Finally...

Well to continue or begin the description of our travels so far. If you happened to check our blog sight you saw a partial post that I entered while we were in the Stains chapel helping with the mission transfers for the month. I typed and worked furiously using the notes I have been keeping to update all and then when I went to insert some pictures the Internet went out and I lost all but the first two paragraphs! Ugh!

Now this is my new plan, I am going to type my ‘memoirs’ in a word doc and then when I am able to get onto the web I will just have to cut and paste.

We had a safe and uneventful trip from SLC to London Gatwick. We were traveling with another Senior Couple, Elder and Sister Boone from Provo. Elder Boone used to be in the Provo MTC leadership from 2004 to 2009, his last assignment there being the MTC President. He has also been a mission President in Southeast Asia and coordinated the mission Presidents in Europe from Germany as an Area Authority, now they just want to go on a regular mission, be worker bees. They are wonderful people to associate with.

OK now I am going to list some events in a bullet type format:

>At IKEA I was greeted with a smile of enthusiasm when handed my meal, “here you go Sister Preece”. Afterwards I got to thinking, the bloke probably thought I was a disguised Nunn.

>Yes it is true our 2 wonderful 'new' duffle bags were left in Orlando and it took till Sunday evening for them to be delivered. (We were still staying in mission accommodations then, whew!)

>We drove to our new Flat ON OUR OWN Monday, what an adventure!

>The new place is great! At the moment however we cannot get the shower to work nor the stove top. Are we foreigners or what?

>I have already posted on FB that we do not get back connected with the world for another week! Cannot believe how bewildered that makes me feel…

>We have been to a Store that is the equivalent of Wal Mart, and IKEA. Had quite an adventure trying to get to Costco. We could see if from the road but after going around 3 times we ended up on the Motorway heading to South Wales. We gave up that day and went home. Yesterday we made it!

>We get lost everywhere we go. Last night we ended up on some dark mountain/hill road.

>On roundabouts the 1^st exit is a left turn, 2^nd exit means you end up going straight, 3^rd or 4th means U turn, or not….

>The 3^rd day here we had to pick up a Sister Missionary and take her back almost to the mission office for Transfer Day. I already posted about that unique experience. Then in our little tiny Vauxhall we had to carry her and her BRAND new companion and an Elder. Oh yah and all their luggage. The Elder had to sit with his legs smashed against one of his suitcase for over 2 hours as we delivered the sisters to Bath.

>Yes we got to go to Bath! It was breathtaking! That is all I can say about it.

>We delivered the Elder to his companion who met us at the Stake Center where the YSA Wed. dinner was going on so got to meet many of the Young Singles. 4 of them brand new converts.

 

 



Transfers



 

>Bristol is beautiful! We have seen a lot of it with all our wrong turns and recalculating! We live right by a huge park called Clifton Downs that overlooks the Avon River. We/I go walking there every morning!

 







The Downs

 

                                                Gold Gromit

 

House in our neighborhood

 

 

 

>And Last night (Thursday last week) we met with the High Councilman who is over SYSA. He and his wife have been doing this for almost 5 years and do a marvelous job. We are really blessed to be working with them. And another couple that are Assistant Stake Young Single Adult advisors and believe it or not his name is Wil Farrell….

>Sunday was our first day at Bristol 2^nd Ward or the Southmead Ward. Compared to home it is small and even more so today because so many people are on ‘holiday’.

>We were invited to say the prayers for Sacrament meeting, I the opening and Elder Preece the closing. I actually did a double take when the Executive Secretary asked us. Then… after the meeting started the counselor in the Bishopric announced the remainder of the meeting, expressing that there would be a lot of speakers. As he started to list them the second on the list were the new missionaries, Elder and Sister Preece to bare their testimonies, so we have already prayed in church and spoken in church! Did I mention it was our first week?

>We met with Bishop Henley during Sunday School, he is a very ‘lovely’ man and we sensed his devotion to the Lord and dedication to the Ward. His profession is Policeman more specifically SWAT team trainer! He has been Bishop about 1 ½ years. Father of 6 children.

>FHE for YSA was so very good this evening (Sunday). As I said before Brother and Sister Evans are amazing. The lesson he gave was so inspired and personal, very uplifting!

>We are driving to Surry tomorrow (Monday) evening and staying overnight so we can attend the Temple Tues morning. The temple closes the end of this month for a 10 week renovation.

>We were able to have a Monday P-day and clean the flat, pack up and head out of town. On our way we stopped at Marks and Spencer’s a great department store that was located in a wonderful mall, actual mall not just a strip mall. Got me some boots!

>After quite a long ride we arrived at the temple accommodations. Actually had Internet for a few minutes. It was exciting because I got to chat with Lindsey through FB! Happy day!

