Nor can we ask the shadow to ever stay away…

When I think about the state I was in one year ago trying to get ready for a mission, I have to stop and realize that everything always works out! Faith is a very good lesson to learn in preparing, accomplishing and completing a mission!

Well since the last post we have had some good times. Last Friday night we went to a baptism. I still have a hard time describing what a sweet experience that always is even if we were not personally acquainted with the sister being baptized. It was a great way to end the day and the week!

Saturday felt like home, we woke up to thundering and lightening! It was one of those stay indoors kind of days. Bill was not feeling particularly well so we puttered around the house and  prepared our talks we were assigned for the next day.

Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny! Everything had been washed clean from the rain. Our speaking assignments were in Trowbridge Ward out in the county town of Wiltshire . The drive was so very lovely! It takes about an hour to get there and we arrived a few minutes early. RS and Priesthood are first and we were able to enjoy those lessons and mingle with the good brothers and sisters of the ward. 

Our talks went well. I spoke on developing a relationship with the Savior and Bill spoke about the Young Single Adult program in this stake. He concluded it with his famous Salmon story…Just keep swimming! We had a short meeting with 6 or 7 YSA girls right after church. They are such lovely people. This ward is quite a distance from Bristol but they cheerfully agreed to come to Stake activities and Institute when they can. We felt very welcomed and enjoyed the experience. The trip home was so beautiful that we had to stop and take a picture of the country side!

Somerset County on the way home from Trowbridge

lovely country side

FHE Sunday evening was enjoyable as always. There is usually just a small group there but we enjoy each other’s company! Narraser gave a very good lesson.

Monday, P Day, we decided to go exploring; there are only a few more weeks of this nice weather called 'summer' left. One of the YSA women from Bath ward works for the English Heritage organization and she told me about a wonderfully preserved abbey out near Taunton. It is called Cleeve Abby. It was built in 1200 something. The Church was destroyed when Henry the VIII abolished all things Catholic but the dorms and all of the living quarters are pretty well preserved; the best in the country. Some of the buildings had need or restoration and have been very authentically reconstructed. Thank you Grace! We loved it!!

On our way home we stopped by a seaside village called Watchet. It used to be the rail head for the mining train that brought the ore down from the hills in order to load it into ships and transported  to refineries etc. There is still a little port and a small harbor. The harbor is surrounded by lock gates because of the tidal river which pours into the sea right there at the same point. It was such a picturesque little place and the weather was wonderful! We ate our fish-n-chips dinner sitting on a bench looking out over the port. There is still a “steam train” that runs along the coast. You can ride it if you want to but we were too late, maybe another time.

The statue a depiction from the 'Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner', Coleridge got his inspiration from this place

Tuesday evening the Summer YSA BBQ at President Byrom’s house was just the best. We had so much fun! The house is out in the country. Parking is scarce at their home so we parked in the suggested abandoned pub’s car park around the corner. It was a bit of a walk but invigorating. We really had a great evening. The evening was beautiful, even a little too warm till the sun dipped in the evening sky. The atmosphere was pleasant. We enjoyed the company of many of these young adults that we have grown to love so much. We even got to meet a few we have not met before. Brenda Evans felt well enough to come and it was so good to see her.

The food was great and  there was loads! Everyone ate their fill, President and Sister Byrom are such gracious people, and I can’t say enough good about their daughter Sinead, who organized the whole thing. She is a counselor in the Stake YSA Committee presidency.

I'm cool, I know how to wear a hoodie!

This week I finished the Book of Mormon again! Our mission president, Pres. Millar, issued a 90 day challenge last April. I listen to it every morning when I am out walking. Yesterday as I listened  to the last of the book of Moroni, particularly Moroni 7. I was really stuck by how very important this book is to gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints! There are many times we come up against difficult questions and challenges from anti-Mormon thought. It would be easy to let ourselves be led off track by some piece of information taken out of context or time frame. There are questions and doubts that we all face. 

I want to bear my testimony to my posterity, particularly my grandchildren that if they always turn to the Book of Mormon, if they read it regularly and study and pray about its precepts and teachings they will not be knocked off course. There is truth and power in this book! It testifies of Christ. It teaches His true doctrine in the purest form available to us at this time. I know that it is a true record of God’s dealings with an ancient people. I know that Joseph Smith translated it by divine means. 

No matter what human error or questionable account you may think you have found, no matter your personal disagreements with policy or statement, read again the words of this scripture and you will not doubt, you will not stray! 

Hold fast to the rod!

Love to you all! Love to children and grandchildren with birthdays and special days in July! Love to a new little granddaughter, Julia, who will be making her debut on earth soon!