Hurdles and the Hope of Easter

April 23, 2014

While listening to General Conference Monday during my morning walk two very powerful phrases jumped out at me and stayed with me through the rest of the day. The first was from Elder Anderson’s talk: “…the world will not glide calmly toward the Second Coming of the Savior!” The theme of Pres. Eyring’s address rings so true in my mind: “A priceless heritage of hope…” Both of these thoughts have great application in my life right now, especially as I record the events of the past week.

Looking at the notes that I took for last Thursday I realize they were a little gloomy: “Seems as though the adversary is having a hay day this week…” Many of the newly baptized members and investigators that we spend a lot of time with all went home for their half term break from university. They were each in their own way faced with all manner of temptations and adversities. One had great conflict with family and friends and finances, one has been drawn by a new romantic interest, and another cancelled her baptism because of conflict with her dad and a family death. Two others have no support while they are away and the philosophies of the world loom heavily all around them. To continue quoting my notes: “Now what? I am just a little sad, it is so hard to help instill in others a firm foundation of the Savior. It is hard to watch as they struggle. It is far more important than ever to trust God!”

Friday we had a flat inspection for the sisters in the Downend flat. They are both so great. One is from the Gilbert Islands and the other from Croatia yet they seem to be sisters that just happened to have grow up on different sides of the world. They suspected that they were more than likely going to be separated at transfers this week. They asked for Priesthood blessings. The spirit was almost tangible because of the valiant dedication of these two choice daughters of God. Georgia was with us and she too felt the power of the moment. A great reminder to her of the reason she made the decision she has made to join the church, including the sacrifices involved.

In the afternoon we got to meet up with the same sisters again as they brought Medea (Chinese investigator) to our flat for another missionary lesson. There again we were all able to feel the influence of the Holy Ghost. Friday evening Elder Davies brought Dlila, an investigator from Belgium for a lesson, which also went very well. Bill was Elder Davies’ acting companion for the evening because they were on splits. I just want to say here how thankful I am for my missionary companion. He is such a good teacher!!

Saturday morning was a ward activity. Naturally since it was an outdoor activity the sun decided to take a break. It was cool, cloudy and a little rainy. We met at the church to clean up both the inside and outside of the chapel and then have an Easter egg hunt for the kids. (Just a side note for my friends and family back home, they do not color hard boiled eggs here. The hunt was for chocolate eggs, which by the way are very tasty!)

Elder Davies and Elder Moore

Saturday evening we decided to go out to dinner, since Friday night date night had been preempted. We took the bus and went down to the city center. We found a great place called ‘Bills’. Good news, it is open all the time, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Most places close after lunch and do not open up again till 6 or later for dinner. We always like to eat earlier than that so we are happy for the discovery and the good food. While we were waiting to take the bus home Georgia called to report how street teaching with the sisters and gone and we discovered she was just around the corner form us so we rode the bus back together.

Double Decker bus for Benny & Miles

Sunday morning, Easter morning! Rain and dark clouds; the atmosphere lent itself well to visualizing the gloom of Golgotha! Church still was very nice. Elder’s Davies and Moore were the main speakers.The message of Easter is the greatest message of all time! There were several investigators attending and I hope they were touched by the spirit and the message. The members as usual are friendly and supportive.

All week I had been planning to prepare a very American Easter feast. We had invited Georgia and were blessed to also have the Elders and Vera (university student from US investigating) join us in our celebration. We really had a lovely evening and the food all turned out well even though I had to make some UK adjustments to both the green Jell-O and the ‘funeral potatoes’. The best description of the experience for our two British guests of a US Easter feast was: “you know those 1970’s movies where people are sitting around eating Martian food? That was kind of how it was for me, but it tasted really good.” Of course this statement brought the house down and was a good note to end the day on!

Monday was truly a P-day! We did laundry and cleaned the flat spit spot! We also made quite a discovery, remember my lonely bird feeder? Well you will see from the picture below that it is no longer a bird feeder but it is keeping some of God’s little creatures alive.

squirrel hanging by hind feet, baffled crow

Evening was FHE. Vera and Georgia and the Elders came. Recently baptized Sister Dance gave the lesson, a beautiful presentation about how studying physics testifies to her the absolute conviction that there is a God. Smile!

Tuesday we had Transfers one day early because of a conference that President has to attend on Wednesday. Our job was to pick up Sisters Steffenson (from Norway who has been serving in Bath) and Moangare from the Downend flat and drive them to Stains. You cannot believe all the luggage that we got into our little missionary- mobile! For the entire 2 hour drive me and the sisters slept which was annoying to the driver. When we arrived it turned out because of some last minute changes with the new group of missionaries arriving from Provo MTC we did not have any cargo (missionaries) to return anywhere.  We stayed until after lunch, had some nice visits with the other couples who were there on transport duty also and then left early.

Meriva ville (Just put your luggage in the silver Meriva in the car park)

On the way home we decided to stop by Highclere Castle which is the estate used in the filming of the TV hit: Downton Abby. We discovered that it is only open to the public for a couple of weeks around Easter and then otherwise only in the summer, good timing. It was really thrilling to actually be standing next to such a famous place, one I have watched many times on TV. I quite enjoyed it, more than I thought I would. Family still live there so it has not been all spruced up and restored and gives a much more authentic feeling as you walk through it. No photography is allowed inside so I cannot illustrate what I mean. Loved it! Mostly loved hearing the reactions of my daughters when they saw that we had been there!

Every day is such a learning experience as we serve in this capacity! Some days are so wonderful and the spirit of everything is so good, other days are worrisome and challenging. I know that there must needs be opposition in all things, I just sometimes get caught off guard. I love the words of President Uchtdorf in conference:

"Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? In other words, I’m suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances—whatever they may be."

I will never be able to adequately express my gratitude to God for the opportunity of living in mortality and the growth and learning this earthly life provides me!

Bless you all! Have a good week! Rejoice in the tender mercies of every day!