Blog time again… This past week has been busy and filled with missionary responsibilities and enjoyable time with YSA. Last Saturday we were up bright and early heading through beautiful Somerset and Wiltshire Counties to Chippenham for the Zone leader’s flat inspection.
The morning was crisp and sunny. It is hard
to describe how pretty driving through that part of the West Country can be. It
reminded me of a notion I had when I was going to school in Hawaii a very long time ago. My friend Janie and I
would imagine being rich enough to have a camera that could record the entire
trip driving into Honolulu from Laie. We wanted to take such a masterpiece home
to California with us so we could watch it any time we got home sick for our
year in the islands. Janie’s Mom just laughed at us and said “if you were rich
you would just come back and visit”. I had that same desire for the beautiful
green countryside of England. Now I do not have to be rich and I actually
could record the whole drive, but I think I will just come back and visit someday.
The Elders were so cute, they had worked very
hard to have their flat in tip top shape. They were even bragging about the
deal they got on a new iron and vacuum. Love these boys!!!
Next stop was in Bath proper to inspect the Sisters flat and of course it was in great shape. Sister Polidario from the
Philippines and Sister Torvinen from Norway were excited because they had a
baptism that afternoon. The cake they baked for refreshments however stuck to
the pan and split in half. I helped them figure out how to serve it in an
alternative fashion and no one would be the wiser.
Since we were already in Bath and had a
parking place, we decided to walk on down to the city center to the ‘Bath
Christmas Market’. This event is quite famous! The feeling in the air was
electric with Christmas cheer. The crowds were so thick that browsing the
booths could only be from afar with many bodies in between. I loved it
though…even though Saturday was probably not the best day to enjoy it. There
were actually rows and rows of buses bringing people in from all over to see
the market!
We did stop at a little booth selling olive
wood carvings from Bethlehem. We bought a figurine of Mary and Joseph and the
baby Jesus. In chatting to the vender we mentioned that we knew someone from
Bethlehem. We told him her name and he said he knew her and her family. He knew
her first name without us telling him. That made us feel like the item is
authentic and made it even more special because of our love for Sister Qumsiyeh.
We found some fun Christmas trinkets to send
to our family at another booth. Even with the crowds it was a glorious day! We
came home to find our travel plans for our release date in February and went to
the movie to see “Paddington Bear” that evening. Loved Saturday!
Sunday was awesome as usual. The Fast and
Testimony Meeting as always inspired me with a desire to strengthen my own testimony.
The discussion in Gospel Essentials class was lively. Some great questions were
asked that made us all think and search for the answers and daily application.
Sunday night Bristol City celebrated the 150
year anniversary of the Clifton Suspension bridge, you know the one I am
obsessed with and keep posting pictures of. Quite a few of the Young Single
Adults met at our house and we walked over to the downs to watch the spectacle!
It was a fantastic display. There were thousands of people in the park spilling
out into our neighborhood, stumbling over each other in the dark. The group and a few more came back to our flat for hot chocolate and donuts and games!
Monday was a good day for catching up. Most
of the sickies from last week were recovering. We watched the First
Presidency’s Christmas devotional with Georgia. We invited more but she is the
only one who could come. I loved it, I always feel the Christmas spirit so much
stronger when I watch this broadcast every year.
Tuesday we were waiting for a currier to come
pick up the Christmas packages we are sending home. Bill went out to run some
errands while I stayed home to wait. We then both waited, from 8 am to 8 pm and
he never showed up! Now we had to wait all day the next day. Ugh! Fortunately he
did come in the morning.
Tuesday we went to Costco and other errands
we could not run the day before. That night just as we were going to bed we got a call
that the Elders in Downend were being taken to A&E (emergency). Elder
Caruso our district leader was pretty sick. Adrian Evans called us later in the
evening to say that they had been checked in and were told it was a long wait
so he was going home. We said we would pick them up when they were done. The
call came in at 2:15 am. We did learn that it is really easy to drive around
Bristol in the wee small hours of the morning! He had tonsillitis and was put
on some strong meds. They were both pretty worn out after spending such a long
time in the waiting room. They were also worried that they would have to miss
the trip to the temple in the morning. He was well enough and
they did get to go.
We were not able to go on this mission temple trip because it conflicted with the Bristol Stake YSA Christmas
meal. We went over to the Wells Rd chapel in the evening to help with the
decorating. When we came home we were still tired form our middle of the night
escapades the night before.
We were soundly sleeping and at 2:15 am on
the dot the fire alarm in our building went off. Groggily I poked my head out
the door, to make a long story short there really was a small fire and we all had to
gather in a safe place. One of the flats had an electrical fire and had
extinguished it but there was a lot of smoke. The Fire Brigade had been called
and three big fire trucks showed up. They pulled this very long hose up the
stairs but it was not needed after all. The pumper truck stayed and the hook
ladder and hydraulic trucks left. We did not get back to bed until about 4:00
am because they had to make sure the electrics were checked out and we were all
safe. Another middle of the night vigil!
Thursday we went early to help with meal
preparations. The traffic was so bad though it took us an hour to get there.
The chapel is only 5 miles away…The whole evening was great! It was the "Mad Hatter Christmas Party". Thanks to Adrian
and Brenda Evans and Lisa Taylor and all the YSA who helped. It was very
fun. These moments are moments we will
cherish for a long time. We were very tired when we finally hit the sack that
night but could not stop smiling!
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It is amazing how much we have come to love all of these people! |
Friday more flat inspections. This time we
drove to Taunton and Weston-super-Mare. We love visiting those sisters. They
are so great. I wish I could can the spirit we feel when we walk into their
flat and as they enthusiastically tell us of their work!
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| Book of Mormon tree Taunton sisters |
There is a lovely German market in down town
Bristol. It was rather festive walking back to the bus stop. Loved it!
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| German market |
Love you all, love this experience! I am so
thankful for this season of the year. Even the busiest people can feel the
magic in the air. Isn't that amazing? Even the non-religious can not deny the
power of celebrating an event that happened over 2,000 years ago still brings! He
lives! He is The Gift!
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| sunset late afternoon from our kitchen |
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