One third of our mission over…

While we were driving in the car yesterday on a P-day outing it hit me that we are already 1/3 of the way through our mission! Wow when did that happen? Time on a mission, as time on Holidays or Sunday is totally relative. Suddenly I will wake up aghast that it is already Friday and yet when I try to think back to last Friday is seems eons ago. Interesting….

This past week has been no different. We have had some very busy and fun days and some normal days but when I sit down to recount them I cannot remember some of it, or put the events in the right order, let alone the correct day. I believe I left off last post with FHE on Monday, which means I need to tell what happened last Tuesday to start out this post. Cannot really remember… I think I worked on the blog, read institute lesson and I do remember that we went shopping to ASDA, Oh yeah and it was a cold windy, not very pleasant winter day.

Wednesday I do remember because we were busy all day. We had invited our district to have their weekly meeting at our flat because we wanted to share with them the wonderful CES broadcast by Elder Tad R Callister. If you have not watched it I would highly recommend it to you. The message of the restoration is just so precise and direct. Once they were fed spiritually, I fed them all taco soup and brownies afterwards. I told them that they all had to eat an apple first before they could have a brownie. Elder Johnson did it! Possibly his first apple in about 8 years! I am proud of him!

Elder Hagadorn and Elder Lam had a teach with a young mom who was going to be home alone so they need us to come along. She was such an adorable person. Her name is Lilly. She is Chinese from People’s Republic of China who came to Bristol for school about 13 years ago and met and married an Englishman. They have two adorable children ages 4 and 2. She has some interest in Christianity. The Elders did a wonderful job of introducing her to the Plan of Salvation. I even got to use the glove from my pocket to explain resurrection to her. She loved the visual! At the conclusion she asked if we had activities or times we can get together to discuss religion. She was quickly invited to church. She has not come yet but has great potential.

We got home in time for me to go to the dentist. My dental implant is loose and I wanted to be sure that was not a problem. It is something that can wait until I get home but I need to take good care of it and watch for problems. I was much relieved.

We then hurried to Wells Rd. for YSA meal. We needed to help because Sister Farrell was over there cooking all by herself. We had a nice meal and visit with those who came. The number is pretty small these days, hopefully we can stir up some enthusiasm going forward.

Thursday we needed to complete our lesson preparations for Institute in the morning because we went to the Chinese super market with Hanna and Shera in the afternoon. We went to buy the food for the great Chinese New Year’s party planned for Friday. That was kind of a fun and educational experience. I had no idea what anything was but the two experts helped us along!

Evening was Institute and dodge ball! We had a very nice turn out. Elder Preece taught the regular class again and will this week also. It is wonderful to study the Book of Mormon. Only Helen, Tina Farrell and I were in my little class but we had a very good discussion about the mission to the Zoramites etc. We especially enjoyed talking about Alma chapter 32! Elder Preece and I did not engage in dodge ball lest we get injured beyond repair and need to cut our mission short!

Watching and staying out of the way

dodge ball

Now for the Friday!!! We got up and straightened our house, clearing all the counters in the kitchen for all the cooking expected! Then we had to drive to Taunton for an appointment with the sister missionaries out there. We picked Hanna up on the way back and the cooking began.

Georgia came over early too and helped us find things on Google to print up and decorate for the evening. We just had such a good time! There were 18 people in our little flat, 6 of them were investigators and potential investigators!

Our huge picnic table worked out really well. Hanna had them making their own dumplings and wantons. We also had ‘hot pot’ which is a big pot of soup that everybody puts whatever they want into. When it was all cooked you just fished out what you wanted to eat. All of the food was soooo good. Shera and her flat mates helped in the kitchen. The missionaries made sweet and sour chicken and some brought noodles, you name it we had it! The link below gives you a glimpse...

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP3ttoGcnvI 

Elder Lam

Hanna

Elder Lam can play an ancient Chinese musical instrument called a Sheng, which is a mouth organ. He brought that and performed for us. It was so awesome! Such a joy to share customs and talents with others. Here is his performance.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlCWia1O7Ek

笙

Then we all got bundled up and walked over to the Downs to set of fireworks! The 6 foot long string of firecrackers and rockets were spectacular. We could not get the Chinese Lanterns to light because of the wind but we laughed a lot. Thank you to everyone for the enjoyable time. Especially Hanna for the idea!

fire crackers

the lantern won't light

Saturday was a missionary’s dream. Two baptisms. One in the morning for a new convert, and in the afternoon for the 8 year old daughter of a newly baptized sister. The spirit was powerful in both instances. Georgia came too. It was hard for her because it was the day she had wanted to be baptized. I know that will still happen for her. I am so thankful for her testimony and her patience!!

Sunday fast and testimony meeting as always was great. It was nice to have so many of our investigators and new members come to the Gospel Essentials class. Love what we learn there. 

After church we came home ate our crock pot dinner and crashed! We are not used to such a pace and every now and then our age shows. Evening was YSA FHE and the lesson was lovely about the nature of God. Attendance was good, even an investigator joined us. To all you YSA out there who read this, just putting in a plug, if you can manage to come to these Sunday evening gatherings you will find them enjoyable and uplifting.

Wells Cathedral

Monday we decided to take a day trip, we have not done that on P-day for a while; mostly because of the weather, but also we needed to catch up around the house. We drove out to Wells in Somerset County. It was a cold and cloudy day but thank goodness it did not rain. We visited the town center, had lunch in a little brasserie and then toured the beautiful Medieval Gothic Cathedral there. The pictures say it all.

the steps are worn from 800 years of use

second oldest clock in the world

the Cathedral cat

On the way home we decided to go see the Nunney Castle which actually has a moat! It was built in 1370 and destroyed by the Kings men in the 1600's when the owner fell out of favor. The day was windy and gloomy, the mood was perfect for wandering around in an old crumbling castle! We loved it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5gaGGIwXwU

While we are here in the UK engaged in hastening the work of salvation our family at home just keeps on keeping on. Two of my daughters at the moment are abiding in our house. I am proud of them for having the courage to help each other. Lindsey and family just moved back to Arizona from Texas and are looking for a place to live. Mimi and Trevor have moved over for a few weeks while they search for a place. We found out last week that grand baby number 20 is on the way to Mike and Caitlin. David and Kelly in Virginia experienced a 'freak' snow storm! Emily and Matthew have made their travel reservations to come see us in March and Ali and Ray got new phones for Christmas so they can share all that we do through Facebook!

The reality is that for the most part life is good! We just have to keep our eyes open every day for the tender mercies of God, they are always there! The stumbling blocks and challenges are just there to strengthen us for our eternal goals!

Here is as quote from Neal A Maxwell found in the B of M Institute lesson manual:

“God was redemptively at work long before mortal time began on this earth—and He will still be at work even after mortal time is no more…

“Mercifully, things then will ‘be done in [God’s] own way,’ not ours. Then God’s purposes, His patience, His power, and His profound love, which were at work long before time was, will also be at work even after time will be no more.

“These and other truths are among what Paul called ‘the deep things of God’ ” 

My love to you all. We feel your prayers and support!