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 1st exit is a left turn, 2nd
exit means you end up going straight, 3rd or 4th means U turn, or
not….
>The 3rd 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
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 2nd 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)
Yay yay yay!! Loved it. Whew! You sure had a lot to catch up on. I love it all. Sure do miss you. And Markus loves the Gromit pictures. I asked him who it was and he said, "Gromit doggy, Grandpa, and Grandpa 2."
ReplyDeleteOkay. We're convinced. We need to come visit. What exciting adventures.
ReplyDelete