>We found our new go to place by the temple for eating! We will not get to go back for at least 2 ½ months because the temple will be closed, but we will go back I guarantee. It was a Pub like restaurant called The Peacock Lodge! Loved the food even though we had to wait a while for it because it was busy, Bank Holiday you know…

    
                                          Happy after dining!

 

>The experience in the temple was sweet. I am not sure that I have been to a more reverent temple, granted it is not as busy as some but the workers all have such a quiet kindness about them. We were truly edified.

   
                                         

                                                          

>It actually felt like home when we walked in tonight (Tuesday). Only a little over a week and we are feeling more and more comfortable. The learning curve this week has been enormous! We are surely being blessed! Two more days till we are all hooked up again!!

>We went to the YSA Wednesday dinner last night and had a very enjoyable time! We are getting more and more comfortable there and feel very welcome. Some of you saw my FB post about Elder Preece playing Mario....

>Today, Thursday, we went to the Zone Training for a while to deliver mail we had picked up from the mission office and just see all the missionaries in our Zone. President Millar gave a wonderful talk, he really is their leader, our leader, I am so impressed with him. Next week he has to create 10 new areas because of all the new missionaries that keep coming.

>And the crowing event of the week and day WE HAVE INTERNET!

Thank you all for your prayers, we can feel them! If you want to know specifics to pray for, pray that we will get the driving and finding worked out soon so we can use less time and fuel! (And frustration). We are getting better since I wrote that last statement. Our Sat Nave ( which is what they call the GPS, takes us a different way every time we go back somewhere.)

We really have come to a beautiful place, lovely people and are among strong church members. We feel very blessed!

                                                 Gromit pictures for the grandkids  

 

 

(Aardman Studios are in Bristol)

 

 

Look right first!

We have been here for a while now. I have not been able to post because the only time we are connected is when we are in church. Today we came to help drive the Elders and Sisters from one area to another in "Transfers". I get to be connected today.

Before I try to describe some of our experiences of the last week I would like to describe the experience we just had. 27 new missionaries, Elders and Sisters arrived this morning from the Preston MTC. We listened in as they were oriented etc and that was fascinating, What happened next was amazing. The President had all of the Trainers line up on one side of the chapel and the new bees on the other and then called them one by one and matched them up. The feeling was electric! There were cheers and tears. The spirit of confirmation that these were where each missionary needed to be was over powering. I loved being in that room.

I was going to post the rest of our adventures but the internet keeps coming and going in this building so I will leave all that stuff for later.

Time to Jump in!

Today we end our MTC experience. As my companion says there is probably a lot to learn still but we are ready to be on with this journey! This truly has been a remarkable experience! So much valuable training with priceless skills taught, so many wonderful friends made, but mostly a marvelous portion of the presence of the Holy ghost! This is the work of the Savior, he wants all of Heavenly Fathers children to hear His word!

This week we have been attending S & I training. (Seminary and Institute). The program is inspired and a testament of the urgency of the work. Also instructions from Church Security and lots and lots of information about how we got here and why we have been called to our particulr Mission.

I would just like to share a scripture that has become very meaningful to me this week!

 Doctrine Covenants 31:
 2
Behold, you have had many afflictions because of your family; nevertheless, I will bless you and your family, yea your little ones; and the day cometh that they will believe and know the truth and be one with you in my church.
3
Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come; and your tongue shall be loosed, and you shall declare glad tidings of great joy unto this generation

How comforting and exillerating are these words....

Again we are a part of history! Last night's MTC devotional was broadcast live to all of the Missionary Training Centers all over the world. Elder Richard G Scott of the Quorum of the twelve was the speaker. What an experience! How sweet was the spirit and how strong the love. No one would leave their seats. As he walked out he would stop and turn and wave. Then he cupped his hands around his mouth and called ' Be good!' Then walked further and then 'We love you' and all those missionaries called back 'We love you Elder Scott!

He taught us about Prayer. He taught from D&C 6, 7 and 9 and section 88: 64. Excellent advice
Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you;

Elder Scott invoked an apostolic blessing on us all, he said that with prayer and sincere desire the Lord will facilitate a magnificent mission!

Among all of these fantastic experiences one of the sweetest and dearest has been meeting so many wonderful couples from all over with years and years of experience wisdom and knowledge under their belts. Just as an example a wonderful couple, Elder and Sister Mathews from Panaca Nevada  called to CES mission in Thatcher AZ. They are ranchers, parents of 10 children and grandparents of 43. He has been an Stake president. He reminds me of Gary Cooper and Abraham Lincoln combind. He was sharingthe circumstances surrounding their desire to serve. They had heard Elder Holland give a talk in the old Tabernacle about how much the Church needs couple missionaries, both were  impressed that they needed to get things in order and go; then he said with tears running down his face: " I climbed down out of a John Deer Tractor to come, I do not even know what retirement means..."Many many more powerful stories about all of these faithful couples!

