Today, today work with a will; today, today your duties fulfill.

high tide

I do not know why I have been so introspective lately but I have. I am sure it has something to do with the point in time in which we find ourselves with this assignment! I was remembering during my walk this morning how strongly I felt before we left home 13 months ago about leaving my grandchildren and children for such a long stretch. Both of us felt such a deep desire for this mission that we have chosen to serve to be a light, a beacon and a blessing to all of you! Each week as I sit down to record the events of our lives and our adventures I feel that responsibility! To be sure there is a message to my wonderful family that will help them in their daily lives. The frequency of my ramblings probably lends itself to routine and maybe even mundane. I want so much for each and every grand kid to know that I love them and want them to hear of my experiences, both good and bad. I want them to know that there is joy in serving the Lord and even with some sacrifice. Daily I can see each of their little faces and realize how much I love them. I realize even more how much their Heavenly Father loves them!!! 

We have had a good week! Last Thursday YSA activity was a surprise party for Rob Glass! Our resident Scott! He is really a good guy and it was fun to see so many people turn out to wish him well. Thanks to Kieran who worked hard to pull off a great evening!

Happy Birthday Rob

Friday and Saturday we headed out to Taunton and Bath to do missionary flat inspections. We always enjoy feeling the spirit in each place as we enter. I was very proud of the Zone Leaders this week they tried really hard and passed the inspection with top marks. Now they can go out and encourage the District Leaders to have a house of order who in turn can inspire the Elders in the Zone. This may seem trite but our mission leaders are trying to help each missionary understand that the place where they live needs to be conducive to the spirit in every way.

Zone leaders Elders Davies and Kirk with the worlds largest rubber band ball

Sunday we really enjoyed our meetings. Fast Sunday is always uplifting. FHE was great. The lesson was on Gifts of the Spirit and the discussion was great. Lorna thank you! After lesson everyone played a new game that was kind of like Pictionary. Some of the art work was suspect to say the least.

Monday the weather was good so we decided to take an excursion to Avebury, a World Heritage site that has circles in chalk and stone. “The first farmers made their mark on the Avebury landscape almost 6.000 years ago. Since then a pretty village has grown up at the heart of the monument. This is the only place in the world where you’ll find a pub and a chapel inside a stone circle.” It was a lovely day to visit such a fascinating place.

Avebury

Tuesday we went flat hunting again. Yes this time the mission really is going to send in new missionaries to the Downend Ward. We think we found a place. It is in a great location, near several members and bus routes and shopping. The landlord was with the agent when we looked at the flat and he was very impressed with the sisters and their explanation about how the apartment would be used. He was very nice and said he would like to have the church rent his property.

Tuesday afternoon we met Tina Farrell at her drapery & curtain shop in Bedminster. We purchased a spring rod and she made me curtains for my kitchen window!! I feel like a new person because I can now get the light of day in my kitchen and still have privacy! She is my hero!!

they are really white

The Farrells then had us over for tea and Bill stayed there with Wil and his grandson Jack while Tina and I went to the stake center to watch the live broadcast, a fireside for Relief Society and Young Women of the Europe area generating from Frankfurt Germany. Elder’s Bednar, Ballard and Elder Hollstrom of the Presidency of the 70, were the visiting authorities. It was a delightful even intimate setting. The message was purely love and gratitude to the sisters in these great countries and their valiance in living and spreading the gospel. I felt gratitude for the opportunity to be there and partake of the spirit.

Wednesday at district meeting Bill and I were asked to take a few minutes and talk about ‘finding revelation and revelation in finding’, a very missionary topic. I was glad for the opportunity to testify to those 6 great missionaries that they are doing a good job and that they are much loved by the Lord.

On the way home from district meeting we passed a lot of people lined up on either side of the streets waiting for the Tour of Britain. The cyclists would be ending up their 4^th leg of the tour here in Bristol. The finish line was on the Downs and we got home just in time for Bill to hurry over with his camera and catch the end on film. It was a bit of a thrill! We really love living by Clifton Downs because so many events take place there and we just have to walk about a block to enjoy them.

4th leg of the Tour of Britain

YSA meal was great in the evening. Adrian and Brenda Evans just returned from a nice weekend away in Wales and we chatted with them about their adventures and looked at their pictures. We laughed and teased with everyone as always and just enjoyed being together.

Thanks to everyone for being patient with my journal type messages. It is a wonderful way for us to save these moments, share them with you and record some of the highlights of this experience.

Love you all!!! Gratitude especially to you Preeces Pieces for your prayers every day!!!

Returned Elder Riess Flament the connection between the Sierra Leone (Africa) mission and England London South mission!