Our family history...

Our outing at the Gadfield Elm chapel was just delightful! For those who are wondering why that is significant, it was the first Mormon chapel ever used in the church. It had belonged to the United Brethren before the entire congregation was converted to the church by Wilford Woodruff  back 1840. The meeting house was then deeded over to the church. It was consequently sold to raise money for the Saints to immigrate to the US. It was restored by a group of members and in 2004 when it was completed they handed the keys over to President Hinckley. Both sides of Elder Preece’s family, his mother’s and father’s, joined back then and worshiped there. It means a lot to us.

 I hardly know where to begin. After doing some chores around the flat and running some errands we headed for toward the midlands. We had a very pleasant drive. The weather was beautiful! All week rain was forecast for both Friday and Saturday but we only got a little during the nights and lots of sunshine in the day. We followed our Sat Nav to the little town of Newent. The Hotel we had reservations for is called The George. It was built in 1649….this is the truth I am not making it up! When we arrived there was a lot of excitement there with news reporters and such because Brian May guitarist for the rock group Queen was there. He is a member of a group of protesters who are speaking out for the badgers. There has been a cull set forth to legalize hunting badgers because of their part in a TB outbreak in cows... Lots of intrigue!

The room we were given was on the top floor. We had to go up winding stairs and then through a door and up more winding stairs and to our room. The door was so short it looked like an Alice in Wonderland door, we had to duck to go inside. It was quite pretty and quaint inside. The floor was slanted, so we got a little dizzy walking around the beds, it was adequate and we slept well, better than in a tent and such an adventure! Never slept in a 350 year old Hotel before!!

After we checked in at the Hotel we drove to the Gadfield Elm chapel and arrived about 4:30 in the afternoon. It was so pretty, there were flowers growing around the little rock building and the sun was streaming down warmly on the roof and walls. Brother Haw who is the service missionary assigned to the visitor’s center and grounds was such an enjoyable person to visit with. He has been there for about 3 and a half years and has personally added a lot of improvements to the displays. The rest of the ward members who were coming did not start arriving till after 6:30 so we had a very nice chat with him.

Gadfield Elm Chapel

Sunset at camp

Let's eat!

Six years ago when Elder Preece and I first visited this sight with his mom, we were told about how the grounds were going to be used for camping by Stakes and Wards and other member groups. Never did I imagine that I would actually one day be in such a group. We had a wonderful time! A big bonfire was built, we had a bar-b-q and all the kids were thoroughly enjoying tossing twigs and branches on the fire and roasting marshmallows. We enjoyed laughing and talking and getting to know these ward members. A good time was had by all!

Saturday we all drove to Benbows farm, where so many baptisms were performed back in 1840.. This is the first time we have been there when it was sunny. There is a lovely vineyard right next to the pond that added such a bright green to the landscape. Something about that place gives you a calm sweet feeling.

This is the farm itself it is someone's private property

Reader board looking towards the pond

Vineyard next to the pond

 Everyone else had to get home so we bid them good bye and went on to the quaint historical town of Ledbury and had lunch. Then we stopped by Dymock and found the house Brother Haw told us about that is probably where William Pitt ( great grandfather of Elder Preece’s mother) lived. Even as I write this I can’t stop smiling. We feel so thankful to have these opportunities!

Ledbury Marketplace

Either of these homes could be William Pitt's

Sunday church was great. I got to substitute in primary in the younger class 3-5 year olds. They were delightful. The youth in the ward spoke of their EFY experience in Sacrament meeting. It was a very spiritual and powerful meeting. Every one of them mentioned how wonderful it was at EFY to be with so many other kids the believed just as they did. They were a great support to each other as their turn to speak came around. 

Evenings on Sundays are devoted to YSA. We have a Stake YSA council meeting and then FHE. They take turns teaching the lesson. The lesson this week was so well presented by a member of the Stake YSA presidency. She did such a good job. These brothers and sisters are leaders already. We will reach out to give more this great opportunity.

Monday P-day. We gave the missionaries from our ward a ride to Costco and of course had Costco food for lunch, a little taste of home. That evening these same elders asked if they could have FHE in our flat and bring an investigator and a member, oh and by the way cook dinner for us all! After a missed bus and lots of waiting they came and cooked a delicious meal! They are mandarin speaking missionaries and work with a lot of Chinese students. The young woman they brought is for Taiwan. A return missionary sister from our YSA group came also. She has only been home for 3 weeks. She served in the Ukraine.

We had a delightful evening and dinner. We had a short lesson and explained to her about FHE as well as watched a video about the B of M. We love being a part of this missionary process!!!

Shopping at Costco, P-Day

Fixing us dinner for FHE

It is FALL! Loving it, have not had this season in my life for many years. The air is crisp, leaves flit by the window and we pass school children hurrying off to school. It feels like I am in the middle of a Harry Potter book as they all pass by in their school uniforms chatting away…sometimes I need to pinch myself!

This morning we spent the morning practicing riding the bus! We have a Senior Couples outing this Saturday at Buckingham Palace so we have to take the bus to the train station and the train into London. It took most of the morning and we are not sure that we want to take that bus after all because it took much longer than we anticipated. I am sure in a few months we will look back and laugh at how much we do not now know about living here. We stopped and bought fish-n-chips from a take away place on the street. We noticed that they were voted the best fish-n-chips in Bristol this year and it was that good! It came all wrapped up in paper to keep it warm till we got it home! Very tasty!!!

I am posting on the blog today because we will be gone on Saturday. You can be sure that I will report on the adventures of the trip when we have returned.

In a leadership presentation by Elder Holland we watched yesterday, he admonished all to see the big picture to “Lift up your eyes” (John 4) and focus on the Savior! When we have that vision we will succeed in everything we try. Elder Holland said that the philosopher Nietzsche said “If you can tell me why…I’ll figure out how.” Lots of food for thought. I hope to do better following this advice.

Love to all , be happy, Lift your eyes!