Peace be still….

Wow, it sounds like the tempest is raging outside my window! It is really kind of spooky. I am so glad to be in my warm flat today and not out in it.

Yesterday we were down in Taunton. They are really close to the flooding in the flat lands of Somerset County. The ward building is currently being used as a drop off center for items that the flood victims need like towels, blankets, clothes, toiletries, food etc. While we were there several carloads were dropped off and we helped to sort them. They need a lot of help with sand bagging and the Bristol Stake YSA is organizing to help with that on Saturday. The forecast for the next three days indicates that we will get a month’s worth of rain with 70 mile an hour gusts! I hope all of the flood victims have a dry warm place to go! This part of England has now received record rain for the past 248 years!

Well now to try to remember all of the events of this past week. Last Tuesday was my blog posting day. I baked cookies for our meeting that evening with Elders Hagedorn and Lam. Georgia came too and enjoyed one last visit together.

good-bye Elders...

Wednesday we got up early and drove to the Sister’s flat in the Downend ward and picked up both of them. Sister Watt had to bring all of her luggage because she has been transferred back to the Visitor’s Center. We drove then to Bath to drop of Sister Moangare so she could be companion to Sister Steffensen while we picked up her comp and her luggage.  Sister Chamberlain transferred to the Isle of Wight. Then we drove to Stains about an hour and a half away in a very windy drenching rains storm. With suitcases stuffed in every nook and cranny of the car!

not a lot of room left for passengers

About one third of the mission was being and moved around. The building was just buzzing and bulging with missionaries! Our sweet friend Sister Cowley from Mesa left Bridgewater and is going to one of the Channel Islands: Jersey. We had a great surprise, Sister Clark, Uncle Craig and Aunt Margie’s niece has now moved to our Zone! It was fun to meet her and get our picture taken with her. We will be inspecting her flat occasionally because that is one of our jobs.

Sister Clark! 

We had lunch, and picked up the new sisters plus their gear and drove back to Bath, again in awful weather. The weather was so bad that day that some of the missionaries did not even make it in to transfers and had to get to their new assignments later.

Sister Kariyan from Armenia went to Bath and Sister Nenadovic from Croatia is taking Sister Watt’s place in Downend. We delivered them all safely. Our district now only has three Americans, Elder Preece and myself and an Elder Moore from South Jordan UT. Our new District Leader is Elder Davies from Wales and the new elder in Wells Rd is Elder Wheatley from Norwich.

Wed. evening we did get back in time for YSA meal. We had a very nice visit with Wil and Tina Farrell the YSA advisors. At the end of the very busy day I did have a very sweet feeling. I think it had to do with totally being on the Lord’s errand and not being concerned about myself.

Thursday Institute day so we spent the day preparing. We took the new Elders with us so that they could meet Georgia, Francine and Hanna. It was a very nice evening, both lessons went well and everyone had fun playing indoor hockey!

Our Southmead Ward had a planned temple trip that involved mostly the YSA from our ward. Two were investigators and two newly baptized. Those who are already members did baptisms for the dead and the others took a tour of the temple grounds and visitor’s center. It was quite amazing that the whole thing was organized and carried out in a week and everyone was able to come! The two of us went up on Friday night so we could do some family sealings the night before. We were also able to do an endowment session in the morning before everyone arrived.

We met them all at the Peacock Inn for lunch and then were off to the Temple. It was a very sweet experience for the two new members. There was a lot of support for the investigators and all in all it was a good day. The trip home was a little ‘white knuckle’ due to the weather but what else is new.

All of us from Bristol 2nd Ward 

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Francine, Georgia, Lisa, Hanna and Alex

Sunday as always a good day. YSA Home Evening was taught by a brand new member and she did a magnificent job. I am just so impressed by the caliber of people who are seeking out and joining the church! It is an amazing thing to witness!

Monday the appointment we had with a young single adult from Wells Rd ward got canceled so we ended up cleaning and shopping and getting ready for FHE in the evening. The two new elders, Elder Davies and Elder Moore had asked Georgia to just bring them up to date on her whole conversion story. It was quite amazing to listen to it all. She has everything from the beginning of her journey recorded in three journals. She had spent all afternoon writing it into a precise, condensed one page form. The spirit was powerful! It is amazing to listen to the conversion process. She is hoping to get baptized soon. Keep praying for her!

I love Either 12! It is amazing. How much we learn from the things we experience and even suffer in this life. I love that I can feel the prayers that are being offered for me and Bill. I think it interesting however, that sometimes I want to dictate to God what the answer to those prayers should be instead of putting my entire trust in Him. He always knows what is best! Even trying times and challenges can be best!

I sometimes want every member of my family and every investigator and convert to just sail along smoothly. Probably not a good plan, then where is the growth that can be gained from the strenuous exercise of Faith?

LIFE IS GOOD! It is a gift! I am so thankful for all I have been blessed with!

Cheers!