Epolouge

The Land of Counterpane
by Robert Louis Stevenson

When I was sick and lay a-bed, I had two pillows at my head, And all my toys beside me lay, To keep me happy all the day. And sometimes for an hour or so I watched my leaden soldiers go, With different uniforms and drills, Among the bed-clothes, through the hills; And sometimes sent my ships in fleets All up and down among the sheets; Or brought my trees and houses out, And planted cities all about. I was the giant great and still That sits upon the pillow-hill, And sees before him, dale and plain, The pleasant land of counterpane.

I love this poem by Robert Louis Stevenson describing a little boy, sick playing with his toy soldiers on the quilt of his bed.(counterpane) I always think that the rolling green hills of England  look like a patchwork quilt. This past month we had a wonderful time as we returned to England and the beautiful rolling farmland of Wiltshire and Somerset counties. Each day as we drove through the ‘counterpane’ through the September sunshine, I felt like the little boy in the poem.

Many of you shared this holiday with us as we posted our daily travels. So many beautiful places to see and visit. We even got to travel up to The North. Neither of us has been in that part of this Island Country before. There are more open spaces and larger patches of many shades of green in the landscape 'quilt'.

When we left Bristol in 2015 we promised we would come back. It took us a while but we made it! The joy in returning was found not only in lovely places again but in renewing friendships that for us are eternal! I cannot even describe the delight of seeing the people whose acquaintances’ have added so much to our lives. Missionaries come and missionaries go. It happens with regularity. We were temporary guests filling an assignment as a YSA missionary couple. When the time of our service was up, we went home. We replaced someone, someone else replaced us. In my heart I felt that the impact of this experience was mostly ours alone, tucked down in our hearts as life changing for Bill and me.

One of the first days back we drove over to our neighborhood to No. 4 Julian ct. I am not sure I can describe how I felt. The feeling was powerful, not one of homesickness but mostly one of profound gratitude for all that took place on that street in that flat for 18 months of my life. It really can’t be described. The friendships, life’s lessons, testimony building moments, even heart wrenching moments I experienced there have changed me forever!

Spending time with so many dear friends who were a part of our every waking and breathing moment during our mission, brought even  greater joy. They are still there! They are still like family to us! They are ours forever! I can’t even describe my feelings of gratitude for every one! Three very special young women who were taught and embraced the gospel in our flat. Many many young single adult men and women who accepted us unconditionally. They still mean so much. What a joy to see their lives go forward. They still love us and trust us and accept us!!!

I feel like I have just an inkling of what is described in D&C 18:

 15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

 16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

And in D&C 78: 19:

“And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.”⁷

Thank you beautiful people of the Bristol Stake! Thanks be to Heavenly Father for the experiences that have been ours and for enriching relationships that will last forever! Love you all!!!

The Joy that Comes From Full-time Missionary Service

Not everyone gets the chance to report their mission twice, but after 9 months home I was asked to speak in Stake Conference on the Joy of a full time mission. I thought for those who we left in England I would like to post this. I am grateful for the experience and I am thankful for all of you!

Last week I attended grandchildren’s Primary program. It began with a whole stand full of angelic faces singing these words with all their might:

1. A long time ago in a beautiful place,

Children were gathered ’round Jesus.

He blessed and taught as they felt of His love.

Each saw the tears on His face.

The love that He felt for His little ones

I know He feels for me.

I did not touch Him or sit on His knee,

Yet, Jesus is real to me.

Chorus

I know He lives!

I will follow faithfully.

My heart I give to Him.

I know that my Savior loves me.

I can’t think of a more JOYOUS message to the world today! “I know he lives”

Bill and I had the opportunity to send 5 of our 6 children on full-time missions. There was a three year time frame when we had 2 out at the same time. Now as a mother I felt that this was such a sacrifice… it seemed like they were gone forever. However because of a trip we took to our oldest daughter field of service in Oklahoma, my concept of sacrifice changed. We were able to meet a little family she had been instrumental in bringing into the church. Oh my the feeling in that home, the realization of what the gospel had done for their lives made me understand that sending our children on missions was not a sacrifice at all but a wonderful blessing.

About two years ago Bill and I received a call to serve an 18 Month Full-time mission to the England London South mission working with the Stake Young Single Adult program. While we were preparing our mission application and deciding what to do with our cars, our house, all of our stuff and as we travelled all over the country to say good by to our kids and grandkids, there were moments that we felt like this is hard to let go, this is a big sacrifice… But what we found out was again the same conclusion we came to as we visited that little family in Oklahoma.

