Improve the shinning moments…

World Cup is here!

Last Wednesday seems like more than just 7 days ago! We have had an eventful week with a lot going on. Among other things we had Zone Leadership training, a great afternoon BBQ at Bernie and Sian’s, had the opportunity to speak in church on Father’s Day, took the Sacrament to a sick member in hospital, went on a church history trip and had a very fun YSA evening at the Downs playing soft ball! On top of all this we have been enjoying some of the World Cup matches on TV most evenings.

It is always a good week when we are busy. Besides the above mentioned events we had some challenges to deal with. Our mission car needed to be taken into the dealership so we had to rent a car for a few days. The City of Bristol have been replacing the water lines in the streets in our neighborhood for a while and have been noisily working right in front of our flat. It is quite interesting the way the workers cordon off portions of the street and the traffic just has to weave through a kind of maze to get past. I know a few little boys,  my grandsons, who would love to sit and look out our front window at the ‘worker men’ every day for sure!

Worker men right outside our front window.

Zone Leadership training last week was good as usual. I am a little prejudice but I thought that the senior missionary’s presentation on “The Corps of Discovery” was outstanding! Yes Bill gave his inspiring presentation to the zone including the “just keep swimming” salmon story. We enjoyed presentations from the zone leaders, Downend sisters, President Millar, our mission president and President Byrom of the Bristol Stake.

Saturday a couple from our Southmead Ward invited us to their home for a BBQ. Sian has just very recently been baptized and her husband Bernie will be baptized this Friday. It was a very beautiful day with sunshine and a soft breeze. The food and company were great. The neighborhood is completely decorated with England flags. Bernie hung a US flag also in our honor!

At Bernie and Sian's

Sunday, Father’s Day, too was a very good day. Sorry to most of our kids who tried to call on SKYPE that day, Dad was very grateful for you attempt. We were in and out all day and missed most of them.Our Sacrament meeting talks were on the importance of fatherhood. I would like to share with you some meaningful quotes I found on the subject:Pres. Monson said: “God, our Father, has entrusted precious little ones to our earthly care. To them may we teach prayer, inspire faith, live truth, and honor God. Then we shall have heavenly homes and forever families. For what higher gift could we wish? For what greater blessing could we pray? None!”

James E Faust stated: “It is important to remember that in this Church, the husbands and fathers, and members of the family through them, enjoy a power and influence in their lives, far beyond the natural gifts of intellect and character of the father. I refer to the priesthood of God, which every worthy man and boy over 12 years of age enjoys.”

I concluded the talk by saying:  “I am grateful for two sons and four sons-in-law who are trying to be the best fathers they can. I am grateful for seven little grandsons who watch their daddy’s and are taught in love. I have a sweet memory of one of them at two and half years holding his brand new baby brother on his lap and singing to him “I am a Child” of God";  another generation preparing for fatherhood and the priesthood.  This is truly how I feel!”

Father's day bouquet, notice the type of flower...

Fran and I at church...we match!

Sundays are good days for visiting the sick, right? This is definitely one of the SMA's (Standard Mormon Answers). Sunday this principal came sweetly to life for me. Last blog post I mentioned that there is a brother in the hospital here from a neighboring stake. He is still here recovering from the surgery he came to Southmead Hospital to receive. He was suffering from a bicycle accident he experienced while on a business trip in Portugal.  

The Southmead elders asked if we could take them to help administer the Sacrament to this good brother. His family were there with him bringing him love on Father’s Day. I naturally have never had the opportunity to be on such an errand and I was very touched as the Elders using a makeshift tray for the bread, and a hospital cup to hold the water knelt on the floor in that hospital room and blessed and administered the sacred emblems of the Saviors body and blood. I will long remember the beauty of that moment and realize that the encouragement to visit the sick on the Sabbath is not just for the benefit of the person who is ill!

We were also able to stop by and see Brenda Evans. She is still in the hospital waiting to have by-pass surgery. Again her sweet spirit and attitude gave us a spiritual boost for the day.

Monday was just the best day ever! Since Georgia is going home for the summer we decided to take her on a church history tour. A few months ago she did not even know that there was church history in England. We had a lovely day visiting the Gadfield Elm Chapel, Benbow’s pond and hiking up the Hereforshire Beacon in the Malvern Hills. The view from the top of the Beacon was breath taking. The sun kept shining in and out of the clouds. The wind was blowing. The atmosphere up there was sacred. I can understand why Wilford Woodrfuff and Brigham Young and the other early missionaries went there to meditate and petition the Lord on important matters.

I will have to admit however that I am not quite as resilient as I used to be. I really had to labor hard to get up that steep climb. It was well worth it when I got there but I do now know that I will not ever be attempting to join my friends at home as they hike the Grand Canyon from rim to rim!

Tuesday was the best! Several of the YSA are finished with their studies for the school term. On of them, a fairly recent convert, Billie is graduating and leaving for good. She suggested that we have an evening on the downs to celebrate and play american soft ball! Of course my companion was all over that! Our Stake YSA committee president Lisa Taylor was having a birthday also so we had a double celebration. With portable BBQ grills we cooked hot dogs and taught them how to play soft ball. 

Ordered the equipment on line.

Rubbish bat, connecting with the soft ball bent it, we ended up playing with a tennis ball!

OK imagine what it would be like if a bunch of Americans got together and tried to play cricket? It was very fun and comical at the same time. Bill was teaching them how to play, shouting out the rules and trying to umpire all at the same time. Everyone thought they understood about 3 strikes and you’re out until Billie hit a foul ball on the 3^rd strike! A few times they felt like shouting "kill the umpire". Any way it was VERY fun! About 25 young adults including the missionaries came. We concluded the evening with a large group returning to our flat and watching the rest of the World Cup game Mexico vs Brazil. I can truly say that a good time was had by all!

District meeting with our new district leader Elder Darcy was good but had to be cut short. 2 or 3 of the missionaries were feeling poorly. One sister had a bad cold and one Elder had to rush out off to the loo with the stomach flu. Again, I was able to witness unity and genuine caring. They all just wanted everyone to get better so that the work would not be delayed. Instead of having lunch together the meeting ended with two Priesthood blessing for the afflicted . It is so clear to me that Heavenly Father truly loves and watches over these missionaries! I am proud to be one of them!

At the softball game the other night while visiting with one young woman, she asked me what I felt I had learned so far on my mission. I kind of stammered because I have learned so many things I could not acurately articulate them. I have since been thinking and I would have to say that one very profound lesson I am learning is that there is room at the Lord’s table for everyone! It does not matter your size, shape, color, gender, nationality, economic class etc; all are welcome. Consider the workers in the field!

Thank you again to my beautiful family! As I thought this week about how fortunate we all are to have William Preece as our patriarch, I felt a very deep love and desire to tell you all how much you mean to me! Sometimes there are moments when we catch glimpses of heaven. This week I have felt gratitude and joy for the eternal family that I have been blessed with!