Traveling, Teaching and Training

Guernsey is a beautiful island about five miles square off the coast of Normandy that is a Bailiwick of the United Kingdom, but not part of the United Kingdom. English speaking with the French flair, Guernsey today is where the wealthy go to vacation and was where Victor Hugo wrote much of Les Miserables while in exile. We drove to Southampton to catch a 45 minute flight to this little paradise on the 18th of June.

 We found that the tide fluctuates more (nearly 30 feet) in Guernsey than almost any place in the world as seen from the missionaries' flat. That rock pier is covered at high tide.

Each Guernsey parish competes with the other to beautify their homes and gardens in an island competition each summer. The missionaries are mentioned in the Forest parish brochure for their care of the Wild Spot to be shown below.

With a small branch of less than thirty today, it has a rich history in the Church as nearly 150 converts immigrated to Utah in the 1850s. The current Branch President, Elder Mike Hancock, who along with his wonderful wife, Marsha, lead this tiny congregation. Joining the Hancocks (who are from West Weber, Utah) are four great missionaries: Elder Travers (Tasmania), Elder Bodhaine (California), Elder Erickson (Kaysville) and Elder Preece (Salem).

The Hancocks (Mike and Marsha) and the missionary force (Elders Erickson, Bodhaine, Preece and Travers) on Guernsey.

 Missionaries find joy in every aspect of their lives... especially in chocolate!

 Every garden is fabulous... even the wheelbarrows are decorated with blossoms.

 Very narrow roads, high walls and lush green gardens adorn the island.

Responding to a Channel ITV request to follow the missionaries for a day filming them in their daily activities, Sister Jones and I helped facilitate the production as best we could. We had the opportunity to witness these faithful missionaries street contact passers-by on the High Street of St. Peter's Port, clean a parish Wild Spot garden, sing at a centre for the blind and fulfill their daily activities with complete joy! We helped them understand the responsibilities associated with being media spokespersons and how they could represent the Church in the best possible manner. We hope the final film production reflects how much good these missionaries do in positively representing the Lord through their service. We are so grateful and proud of each of them and of the Hancocks, who are more than 'saints.' Eighteen months on a 5 x 5 mile island (initially with no car) living with four elders who become more like their sons, paying $2/liter for milk, $12/gallon for gas and virtually having zero (I mean nada) privacy! The Church hasn't any more faithful members than these two amazingly patient, loving, and devoted souls.

London offers so many cultural, educational and intellectual opportunities to enrich one's life. Combine that heritage with the talented professors from the BYU and you form a lifetime memory for fortunate students who study there. The BYU London Centre is one of the most beautiful spots in this great city as it is just steps away from Hyde Park and Kensington Palace. We worked with professor James Faulconer (who Dan had as a professor at the Y) to help with a re-opening reception of the completely remodeled facility on the 24th of June. The event brought President and Sister Kevin J. Worthen and a number of academics in addition to community and church leaders together to celebrate this remarkable centre. We enjoyed lunch with Gabriele Sirtl, the Director of Public Affairs for the Europe Area. Joyce's article will soon be published in the Deseret News which follows her recent publication of the article on the Manchester YSA Centre opening. My only contribution was taking this photo below and getting dignitaries to sign releases.

 The BYU London Centre in the heart of Westminster provides a world-class opportunity for the best college students in the world.

In keeping with the whirlwind pace, we were home for a day and then off to Edinburgh via the Lakes District and Dove Cottage where we met with the Director and Curator of the Wordsworth Trust Foundation. BYU has been invited to provide interns at Dove Cottage in Grasmere where they become immersed in the Romance Poets of the day... Wordsworth, Coleridge, Southey, etc. We were introduced to Shane Peterson, a RM from Henderson, Nevada, who is an English major at BYU planning to go to law school and currently the summer intern at the foundation.
Joyce had the rare opportunity to handle original manuscripts and learn the creative process that Wordsworth used to write his poetry.

