Happy New Year!

Our flat back to normal. Home sweet home!

Well formal missionary work during the week between Christmas and New Year’s is not too productive. The good thing about the slowdown is that everyone is spending the time with their families. The hard thing is feeling like the work is not moving along.

After our very nice international Christmas most of the missionary related activities consisted of texting our investigator friends and cheering missionaries and being of good cheer.

We had one very exciting evening. On Boxing Day (a British Holiday the day after Christmas) we got a frantic telephone call from Hanna. She had gone out late afternoon to see firsthand the sales and crowds of the day. On her way back on the bus she missed her stop. The bus proceeded to take her clear out to Cribs Causeway Mall. When she got there she found out that NO MORE BUSES were running for the rest of the day. The phenomenon of the bus schedule here for Christmas and Boxing Day is challenging. On Christmas Day no buses run what so ever. When you drive around the streets it feels like a ghost town. Everyone is inside with their families(a good thing right?) It is so easy to get around town on that day. The next day is a modified bus schedule and if you are not careful you will end up like Hanna: stranded!

We headed out to rescue her. When we got to the mall all of the vehicle entrances were barricaded so we could not get into the car park. With Hanna on the phone, I switched into a kind of ‘mother mode’ and jumped out of the car to walk through the huge empty lot. Through the course of our conversation I learned that she was on the other side of the mall and not at all where I thought we had agreed to meet. When I got closer to the main entrance I could see people inside even though the stores were all closed off and locked down. We agreed that since we both could get into the shopping center that she ought to come in and try to find the place that I was describing to her. Bill was in the car outside the car park with no idea what was going on, because I did not want to lose her I dare not hang up the phone to let him know what was going on. He soon discovered that the way out was not blocked so he backed up and drove in the out.

When I got inside and Hanna got inside we talked each other to the same spot. It was soooo good to see her smiling face even though I was upstairs looking over the rail and she was down stairs looking up. Now I could hang up the phone and let our anxious driver know that all was well. It was rather exciting! Glad she is safe and we all learned that during the holiday public transportation is not so trustworthy!

Sunday I was able to help out again in Primary and enjoy church. We also met with the Bishop for tithing settlement. All good stuff.

Monday I got a lot done, but it ended up being a hard day because things did not go well when Georgia told her mom about her interest in the church. Thanks to those who have joined us in prayer for our sweet friend. The situation is yet to be resolved...

Tuesday we were able to meet with the Elders and Georgia for dinner as we all put our heads together to help her try to find a solution. We tried to reassure her with our love and encouragement... After dinner we took them all home.

 We had to say good-bye to Elder Yu. He is being transferred to Brighton. What a joy it has been to work with him! We will cherish his friendship forever! I think that a mission creates Eternal Friends!

When we got home we watched a movie on Netflix then enjoyed the most incredible fireworks display on TV from London at Big Ben’s stroke of midnight!

 I have many thoughts and feelings as I approach this New Year. I hope I can successfully put them into words. First of all we will be residents of England for an entire year. Wow, that is something, to be full time representatives of the church, 24/7 for a whole year, New Year’s to New Year’s. Humbling!!!

I was reading through the recorded words of the setting apart blessing President Duke gave me. One of my favorite phrases is: “The Lord will give you the ability to let go”. Such comforting words, they helped me through the incredible busyness of getting ready for and heading out to serve a full time mission. I since have learned that I need to let go of a lot more than just material ‘stuff’ and family worries. Complete faith means letting go of my own desires and expectations. I need to trust completely what God’s plan is for me, for another person, organization or situation. Wow that is hard!

I have also come to love with a profound love the young Sisters and Elders who are out here on the battlefront wielding the sword of righteousness and raising a voice of warning, their powerful invitation to all to come unto Christ. They work with all their might and strength to help hasten the work of salvation! It is so awe inspiring! I hope that I will never forget their example when I return to civil life. I hope I will remember what I need to do to continue in this great work. Sweet Sister Cowley from Mesa expressed to us this week that she thinks she will feel guilty when it comes time to go home because there is still so much that needs to be done here; noble feelings!

Another thought on my mind lately as I study Preach My Gospel is how can I obey with ‘exactness’? There are many levels to that challenge. Of course there is the obvious, to act in accordance with the mission rules; but exact obedience can involve a great deal more. As I try harder to do better in one way, another challenge appears and I need to improve in a totally new and different way. I am sure it is that BECOMING thing! We are told that as missionaries we are given the authority to preach, teach and change lives but that the power to do so only comes as we exercise our faith and are obedient; a sobering responsibility!

You would not think that by this point in my life I would feel like I still have so much to learn, but every day it is more evident that I know so little. Sometimes it is hard to not be discouraged when looking at the enormity of the task before us. I also know we are only temporary here. My sweet companion always helps me understand that even the small things make a difference, in fact they make the most difference. I am coming to learn that when those ‘blue’ moments come they are not from God.

 I also must express how very thankful I am for all the wonderful people I meet here and work with and learn from!  I wish I could bring them all home and share them with you. This truly is a great experience!

I will share with you a quote Mimi sent this week , it is such a beautiful summary of how I feel about all of this learning:

"When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities." Ezra T Benson

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all. Love you more than words and feel your support and prayers!  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints is true!

A winter morning walk in our neighborhood

The whomping willow is just across the street!