That was by
far the shortest summer that I have ever experienced! Back to jackets and rain
coats!
The past
week has just been a normal missionary week. Institute classes have ended until
September so we had a YSA blackberry picking activity last Thursday evening. It
was kind of muddy and got dark but I think those who went had a good time. Back
at the Wells Rd building it was time for baking. Two visitors from Australia
helped with the process. One of the Ausie girls was the daughter of one of Adrian’s
friends. The pies or should I say the ‘blackberry’ cobblers turned out to be
delicious!!! (There was some debate about crust on the bottom and the top or
just the top).
Friday and
Saturday were filled with assorted errands and tasks. We did have to spend some
time preparing talks for Sacrament meeting the next day. I was lucky I also got
to teach Primary! Both assignments went well. Our subject was ‘Service’ and I
told Aunt Nan’s Split Pea Soup’ story and Bill read ‘Always Go to the Funeral’.We received
some very sweet compliments, there are moments on a mission that make you feel
like you really are doing some good.
I loved this
quote from Elder Holland that I found while I was preparing my talk:
“The greater
definition of ‘the pure love of Christ,’ however, is not what we as Christians
try but largely fail to demonstrate toward others but rather what Christ
totally succeeded in demonstrating toward us. True charity has been known only
once. It is Christ’s love for us that ‘suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth
not.’ It is his love for us that is not ‘puffed up…, not easily provoked,
thinketh no evil.’ It is Christ’s love for us that ‘beareth all things,
believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.’ It is as
demonstrated in Christ that ‘charity never faileth.’ It is that charity--his
pure love for us—without which we would be nothing, hopeless, of all men and
women most miserable. Truly, those found possessed of the blessings of his love
at the last day—the Atonement, the Resurrection, eternal life, eternal
promise—surely it shall be well with them.”
“This does
not in any way minimize the commandment that we are to try to acquire this kind
of love for one another. … We should try to be more constant and unfailing,
more long suffering and kind, less envious and puffed up in our relationships
with others. As Christ lived so should we live, and as Christ loved so should
we love. But the ‘pure love of Christ’ Mormon spoke of is precisely
that—Christ’s love. With that divine gift, that redeeming bestowal, we have
everything; without it we have nothing and ultimately are nothing, except in
the end ‘devils [and] angles to a devil.”
There have
been so many people throughout our lives who have been great examples of christian
love and service. I would like to pay tribute to one of them. This week we were
informed of the passing of a wonderful brother from back home in Arizona, Dee
Lewis. He was 95 years young and he and his wife Betty have been married for 71
years. They were always there for every special occasion or event our family
had in the 16 years since we first met them. What a wonderful man! I hope I can
grow up to be just like him!
Wednesday
was transfer day. We did not need to take anyone into Staines but we got to
transport back to their areas two sisters and one elder. We dropped him off in
Trowbridge and then the sisters in Bath. It was a long day, about 240 plus
miles. One of our charges was from Armenia, one the Philippines and the other
Irish! There were 20 new missionaries that arrived in the mission yesterday and
they were from about 8 different countries. How great is that?
We got back
in time for YSA meal, a little late. Georgia, who is back from her summer
break, actually walked all of the way to Wells Rd chapel, a 4 mile trek. Glad we
could give her a lift home.
Don’t really
have many pictures this week but hope my grand kids know I still love them and
love sharing our experiences with them! Everyone have a good week! Life is
good, it is always good. We just have to choose to look for the goodness!
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| Bristol from the Suspension Bridge |
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