 Shane Peterson, BYU intern at Dove Cottage

 Jeff Cowton (Curator), Michael McGregor (Director) and Sister Jones handle the original Wordsworth first edition of poetry

 The gardens are magnificent...

and Elder Jones still cannot get away from answering Public Affairs emails and calls while on the road. We had a 'wee bit of press' this past week that needed attention and had us hopping.

Scottish Borders

Edinburgh is a 6 1/2 hour drive from Solihull due to the winding roads and busy traffic. But it is a fascinating city with a rich history and a yet-to-be-determined future with the Independence Vote coming up on the 18th of September. Many Scots want to be independent of Britain, many centuries old debate. Remember William Wallace? We viewed the city a bit and then prepared to train Stake Presidents and Stake Directors of Public Affairs on how to become effective Spokespersons for the Church.
It is amazing as we see these faithful people travel hours to attend a four-hour Saturday training, contribute so effectively to the training, and then travel hours home. It was a beautiful day in Scotland which made their sacrifice even more remarkable.
Sister Dawn Keough (the wonderful Mulit-Stake Director of Public Affairs for Scotland) scheduled the training and invited the participants who were "brilliant" as they say in the UK. Of particular note is President Daryl Watson of the Dundee Stake... Many of the leaders in the Church here have been refined by being so strong in a difficult environment and represent the most spiritually in-tune people we have ever met. We were graciously invited back, so we took that as a compliment to the training.

Grandpa Wrigley (a Cunningham descendent) and Grandma Wrigley would have loved hearing the bagpipes that play all over the city. 

 A view from the castle at Edinburgh.

 Cute girl... beautiful day!

Even the Dalmahoy Marriott Hotel was once a castle... now a 36 hole golf resort! Too bad we haven't played any golf, miniature or otherwise, since we've been here. We wouldn't know what to do with 5 free hours of time.

"Course you can"...the rest of the story

We published our update to the blog without filling in some of the important parts, so we are taking a page out of a late Paul Harvey broadcast to fill in the 'rest of the story.' Joyce played the  journalist as well as a wonderful host for the the opening of the YSA building.

(See www.mormonnewsroom.org.uk for Joyce's article and more official photos)

The Chapel/Institute/Community Centre Opening not only brought out "4" Mayors and an MP, but a number of old-timers including Bishop Viner and Bishop Caddock that I knew so many years ago. Both are in their eighties and serving on a High Council to a thirty"ish"' year old Stake Presidency.

Bishop Caddock (also President Caddock of the West Indies Mission and Manchester Stake) and Bishop Viner (also President as a counselor in the Preston Temple Presidency) told me of a sister we baptized some 44 years ago.

So here's the rest of the story. Much to my delight, Elsie Clark's husband (Ron) eventually joined the church and they were sealed in the temple prior to his death. Bishop Caddock told me that Ron gradually gave up his pipe and while he had been attending with Elsie for several years, he still had the Dr.'s order about having a 'wee-bit' of brandy each evening for his heart condition. President Caddock called Elder Nelson about the Dr.'s orders to which Elder Nelson replied, "Phooey!"
Ron exercised his faith, gave up the evening brandy and was baptized.

"Course you can!"

One of the most delightful new phrases we have learned is "course you can." When asking for ice at a restaurant, the waitress will pleasantly respond with this phrase. We believe it can universally apply to lots of things: driving on the left side of the road OR having a yellow light precede the green so you can get a running start OR multiple lane roundabouts where only the aggressive can get off and on the correct exit OR parking on both sides of a two lane street OR car doors that don't open the same direction..."course you can!"

Our little Vauxhall Meriva has an interesting door configuration... built for easy access. But it's a bit confusing as to how the doors can open together, one-at-a-time, front only or back only. The back doors swing open opposite the front... But we've figured out how to load and unload in very confined parking spaces by having a "course you can" attitude.