 To quote from my missionary blog/jounal: “There is a lot that goes into transforming ordinary people into servants of the Lord.”

First comes the experience at the MTC. Nothing like it anywhere. Just think about it…how many prayers do you think ascend to Heaven from there every day, every hour, every minute. The spirit is almost tangible.

Then when you get to your assigned place, we stayed in Bristol Stake the whole time, you are told to go to work; not always with a clear understanding of what that means. Stretching and strengthening…

About 6 moths out I began to identify 4 Important things that I was learning:

First

• You feel joy and sorrow with the people that you teach 

Not everything goes smoothly with the people you work with.The ups and downs can be daunting, Ether 12:6 becomes very real.  6 ….. dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.

Next

• You learn so much about yourself that you never understood before 

I learned that:

Some days are filled with joy and some days are mundane, all are a part of this mortal life. If we remember to keep an eternal perspective and remember that no matter what our challenges are we shouted for joy when the great plan of happiness was presented to us and we were given the opportunity to come to earth.

Also

• Every time you bare testimony your own conviction grows enormously

 I am sometimes amazed and even overwhelmed by the courage it takes to listen to the truth and then embrace it with commitment. My perspective of the conversion process has changed and deepened.

Everything is new and fresh and precious through the eyes of someone who so recently received their testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel…

Last

• You get to experience the everlasting love the Savior has for the people with whom you work

Quote my blog: Every day there seems to be some small miracle happen to us, the missionaries or investigators and yes even our family back home. I cannot express how wonderful it is to be on the Lords errand and begin to catch a glimpse of the magnitude of this work here in the latter days! Sometimes the feelings are overpowering and sometimes just quiet little moments, tender mercies.

Bill and I loved working in the Stake Young Single Adult program. Following our last Institute lesson I recorded these thoughts:

The lesson went well, the spirit was strong, the valiant thoughts and testimonies of these fine young people filled the room. Then we had to give our final farewell speech. We have spent hundreds of hours with them in all kinds of circumstances. There have been many FB conversations and hours of one on one counseling and priesthood blessings. We have laughed and cried during games and activities. We have danced and worked and prayed with them and now we have to say good bye. Our lives are changed! We are not the same people we were. As we were singing the closing song “I Stand all Amazed” I was engulfed by a spirit of love and joy. I knew that it had been our job to represent the Savior for the last 18 months and the reward for that service means we are privileged to feel His powerful love for them. What a privilege!

I would like to read my very last blog entry. My heart was so full and the joy of this full time missionary experience were still tender:

 It is wonderful to be sitting in my kitchen looking out at my sunny back yard as I type this. It just feels so normal here, like nothing has changed. I think that the reason it all feels so surreal is because I am not the same any more. This journey that we started 18 months ago has changed me forever!! 

(Sacrifice?)
Thank you to the wonderful people of Bristol England. To all the countless missionaries from the England London South Mission. To the Young Single Adults of the Bristol Stake. To all the brave people who accepted and embraced the Gospel of Jesus Christ and shared that journey with us. And most of all to the wonderful family who have supported, loved and prayed for us every single day!!!

My assigned topic today is:

The Joy that Comes From Full-time Missionary Service

The definition of joy taken from Guide to the Scriptures in the Gospel Library is:

a condition of happiness coming from righteous living. The purpose of mortal life is for all people to have joy. A full joy will come only through Jesus Christ.

As the primary song said “I know He lives”

God be with you till we meet again...

I knew when I started this experience that it would all end one day. I even knew that it would be hard to say good bye and leave so much of my heart behind. Knowing and doing are two different things! This has been a week of more emotions than I have ever imagined possible, mixed emotions!

Last Sunday was our last week in the Southmead Ward. There are such good people there and we are so glad for our association with them all! Fast and testimony meeting was filled with a lot of expressions of gratitude and love for our service. We appreciate the sentiment but I am sure that we have gained so much more than we could ever possibly give!

During Gospel Principles class there was a moment that I just wish I could have recorded! Medea, a new mandarin speaking member, was asked to read quite a long scripture reference and so Hanna, also mandarin speaking, leaned over to help. By dividing up the passage they triumphantly accomplished the task! I just wanted to clap, or hug them or both!

For the last ten minutes of the third hour the primary invited us in and sang good bye to us changing the words to the ‘Hello, we welcome you to Primary’ song! Hard to hold back the tears then!

After the meetings a ‘Munch and Mingle’ was held in our honor. We had delicious soup and bread and enjoyed time to say a personal farewell and thank you to everyone!

