Spirit of the work....

The Sisters Arrive

Sisters Banner and Russell arrived early in the morning at the Birmingham Airport on Tuesday, September 30. Following a short ride we "tucked" them into their flat to refresh before introducing them to the entire office staff at the Solihull Church Administration Building.

Both sisters are from Morgan, Utah and served in their stake's Relief Society Presidency before coming to the decision that they wanted to serve together as full-time missionaries. Sister Banner is a mother of seven with grandchildren and has served as a Public Affairs missionary in Frankfurt with her husband prior to his passing. Sister Russell has a total of eleven children with grandchildren and is a retired elementary school teacher of nearly forty years.

We are impressed with their remarkable desire and amazing commitment to serve the Lord in a foreign country. Away from family, familiar surroundings, comforts of home and they smile each day come rain or shine. Mostly rain these days.... in fact, we expect heavenly downpours nearly everyday for the next two weeks.

Sister Russell, Malcolm Adcock (Director of Public Affairs for UK) and Sister Banner enjoy a chance to visit while touring the sisters' new flat at 38 Thorpe Court in Solihull.

Sister Jones, Sister Banner, Sister Russell and Elder Jones bask in the sun outside the Birmingham Mission Office.

Our friends from Boise, President and Sister Rasmussen preside over nearly 300 missionaries in the Birmingham England Mission that encompasses the midlands of England and half of Wales. Craig and Julie were in our ward in Eagle Idaho and he served as our Bishop for a number of years. We still remember that period of our lives as a bit of "Camelot" as our children were surrounded by wonderful  school friends (including the Rasmussen children) and we established life-long friends with the Maughans, Manns, Rasmussens, Ranstroms, Smiths, Clarks, Gardiners and too many others to mention. We remember a time when many of us got together in New York City to celebrate the Christmas season... and here we are so many years later enjoying that continued friendship across the ocean.

Paula (in front of Joyce) brought the Sheldon Ward together as many celebrated her retirement with a dinner at The Harvester in Sheldon. It's remarkable how close we've become to these dear brothers and sisters! David across from Paula wouldn't allow us to purchase Paula's dinner as he 'claimed the honour' despite the fact that he just left his current employment. It touches our hearts when we see their sacrifice in the face of many personal concerns. They may not have many of the physical blessings that become commonplace in our lives back home, but they live the Savior's admonition to care for their brothers and sisters as they care for themselves. 

Media Training in Chester

Chester is a medieval walled city that  is rich in history as well as charming in personality. Time has stood still despite this working Victorian Clock (with Joyce beneath) that greets visitors along the city wall and above the two-story commercial shopping district of the city.

The second most famous clock in England provides the backdrop for Joyce. Placed as a tribute to the sixtieth anniversary for Queen Victoria it still keeps perfect time.

Not far from the Victorian clock, the Cathedral of Chester sits on high ground just off the city wall.

Sister Jones leads the discussion relating to how we are members of the Church can reflect the gospel in our engagement with the media. Frequently the press has an angle that the news editors want to present and we want to tell our story in our words. As followers of Christ, we want our neighbors and friends to know that we believe in the Savior and that we respect others' beliefs. Although we may not have the same doctrinal faith, it is important to know that we have much more in common with people of other faiths than we have differences. People of faith believe in helping others and respecting the beliefs of others as we live in harmony with our neighbors.

Elder Pratt on the right is from Bountiful and has a remarkable conversion story that includes having to choose between his family or the gospel. Elder Mongie on the left is from Kaysville and is a Chinese speaking missionary assigned to the Chester Ward (which happens to be in Ewloe Wales). St. David's Park in Ewloe has a beautiful chapel that serves as the Stake Centre for many congregations, most of whom are in Wales.

Going 'Home' to Merthyr Tydfil

Genealogically speaking, when we research the Jones name all sources lead to Merthyr Tydfil! Merthyr is a beautiful valley community in South Wales that once led the United Kingdom with its steel mills and coal mining. Later the Hoover Company established it's European manufacturing headquarters here as the community of 100,000 is now only about 50,000.

Notice that the name of the Church is in Welsh on one side of the stake centre.

On the opposite side of the largest stake centre building in the United Kingdom is the name of the Church in English. President David O. McKay dedicated the building fifty years ago as it was his ancestral home. Notice that fall with its ever-present rain has come to the United Kingdom.

Welsh and English appear on all signage.

Sister Julie Jones is the Church's representative on the Interfaith Council of Wales where she meets with the Bishops and Archbishops of Wales along with the heads of of other faiths. Julie is a returned missionary originally from Chorley who radiates goodness as evidenced with the photograph above. She is a mother of five and the wife of a counselor in the stake presidency.

Former President of the Preston Temple, Arnold Jones, with his lovely wife, June, and daughter-in-law, Julie. After just a few minutes in their home, we felt like we were related by more than sharing our common surname. President and Sister Jones served us a lovely Welsh soup, rolls and Welsh cakes for lunch before taking us on a tour of the area.

Sister Jones, Sister Jones, Sister Jones and Brother Jones.... Joyce, June, Julie and Arnold. With another Jones behind the camera!

President McKay's mother (an Evans) was born in the little home in Merthyr. The plaque on the side of the door identifies her birthplace as a community landmark.

It would be hard to find a more beautiful place where we felt such an immediate kinship.

President and Sister Jones take grass blades to clean the headstone of Elder Abel Evans, a Welsh convert, who served nearly a decade after being called to go back on a mission to serve in his native land. The Daughters of Utah Pioneers have place a commemorative plaque on his headstone.

Many companies in these small towns (steel and coal in the case of Merthyr) provided homes for their supervisors. The concept was very common in mining communities and brings back memories of growing up as a young boy in Bingham Canyon where my grandparents had a 'company' provided home in Copperton as part of his position with Kennecott Copper. Later my grandparents purchased the home where my mother and her 5 siblings were raised. Although not quite as small or attached as these are, the neighbors were all supervisors employed by a common employer. Over the fence conversations were dominated by talk of unions, strikes, mineral prices and 'the pit.' Walking by these homes brought back the ghosts of my childhood with an alarming force.

President Jones's mother was baptized in this pool at the base of this bridge on January 31st. Can you imagine how cold it must have been and how much faith she must have had? This little place in Wales is full of this same kind of faith even today.