Parking occurs on both sides of a two-lane road. Every day we travel this little lane to go through the round-about on Stratford Road (yes, it's to Stratford-upon-Avon) to get to the office. Roads have replaced the little lanes where carriages and horses once hauled the commerce to the High Street (Main Street) for market. Now cars line the roads and it takes a bit of maneuvering to get around.

With parking at a premium in the UK as evidenced from our photo above ... We "dodge" cars every morning going to the office..."Course you can!" Here is the real miracle reflecting the graciousness of this lovely country. Round-abouts work, narrow lanes work, parking on the street works because people are generally very, very considerate. It's every-other-one even in "rush hours" because it's the "course you can" attitude of the people.

Let's introduce some other of our favorite expressions. Guess what these expressions mean. (Answers will be at the end of this blog post).

"Gently earwigging..."

"Illuminate, pray tell..."

"Pear-shaped day..."

"Mind the gap..."

"Paper over the cracks..."

Things we love about the United Kingdom

Uniforms for school children and respect of the educational system seems to be paramount values to most English students who have very limited choices without higher education in their future.

Everyone walks to school... come rain or shine the groups of students with their school bags are off to school. "Course you can" walk and not ride everywhere!

We love the train and the convenience of having a station just two blocks from our flat. You can take the train to Birmingham or Stratford for free when you are "elderly people." Course you can...

The Royal Shakespearean Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon is a 30 minute train ride from our local rail station (Shirley). We love the cultural and heritage opportunities that are so accessible. We jumped on the train after office hours yesterday and enjoyed the long summer evening taking in the beauties.

 White Swan on the River Avon

Our forefathers must have been just a bit shorter... McDonalds has super-sized us! By-the-way, there is a McDonalds on every corner in the UK. Where are those Wimpey Bars of my youthful mission days that offered those silver dollar-sized hamburgers? In what may be the exact opposite of culture, 5 Guys Burgers and Fries will be in the Touchwood Mall right across the street from our office in Solihull in a few weeks. England has given us Shakespeare, the Magna Carta, Churchill, Lord Nelson, the BBC, Cadbury Chocolate, Soccer and English Common Law. We (Americans) have given the United Kingdom McDonalds, KFC, Starbucks, Campbells Soup and Heinz Ketchup. Pretty fair exchange, huh?

Joyce, the River Avon and the Stratford Church where Shakespeare is interned. Magnificent Scenery... we love the green landscape.

The gardens of Great Britain are magnificent... This one is in Hyde Park, just a couple of blocks from the chapel on Exhibition Road!

We enjoyed a stroll through Hyde Park with at least 100,000 others on a sun-filled day.

We enjoyed a weekend in London at the BYU Management Society/London LDS Business Forum Conference on Saturday. One cannot describe the talent in the church... Highly educated LDS presenters from Oxford (John Hoffmire), BYU (James Faulconer), Duesche Bank (Sam Norton), OnTrack (CEO Kevin Johnson) as well as Elder Clifford Herbertson (Area Seventy) made it a very informative and instructive day. Sunday brought us to two sacrament meetings at the Hyde Park Chapel that were filled with visitors, children, wonderful talks and a vibrant feel to the church. The Bishops were young returned missionaries about 30 years old (with cute little families) which gives us so much hope for the future of the church in the UK. When President Hinckley dedicated the Preston Temple he promised a resurgence of the growth of the church in England as in the days of the early twelve in the UK. We believe that this growth will be gradual in terms of converts, but astronomical in terms of young, faithful families growing up in the gospel.

We spent time with the London Mission President (David Jordan), Elder Herbertson and the Cardalls (of KSL editorial fame).

  With the Cardalls (Directors of London Visitor's Centre) outside the Hyde Park Chapel on Exhibition Road.

American answers to British phrases

Gently Earwigging means listening to another's conversation.

Illuminate, pray tell means explain your point.

Pear-shaped day means the day isn't going well. 

Mind the gap means watch your step (especially getting on a bus or train).

Paper over the cracks means covering up one's faults.