Monday we started our actual packing process… Of course it was more complicated than we thought and took many hours. In the afternoon we ran some errands and dropped the final load of furniture off. We accidentally gave away a chair that we realized later belonged to the flat so had to re-claim it on Tuesday evening.

The day ended with the most enjoyable dinner and Family Home Evening at President Byrom’s home. What a very delightful evening! They are such great people and there is such a sweet spirit in their home. It was fun to be in a family FHE, we have not experienced that on our mission. We went to bed with smiles on our faces in spite of the fact that the ‘to do’ list for the next day was extensive!

Tuesday was clean everything out day and continue with the task of packing a whole year and a half of living in 4 suitcases and 2 carry-ons, we did not quite make it. Bill had to pack up and ship another box.

Cinderella (Georgia) came over in the afternoon, she had volunteered to clean out the bathroom. It was kind of comical with her walking around the edge of the tub to reach all the tile. I am just glad she did not fall. Afterward she parked in the corner of the room on the floor by the couch rummaging through the bag of odds and ends of leftover food items. Should have snapped a picture and posted it on FB….

Fran came and we all had Chinese takeout. Then we actually had to say good bye. That was not easy! It felt like a piece of my heart drove down the street and out of sight.

Semior couple transfer day 

Wednesday D-day (departure day). Our goal was to get on the road by 9 but we did not even leave the flat until 11:30 and still had to make 3 stops on the way out of town. We drove straight to the Premier Inn near the airport where we were staying and dropped unloaded mountain of luggage then headed to the Mission Office. We handed over the keys to the 'Bristol Flyer' and turned in the mission phone.

We had a very lovely final interview with President and Sister Millar. President said thank you but said that he could tell that we have been thanked and rewarded by Heavenly Father’s spirit in a much more profound way than he could ever do himself… There really are no words to express the joy.

 Doctrine & Covenants 18:

 15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

Early Thursday morning we boarded the airport bus and headed to the terminal. At the last weigh in all of the large cases appeared to be barely with in the weight limit. At check-in each case was precisely on limit! A small miracle, an answer to the Presidents prayer that all would go smoothly without complication on our journey home!

After almost 24 hours on route, 2 hours alone getting through customs in New York and a very crowded flight from New York to Phoenix, we finally touched down at Sky Harbor Airport!

I am going to let the pictures tell the story of our arrival!

Now we have been home a couple of days it is sort of starting to feel a little more normal. This whole transition is a whirl wind of emotions! It is wonderful to be sitting in my kitchen looking out at my sunny back yard as I type this. It just feels so normal here, like nothing has changed. I think that the reason it all feels so surreal is because I am not the same any more. This journey that we started 18 months ago has changed me forever!! 

Thank you to the wonderful people of Bristol England. To all the countless missionaries from the England London South Mission. To the Young Single Adults of the Bristol Stake. To all the brave people who accepted and embraced the Gospel of Jesus Christ and shared that journey with us. And most of all to the wonderful family who have supported, loved and prayed for us every single day!!!

Keep love's banner floating ore you....

Till we meet at Jesus feet

The time is far spent; there is little remaining…..

“All good things must come to an end.” "Parting is such sweet sorrow.” So they say… It is that time for us. This is a time of mixed feelings and a jumble of emotions. We are so excited to return home to our wonderful family who are waiting with open arms, at the same time tearing ourselves away from Bristol and the joy we have found here is very difficult.

Last Saturday we took Fran on an excursion of a life time! We had promised her for a birthday present we would take her to Costco. She had never been there before and finally last week we were able to schedule it. Alas we forgot to catch and preserve it on camera. Fortunately she took many pictures of all the things she had never seen before, especially products in such huge quantities. Pretty awesome when something so simple can make some one so excited!

It has been a week of good byes. Do not like good byes but then I do not know many people who do. Sunday was a lovely day. We were able to attend the Downend Ward. Our sweet friend Medea Zhang, she is the recent convert from China I have mentioned before, was giving her first Sacrament meeting talk. I really wish I could have recorded it. She did a magnificent job. It is a profound experience to witness the ‘mighty change’ in people as they embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ!

We have many YSA friends in that ward so it was nice to worship with them. We attended the YSA Sunday School class and enjoyed it. It is wonderful that the course of study this year is the New Testament.

Sunday evening we attended the re-broadcast of the World Wide Young Adult Devotional presented by Randall Ridd of the General Young Men Presidency. It was held at the Wells Rd building with a light supper after. The talk was phenomenal and the evening warm and enjoyable. It was our first round of last farewells however and the tug on my heart strings began. Several of our sweet friends were going on holiday this week so we had to say our parting words there and then. Then it was group picture time, the last group picture time. Thank goodness for pictures and texting!

