And the work goes on during the European 'Holiday'

Most of Europe goes on 'holiday' for extended periods of time during the summer. With the weather quite unpredictable most of the year and the fact that students are only out for six weeks beginning the middle of July, we can understand wanting to spend as much time with their families in the semi-sunshine as possible. It's interesting that many go to the southwest of England or the Ibiza peninsula on the continent for protracted periods of time... Make no mistake that we are questioning the practice, only during Dan's thirty-two years with Xerox he never took more than "7" consecutive business days vacation.

It is such a priority that whether you have  the resources to go to the continent or just able to afford a 'stay cation,' it is expected and the world is left behind while on holiday. Now that doesn't mean everything stops for the missionaries, it just means we were on our own a bit more!

The days fly by as we manage the office with Joyce busily writing and editing articles for Germany about Family Search and for the opening of the Brussels Public Affairs office for the European Union in mormonnewsroom.org.

While Joyce is using her journalistic talents, Dan helps to manage the finances for the Public Affairs in the United Kingdom by helping to balance the finances for the rest of 2014 and to develop the budget for 2015.

Jameson and Laura took advantage of her family's annual week in Chelan to bless their little Carter as her brother Scott's family and the Uffens (Matt and Kistine) joined in the celebration with Bishop Jim (Grandpa) and Barb (Grandma). It's times like this that the sacrifice of a mission becomes quite transparent. They have been wonderful to keep us in the loop via SKYPE and email with all their family developments. One new development is they are moving to St. Louis in late September or early October. Purchasing a new home, starting a new job (piloting The Children's Hospital of St. Louis' helicopter), moving half way across the United States and having a new baby... talk about stress!

Beautiful families gathered to bless Carter.

The weather has turned with Fall clearly in the air as temperatures are hovering in the low sixties with forties at night. The rains that were primarily absent in the summer have started to remind us why we appreciate the warmth and dry provided at home.

Leaves outside our flat window are turning and dropping from their trees and there is frost on the ground.

OK, OK convince us that it's August!! That's Sister Jones in a long, heavy coat in downtown Birmingham near the Bull Ring Centre at 5:00 p.m.

Birmingham in the distance with a Land Rover factory closer to us as we look out from Lickey Hills.

Not too many homes in Utah have thatched roofs let alone a fox prancing on the roof beam. (It's a taxidermy... not real)

With the PA Director of the Solihull office out on holiday, we spent much of August in the office during the week.  Yet we did get a nice Saturday afternoon visit to Leamington Spa in Warwickshire, only twenty minutes away from our flat. To enjoy the local mineral springs, spa towns were developed in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Over the decades most fell into disrepair and were forgotten until recent years. In the last twenty years, some restored spa towns have emerged as "holiday" or vacation spots with beautiful manicured gardens and marvelous shopping down restored Georgian high streets.

Stephson Garden in Leamington Spa.

Joyce brightening the gardens!

The River Avon and the charming town of Leamington Spa.

The Royal Leamington Spa Baths now host flowers and tourists where bathers once relieved pains in their hot mineral springs. Notice the "postman" pushing his mail cart... we used their Royal Mail services a great deal in August posting letters to every MP (Member of Parliament) identifying the Church as a charity that promotes faith in Jesus Christ, families as being central to our society and identify the Church's work in the communities to help the general good. We also sent letters to many of the most prominent religious leaders in the United Kingdom to collaboratively work in an interfaith way to express our disapproval of a bill in Parliament which was being put forth to assist those who are dying (Assisted Dying). You may be interested to know that more than 1/3 of the MPs consider themselves as humanists and the leaders of two of the major parties are avowed atheists. Preserving religious freedom in the United Kingdom is a major concern for our Church as well as many others.

Guess where we are? Utah? Nope, in Touchwood Mall here in Solihull! Five Guys, Burgers and Fries just arrived bringing us a taste from home.

A couple of comments here... We are amazed at the cost of items in England and the taxes associated with any purchase. Notice the 20% Value Added Tax on the purchase of 3 hamburgers, 2 large fries and 3 drinks which came to about $70 with the $11 tax included. With many Britons paying 40% income tax and an additional 20% on almost all purchased items, it becomes prohibitive for the English to enjoy what we take for granted in the United States. Where we spend a $1, the British spend a pound ($1.70). Gasoline is more the double in the UK versus America, so most use public transportation as the primary means of getting around. We must say that the transportation system is very good due to the fact that so many need to use the buses and trains to get to work, school or travel anywhere.

Elders Peterson and Leal happily joined Elder and Sister Jones for dinner at Five Guys. We enjoy taking the two pair of missionaries assigned to the Sheldon Ward to dinner frequently as we cannot have them to our flat due to the distance from their areas. Elder Leal is from Blackfoot, Idaho and Elder Peterson just arrived from Logan, Utah. Our other set of Elders are from Redmund, Washington and the Philippines.

Joyce accompanies the children in Primary for their music almost every Sunday as well as  playing for Sacrament Meeting. When she doesn't play the piano, she conducts the music as there are only two other sisters (not including the sister who is in her nineties that can accompany) who can play the hymns. A couple of weeks ago the senior couples and four missionaries sang "Called to Serve" for Sacrament Meeting, and I bet you wouldn't guess that Dan sang a duet... Too bad it was supposed to be a solo for that verse and he forgot to not sing! Never knew I had so much talent, did you????

On a very good Sunday, they will have as many as 10 children in Primary including Timmy who is 54. Paula, MaryJo, Elaine (away on holiday) and Joyce love these wonderful little ones. Last Sunday, there was only one child as it was a Bank Holiday Weekend and all the others were on holiday. Timmy has been adopted by his former housekeeper (Marguerite, a member of the ward and close to seventy years of age) who worked for Timmy's parents prior to their deaths. She couldn't let him go into a state home for the disabled, so he came home with her and her husband. Remarkable story and a remarkably amazing couple - Patrick and Marguerite! Timmy is very special to everyone in this little ward. Just before sacrament begins each Sunday Timmy will go to the pulpit and blow three times into the microphone after which the Bishop gently thanks him as he leaves the stand. You see, Timmy thinks he has just offered an opening prayer. At the conclusion of sacrament meeting as Joyce is playing the postlude, Timmy quietly moves to the piano and joins her in playing the final song. He gently plays an assortment of base keys but in tempo with final song's rhythm. When they conclude, they shake hands and Timmy is complimented by everyone as he is escorted out of the chapel by Patrick. Weekly Timmy, Marguerite, and Patrick are teaching us all a great deal about unconditional love and compassion.

September will bring spokesperson and media training in Oxford, Bristol, and Scotland. It will also take us to Chesterfield to have Joyce write an article for The Conservation and Heritage Journal reflecting the Church's efforts to use environmental friendly materials and techniques in constructing new chapels. It is a British magazine where restorations of existing cathedrals or constructions of new parishes, priories, and churches are showcased. We imagine the flowers of Solihull's High Street will fade with the weather changing.

The end of September will find us closer to home (a bit) here in the Midlands to help orient and train two faithful senior sisters from Morgan Utah who will be joining our Public Affairs team in Solihull. We've located a lovely flat for them and Joyce is busily shopping to furnish it with personal touches that will welcome them.

October will see us in Belgium and The Netherlands so we have much to do, many to meet, and more to see. We love you and pray for you daily...