We are off to a Human Rights Conference in Oxford on Saturday, the 14th. Driving to Southampton to fly to Guernsey for two days on Wednesday, the 18th, where a television station (Channel ITV) wants to follow two missionaries around for a day filming them. Back to London on the 24th for the BYU Centre re-opening with President Worthen and leave on the 26th of June for Scotland for two days where we deliver Spokesperson Training to Stake Presidents and Public Affairs Directors. 

The Respect for those who wear the BLACK BADGE...

This week we were reminded of the blessings of being missionaries as we were discussing our service with several of the English couples in the area. Each of the couples are planning to serve a mission even though they have multiple important callings in the church.
One is a former member of the Stake Presidency, ward mission leader, serves in the temple one week every other month, volunteered at the mission office when the replacement couple was delayed for a couple of months. He wore his "Black Badge" day and night as he was honored to wear it by giving full-time service in the mission office. They have the white church service badges for their temple service, but they are so anxious to get their full-time call to the Preston Temple sometime in the next month. We honestly don't know what the ward will do without them... But the Martins want the honor of wearing those Black Badges. Bless them!

Another couple, the Wills, are simply wonderful! Bright, gregarious, optimistic and well-experienced in the gospel. They were preparing for their mission and had their papers ready to submit when they found a heart condition in Jeanie that was unknown and could have killed her. Perhaps this is the blessing in their mission as they would have never found it had they not been preparing the medical paperwork. Already moved out of their home and living with a son, they have put their whole life on hold to prepare for the mission. Now they have at least another 3 month wait while the socialized medicine system puts her in a "queue" to wait for an aorta operation.

Jeanie and Chris Wills

Our wonderful friends, the Cooks, are planning their mission for 2017 as they have circled that date on their calendar. We wouldn't be surprised if they won't be called as a mission president and wife as they have deep spiritual roots and a wealth of experience. Again... they want to wear the Black Badges even though they are so involved (20 - 30 hours per week) as the National Directors for Public Affairs in the UK.

Martin and Judith Cook

It is truly amazing the respect and admiration these English people (most of whom are converts) have for the missionaries. What a humbling responsibility it is to wear the Black Badge as we serve here in the UK!

The ward celebrated a special event this week as a couple from the ward was married. The chapel was filled to the rafters (really fake ceiling as it's an old converted Methodist church) with extra chairs required. Everyone looked lovely and the civil ceremony (which precedes the temple sealing) was a program that tenderly celebrated the two of them.

Richard's and Tonia's Wedding

After the ceremony at the church, the entire wedding party watches as the photographers take bridal pictures. Then the wedding party goes into the cultural hall for a potluck feast collected for the couple by everyone contributing something. Joyce prepared four dozen savory cheese sticks and three dozen egg salad sandwich rolls. A reception followed the dinner where almost everyone gives money to help the new couple get started. It was a whole afternoon and evening event....

After we purchased our first home in Bountiful  on Center Street above 800 East (just around the corner from Grandma and Grandpa Wrigley), we became wonderful friends with Celia and Dean Jolley. We've vacationed with them, watched their family grow and enjoyed their goodness for more than 35 years. We even toured England and Scotland with them last year before receiving our mission call. We received our call in November and the Jolleys received their Self Reliance Missionary call in February... guess where? We are about 9 miles apart and have been assigned to serve as Member Leadership Support missionaries to the same Sheldon Ward in Birmingham. Is the church a small world or what?

The arrival of the Jolleys

When you count all the long-term friends we have currently serving in England, it's truly an amazing number: the Pecks, the Jolleys, the Taylors and the Pews (below).

Elder and Sister Pew (formerly Julie Johnston as in Gloria and Blair Johnston of Bountiful) serving as YSA missionaries in the beautiful, new Manchester YSA building. More to follow on that new program and building which was recently dedicated by Elder Christofferson. We are helping to facilitate the community opening ceremony with a ribbon cutting ceremony by the Lord Mayor of Manchester City, Susan Cooley.