Sister Sowter enters the MTC Provo on March 10th

We celebrated a last good bye again Monday evening with a meal and FHE for the YSA in our own Southmead Ward. I think we will make the most out of this good bye stuff and party as much as we can. It was just a great evening! Most of the young single adults from our ward attended. We ate, mingled and shared a spiritual message. It was with a lump in my throat that I shared my testimony and the admonition to never let go of the iron rod. Amazing how it feels like they all belong to me!

Tuesday sorting and sifting and organizing! Closing down the flat means a lot of foot work.

Wednesday the next round of parting moments…our last missionary District meeting. Elder Terry asked if we would take some time and share what we have learned from this mission and any words of wisdom we could impart. So there we were talking to ‘our kids’ again. I try really hard to put into words these experiences and feelings but I know that I fall short. I will always see in my mind’s eye those 8 humble dedicated young faces looking to us for council and advice!

gift to us from the Bristol District

The Wells Rd elders made us beans on toast for lunch! Believe it or not it was my request. They make us laugh with their comradery. Someone got a basketball out while the food was cooking and Sister Dantzscher was by far the best shot among them. More good bye hugs and teary eyes.

Elder Preece shared the 'parable of the pickles' from Elder Bednar

Wednesday evening was the monthly YSA meal. It is now held at Adrian and Brenda’s home. There were at least 13 there and the food and company was top notch. Bill and I have teased them since we first came that we could take the lot of them and match them up one to one with a marriage partner. We do actually have a list, which of course we will not share with them. You should have heard them try to pry the information out of us. It is mostly all in good fun, but with a little bit of seriousness to it. Sometimes the best things in life are right under your nose. No final farewells that night. We did however accidentally leave our camera and this is what we found when it was returned.

Thursday the regular Institute instructor Scott Balloch had asked if we would combine classes and teach the lesson. The subject was from several sections of the Doctrine & Covenants dealing with the Law of Consecration and the United Order. I am not sure why it seemed so daunting to us but the whole day we both felt the responsibility of the assignment keenly.

The lesson went well, the spirit was strong, the valiant thoughts and testimonies of these fine young people filled the room. Then we had to give our final farewell speech. We have spent hundreds of hours with them in all kinds of circumstances. There have been many FB conversations and hours of one on one counseling and priesthood blessings. We have laughed and cried during games and activities. We have danced and worked and prayed with them and now we have to say good bye. Our lives are changed! We are not the same people we were. As we were singing the closing song “I Stand all Amazed” I was engulfed by a spirit of love and joy. I knew that it had been our job to represent the Savior for the last 18 months and the reward for that service means we are privileged to feel His powerful love for them. What a privilege!

Thank you for the wonderful remembrances! 

We now have a lot of adopted Preece's Pieces 

Friday was deliver furniture day. The great missionaries in the Southmead ward were the movers. Bill rented a van and they all headed to Bath to take our ‘excess’ to the sister missionaries there. They have a pretty sparsely furnished flat and were really excited about new furnishings.

fairy princess making a count down chart  till Grandma and Grandpa come home

Now for the excitement!! We can’t wait to see our children and grandchildren! We are excited to go home to sunny AZ! So many friends to greet and embrace! Our little 4 year old grandson Markus said he dreamed that “grandma Preece made him a cake”. I can’t wait! 5 year old Miles said not to worry grandma, you don’t have to say good bye just say “see you later”! 7 year old Olivia made an advent calendar to count the days tell grandma and grandpa come home.  9 year old Jakey wanted me to know he saw a red cardinal today! And on and on!

I can’t help but think about the day when we all leave this mortal life it will be heart wrenching and sad to say good bye to loved ones here but just think the glorious reunion with those on the other side of the veil!

Four more days in Bristol, then we drive the Bristol Flyer up to the mission office and turn in our keys. We will attend the temple one last time, have dinner with Elder and Sister Cannon one of the office couples and then stay at a hotel near the airport for a 10:30 am departure from Heathrow Thursday morning. Whoa that made my stomach do flip flops! 

So I will just end by saying “See you all later!”


Things you will not see in AZ:

a view of Cardiff Wales

learner cars with learner plates "L"

a silver Meriva missionary car

(We will be giving our Sacrament talks on Sunday Feb 15 at 1:00 in the Desert Hills Ward, Gold Dust building.)

