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.