Truth is our helmet, buckler, and shield…

Come join the ranks, come join the ranks! We have had a very good missionary week! The work goes on! Isn’t that so true? No matter what project or challenge is going on personally, life marches forward. Even though every day we are busy sorting and organizing for our return home the work still goes on around us in full force! I guess it only remains for us to be sure to join in!

Sunday we had a very very nice day! We drove down to the Taunton Ward for a YSA visit. Taunton is one of the farthest wards away from us geographically. We have a sweet feeling about the ward and its members because of an assignment we had there last year which gave us many opportunities to visit. The experience of working with the members during the Somerset floods last year added to that feeling.

Willow man, we see him on our drive to Taunton 

The meetings were all very enjoyable. It was great to rub shoulders with the faithful YSA men and women who were in attendance. The whole day was especially sweet because the Eastwood family were the speakers. They are such good people. Last Saturday, after waiting over 17 years, they were able to be sealed together as a family for time and eternity. Their son and daughter had to wait until they were 21 because their birth father would not give them permission. We feel a special connection to Reiss, the son, because he served in Sierra Leon with Scott and Robin Kanzler. Brother Eastwood was the stake speaker and Sister Eastwood also spoke. The Bishop asked Reiss to also share his testimony. A very powerful meeting!

Brother Eastwood based his talk around a quote that Will Harris had quoted in Priesthood. (Sorry Will, I just could not resist) “We are a church with our sleeves rolled up!” I loved his talk and its message about doing and serving!

Sunday Evening Bill and I taught the YSAHE lesson from Gospel Principals #30 about Charity. Bill showed the YouTube video about the ‘Other Prodigal’. The message made the subject more personal.

Monday the letting agent was going to show our flat in the evening so we scrubbed and cleaned and polished. It was a rather therapeutic exercise. They never did show up but I enjoyed the fresh clean surroundings!

Tues we had a one day late FHE/new member teach with the Southmead Elders, Fran and Georgia. Of course I made brownies. A good time was had by all. Bill showed three of Elder Christofferson’s Mormon Message videos on "Daily Bread". Wow!

We were all in a  jolly mood

Snowed during the night, first snow we have seen since we came.

Wednesday District meeting, as usual was a great one. Elder Terry taught about member missionary work and how important it is. To assist with the topic he had asked Georgia to share her experience on the subject. She made some very good observations that I had not thought of before. She compared the lessons taught by the missionaries to theory. A way to witness how this theory is put into practice comes from watching and associating with members. “By their fruits ye shall know them” Matt 7:10. I think that this is a very powerful reason to bring investigators to church and quite a responsibility for us as members to interact and mingle with them.

Our district lunch was Manifique! Elder Didier from France and Elder Morelli from Italy prepared it. They even printed menus. Indeed they went to great lengths to bring a French and Italian flare to our day! We have a truly international District at the moment: German, Slovakian, French, Italian, English, US and an Elder from Kiribati in the Pacific. Our meeting are just wonderful, I love it! I have learned so much!

Elder Didier and Elder Morelli

That evening our new friend Jessica came over. She was a good friend of the senior couple we replaced. She has recently reached out to us desiring to reconnect with the church. She is a sweetheart. She is from Wales and works here in Bristol. The evening was very windy and blustery and she braved a walk across the Downs from the bus stop to be with us. Of course we took her home. On our way back to our flat we saw the Southmead missionaries forging through the storm towards the bus stop and we were able to pick them up and give them a ride home so they could meet their curfew.

Thursday we were tired after our full busy Wednesday so spent the day resting and preparing the Institute lesson. I should say Bill prepared I supported. The lesson went well even though Milo attend. Milo is Lorna and Nathan’s dog!

Friday we went into London again. I know we thought we had made our last trip into London but low and behold there was a senior outing we forgot. We all met at the British Museum, another last! I know we will start having many ‘lasts’ from now on.

Because we are leaving we were asked to address the group and say our good-byes. Thinking about what to say four things came to mind. 1) I have learned to let go. Let go to come and now I need to let go to leave. 2) I have learned that I am not in charge. 3) I have learned that the Lord really really loves his missionaries. 4) And I have learned that everyone has their own journey! I must not judge…

We enjoyed the museum again!  Next we went out into the cold to find something else to do and ended up going to the cinema in Leicester Square. We saw “The Theory of Everything”, quite a remarkable story!

Often when we are in London we discover something new. Friday was no exception. We were walking a long and found a restaurant called Cantina Laredo. There is an establishment by that name that we go to quite often in Arizona.  We went there for dinner and guess what, it is exactly the same. There is only one franchise in Europe, the one in London! Lindsey said it was to help us get ready to come home! It was delicious.

We returned to Bristol late in the evening. For the first time our departure was from Bristol Parkway station. When we went to get into the Bristol flyer it was covered with frost. For the very first time in 17 ½ months Bill had to use our ice scraper! This morning there was ice and frost all over the pavement when I walked across the Downs. I was slipping and sliding everywhere. The climate here has been much milder than I anticipated and I must say I have been pleased. Only one day cold enough to watch out for ice isn't too bad in a year and a half! I see this fact as a tender mercy for a girl from Arizona!

very slippery walk Sat. morning

I was listening to Alma 31 one day this week and a verse really struck me. Alma was speaking about the apostate Zoramites:

   10 Neither would they observe the performances of the church, to continue in prayer and supplication to God daily, that they might not enter into temptation.

The simple things that we need to do every day can make or break our testimony and dedication. Brother Randall Ridd, Second Counselor in the General Young Men Presidency spoke this month in a devotional for all young adults ages 18 – 30. He spoke about this very thing. He said:

Prophets past and present have pleaded with us to do small and simple things like praying and studying the scriptures. So, why doesn’t everyone do them? Perhaps one reason is that we don’t necessarily see dramatic negative consequences if we miss a day or two—just as your teeth don’t all decay and fall out the first time you forget to brush. Most of the consequences, positive and negative, will come later, over time. But they will come.

I am convinced it is very important to be mindful of the little things every day which build our character and testimony and bring us closer to the Savior. If we are not doing them then we are tied up in habits that have the opposite effect!

I love you all! To my wonderful family! We will see you soon! To the great people here in Bristol England I am so glad we have not left yet! You are so precious to my heart!

Things we will not see when we get home to AZ:

Right by Bristol Parkway

need I say more?