Bright as the sun, this heavenly ray light ev’ry land today

Good week! Sunday, Monday Tuesday and Thursday are good days to report on. The other days have just been filled with organizing and check lists and trying to adjust to the fact that we are leaving.

Sunday was a wonderful day at church. We decided to attend our home ward, Southmead, I had an assignment for Young Women and Jessica needed a ride after church. I cannot tell you how happy it made us to sit with a whole row of YSA. There were 11 young single adults at church on Sunday! Just in our little ward!!! Not supposed to be proud, but I felt proud anyway. Bishop Geldenhuys asked if we were taking any of these “sons and daughters” home with us. Bill told him we have certainly been tempted.

Monday P-day we went to Warner Brothers Studio Tour: The Making of Harry Potter. This tour was one of my Christmas presents. Wow! It is the actual film studio where all of the Harry Potter movies were filmed with actual sets and costumes. I am a great Harry Potter fan and loved every minute of it! If you want to see more of the tour I did post in the blog just for the grand kids. You can access that.

Tuesday we had Zone leadership training. The Zone leaders called a few days before to ask us to order the Pizza and get the drinks. Then they called 2 or 3 times on Monday to ask if they could use our computer etc. Tuesday morning they called and asked us to pick up some missionaries from the train station. It is wonderful to feel needed! The meeting was very good. I can’t decide if it was better than usual if my attitude is different as I am nearing the close of the mission. President and Sister Millar were there also which always adds such a great spirit.

The Elders and Sisters teach each other and their council is always right on. Two of the sisters had been assigned the topic of ‘dedicated & unified companionship’. They had everyone go into the rec hall and each companionship was told that one partner needed to put the rocks provided in their shoes and one was to blindfold themselves with the scarf that had been laid out beforehand. Then the ‘rocky’ missionary had to hurry across the room, read a scripture placed on a chair there and then hurry back. When they returned they had to lead their blindfolded companion to do the same, including reading to them the scripture. It was so funny to watch. Sister Torvinen actually picked up Sister Polidario and carried her across the floor. In the end they all decided that when they were helping their companions the rocks in the shoes were not nearly as noticeable. So clever!

(check blog post Companion relay)

I guess I am going to preach a little here. I am not sure that I totally understood the power that these sons and daughters of ‘Helaman’s Army’ carry with them until I had this assignment. In Alma 37: 6 it says: Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

I know that I have championed this fact many times in lesson discussions but I am not sure that I really believed it. It is easy as members to be leery of 19 and 20 olds and not really trust our friends, acquaintances and family members to their care. I repent! They truly are commissioned by God! They wear the Savior’s name on their clothes. We need to trust that power and commission. PMG states: “As an authorized representative of Jesus Christ, you can teach people with power and authority…” Alma 43: 2 says…and they preached after the holy order of God by which they were called.

My admonition to all of us is to remember this and do not shy away from using this great resource available to us! The whole day Tuesday was teaching obedience, I think obedience should be our guide too as we embark in member missionary work. Using the full time missionaries to teach is what we have been asked to do.

OK off of the soap box... It is just so clear to me here how much the Lord loves his missionaries and blesses them with the power of the word!

Thursday evening we attended our next to last Institute. As always the association that we have with those choice sons and daughters of God lifts our hearts and spirits. We have a special little class that we teach and we are really going to miss them when we leave. Bill gave a great lesson on section 76 “The Vision”. There is so much in that section, so many great gospel truths, truths that we possess that no other sect or religion teaches. If you want some instruction and inspiration I suggest that you read that section this week.

Our flat is getting emptier and emptier. We must get rid of all the ‘stuff’ that does not belong to the landlord. After 3 or 4 years of missionaries living here that is a lot. We are sifting bit by bit but some of it we need in order to function from day to day. Next week will be challenging and the next even more as we distribute, donate and discard all of it.

Sunday I was sitting next to the Young Women President in our ward as it was announced that there will be a “munch and mingle” right after church in our honor our last week here. She nudged me and said something about being a celebrity. I agreed that yes for a moment at this end and a moment when we return we will be celebrities but then we will just go back to being ordinary members of the church. That is so true… however there is probably not anything ordinary about being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ! Always we have an obligation to be more than we are. This assignment has taught me this more than any other experience before.

Love you all! Words can’t express how grateful we are for your constant support and prayers. To our wonderful grandchildren, we love you so much! Thank you for praying for us every day. Soon we will kiss your cheeks and give you big hugs!

To our wonderful new Bristol friends, thank you for your light and testimonies. Thank you for accepting us and helping us to fill our assignment. Forever you are in our hearts!!

Things you will not see in AZ.