.

- Verse 21 - Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.
§ When we work hard with faith, we can expect miracles.
§ We must push work and faith until God takes over.
§ We must be consistently full of faith.
§ If our minds are the mind of Jesus Christ and we do what He would do, miracles will happen.
§ Be grateful for everything we are given.
§ It is a miracle we are here on a mission. First He had to get us here to be instruments of His miracles.
§ Change of heart is probably the most important miracle on earth.
§ Helping people be converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest miracle of all.

Thursday, 02 April 2009
I came home from Zone Conference with something (I wasn’t sure if it was a bug or some sort of food poisoning). I had a nasty headache, a queasy stomach, and general malaise all day.

This week we received 3 boxes of things: 1st, Walt’s computer (from Delight); 2nd, Primary stuff I ordered (I offered to do Primary Sharing Time on the 1st and 3rd Sundays) and two pictures of the Savior to put up in our flat (I hadn’t realized how much I missed seeing the Savior’s picture constantly); and 3rd, a 640 gigabyte external hard drive so we could copy my computer and get it off to Dell to be fixed.

Friday, 03 April 2009
Today was the Enrichment luncheon, so I made lemon bars from Delight’s recipe. They were definitely a hit. We had Emma (Sister Chasteauneuf’s young neighbor) with us. She is a young mother of two (a 3-year-old named Ellie and a 1-month-old named Amy).

Saturday-Sunday, 04-05 April 2009
General Conference started today. At home the different sessions of conference are 9:00-11:00 am, 1:00 -3:00 pm, with Priesthood 5:00-7:00 pm. Here you watch the first session 5:00-7:00 pm and the second 9:00-11:00 pm, with Priesthood on Sunday at 10:00 am. The two Sunday sessions are the same times concluding at 11:00 pm. We watched all the televised sessions over the internet, and Walt went to Poole (45 minutes away) for Priesthood.

I especially loved President Uchtdorf’s message that the gospel is the good news of Christ and the revelation that Jesus came to earth, set an example for us, atoned for our sins, and conquered death. That it is the path of salvation, the way of hope and joy, and the way of discipleship. This is the foundation of what we are trying to give our less-actives: The gospel of Jesus Christ has the answers to our problems, and it can unlock the door to true happiness. It gave me a renewal of desire to always walk in his footsteps and be a profitable disciple.

We had the Elders over to watch the 5:00 and 9:00 pm sessions and fed them dinner while we watched. Moves come again on 30 April, and I’m sure we are going to lose Elder Ellsworth (he’s been here in Weymouth the whole time we’ve been here and he’s become very dear to us).

Just as you are all dear to me. Love, Jackie