Needless to say we are stoked! thanks to so many for supporting us and praying for us. Now the REAL mission begins!!!

Whirl wind week!

We just finished our Preach My Gospel training this afternoon. I know that any of you who have gone through the MTC can understand how we feel, but there really are not words to describe...

We have had an incredible experience with the couples in our District. Two of the couples we had to say good by to today. Two of them have extra training with us next week. Saying good by to those people was almost as hard as it was to say good by to our family when we left! Amazing how you can feel so much love so fast because of the constant presence of the Spirit of the Holy Ghost. My life is better because of them!

We gathered for a big group picture of all of the couples from this week. All of our trainers wanted to have documentary proof of this huge group. It was fun and with lots of laughing and crowding as we tried to all be seen.



For the week we had two presenters (instructors) who are BYU students. One in the morning and one in the afternoon. They are as dear to us as if they were our own sons! We only got a picture of one of them, the other had already left before the picture taking.

This evening we were able to have dinner with Brother and Sister Robbins, the couple that we will be replacing in Bristol. While we were waiting at the Restaurant to meet up with them a cute little boy about 8 or 9 years who was washing his hands in the restroom came up to Elder Preece and said "Hi Elder" Elder P said hello, "Are you enjoying your mission?" my companion told him we are just starting out and on our way to England the cute little boy then said "Good Luck!" Elder P:  "Are you going on a mission some day?" Cute boy "Yes! and now I get to go when I am 18". This was our first experience out in public and feeling very conspicuous! Many smiled and waved at us.

Brother and Sister Robbins were so gracious and enthusiastic! They gave us the whole run down and told us every person they had been working with, in detail. You could feel so strongly their love for these people and their mission. I could tell they wanted to get in our suitcases with us! We were almost swallowed up in their energy....

Now we get to breath a little and have the weekend off before we go back to Seminary and Institute training for 3 days next week. We are exhausted! not used to this pace.

My goodness how quickly Heavenly Father can take two people and transform then into missionaries. We are missionaries, we have started to think like missionaries! My heart is filled with gratitude for this phenomenon. This IS Jesus Christ's church!

 

 

Real Missionaries!

Wow what a whirl wind! We have only been at the MTC for three days and it feels like much longer. The training is intense! We have met some wonderful people here. It is quite humbling to realize the quality of those couples who want to serve the Lord full time all over the world.

We have the privilege of belonging to the largest senior missionary group that has ever come to the MTC. There are 128 of us. They are scrambling all of the time to have room for us all, I guess that we are also apart of the enormous wave that is rising forth over the earth!

Last night we were able to attend the Tues. devotional at the Marriott Center since that is the only place that can host all of us! What a joy it was to listen to the choir practice and here all of those strong willing voices! We got to sing 'Call to Serve' with all those missionaries and Elder Preece and I both were overcome with emotion! Five times in the past we have dropped missionaries off and sang that song to them in farewell and now we are the ones marching off to serve our King!

Emeritus General Authority Jay Jensen spoke to us about effective scripture study.

When we left the Marriot Center on the way to our car, the sight of all those 3,000+ missionaries winding their way back to the MTC was so powerful; behold a royal army!!!

Today we got to teach an 'investigator' and be evaluated. It was actually quite enjoyable and a good way to relieve reservations and jitters. The Preach My Gospel Training is pretty concentrated but so amazing. Everything we are taught is directed toward listening to and meeting the needs of the people we teach. This church is so amazing! It is so True!

I had an added delight as we entered the cafeteria to eat lunch I found my niece Heidi's son Josh Bethea. He was very surprised to see us but I was able to give him a big hug for his mother. He is going to Japan and has one more month left at the Center.

Today is also Wednesday, the day when all the young Elders and Sisters enter the MTC. 900 arrived today, 500 Elders and 400 Sisters! What a sight that was! This place is a well oiled machine! After we had lunch the new missionaries were finishing up some of their orientation and as they left the administration building, lined up along the corridor were many missionaries with Helper badges on them standing there with a new missionary's luggage. They were lined up in perfect order so as the missionary came out  his/her helper and luggage were waiting for them to take them under wing and show them around. Just as we were going to dinner I think all 900 of those new missionaries were eating their dinner. It was kind of fun to be helping them to find their way around. We felt like it was all old hat to us with all of 3 days under our belts.

We have until next Friday before we leave here so maybe I will post more of our MTC experience before we leave. We miss everybody but are so busy we do not have time to pine.