Autumn brings the waning days of our mission...

Sheldon Ward Friends

It is difficult to say goodbye to our friends in Sheldon whom we admire for their goodness and generosity. We thought you may be interested in meeting a few of them...

We love Carol, Paul, Amy and Jasper Wilkins as we have visited with them a couple of times each month. Paul is an expert in Family History and Carol works in the healthcare field.

Marguerite, Patrick and Timmy Carroll are inspirational to the entire ward. Hearts as large as the universe, they have taken Timmy into their home when he lost both parents and had no place to go but an institution.

Carol Wilkins, Anna Stilger (the Bishop's wife) and Sian Jones (Stake Relief Society President) happily hug in the chapel.

Elder and Sister Michaelis from Orem, Utah serve in the ward with us. These two wonderful people serve with the Lichfield YSA, Self-Reliance and in our ward.

We love to home teach Daniele and Anna Camisani along with Guilia, Fabio and Suzie. Daniele is a Software Architect serving as the First Counselor in the ward. You walk into their home where you feel love and an overwhelming sense of peace.

As a family counselor and loving friend, Sian she picks up Ricky and Sophie Williams every Sunday for church.

Sarah and Matthew Amison are a lovely young couple who represent the hope we have for the future of the Church in the British Isles. Matt is a 'Maths' teacher with an MA in Oceanogrpahy.

Beatti Wright is a German saint that lives in the UK and is part of our Relief Society Presidency.

Brother James Rollins is a culinary expert who contributes generously to the ward's parties despite the 7 stints in arteries to his heart.

Bishop Stilger's mother is a sweet German lady who lives with her family and speaks little English. But she always finds other ways to lovingly communicate.

Ian and Debbie Hadley support the ward as a High Counselor and Youth Sunday School teacher.

Prior to leaving the UK, we visited Churchill's Chartwell - Winston and Clementine Churchill's Estate

Dan happily wandering the grounds at Chartwell.

Our good friends, David and Debbie Jones, introduced us to Churchill's Chartwell on the Surrey weald near the London Temple.

Churchill's fourteen personal friends secretly purchased Chartwell to allow the great British Prime Minister to live in this beautiful spot in his later years. Having served his entire life in government, Churchill sadly retired with few resources.

Final Munch and Mingle at the Sheldon Ward

Dan starts his meal at the dessert end of the table. Costco cake, trifle, Victoria Sponge Cake, cookies....

Following Sunday meetings, members and guests truly enjoy the association and food at these get-togethers.

Elder Mthethwa and Elder Rane enjoy the food at the ward's Munch and Mingle.

Second to last visit to London via King's Cross Station.... Joyce uses her wand to take the Hogwort's Express!

 Harry, Ron and Hermione have nothing on Joyce...

Dinner at Pierino's with Sister Stevens prior to taking the tube to the West End play.

The Williams, Joneses and Gales pose for a photo after "Beautiful," a play about Carole King's life.

 Christine and Clayton Christensen share the gospel in the UK

Our wonderful friends, Christine (Quinn) and Clayton Christensen generously supported the mission of public affairs before we left England by sharing their insights and examples with members, missionaries and opinion leaders in the UK. Nothing has changed them over the nearly fifty years of our friendship as they represent the 'best of the best' in every aspect of their lives.  As a world-renowned scholar, Clayton continues to be humble in his goal to "help others" until the day he passes to the other side of the veil. His keen intellect is only surpassed by his large heart... and Christine is every bit his equal.

Christine, Clayton, Elder Herbertson (Area Seventy), President Phillips (Hyde Park Stake) prepare for the devotional.

 Clayton explaining the principles of how to become a more effective member missionary.

 Christine and Clayton engaging the congregation following the devotional in the Hyde Park Chapel.

More than 450 turned out to the Sunday evening Power of Answering Sincere Questions devotional.

 The Power of Everyday Missionaries training to the London Mission

 President Mark Stevens leading his mission in the principles of "Everyday Missionaries..."

The Christensens teaching the missionaries how to learn from the case study of Sister Susan Fulcher.

Clayton teaching the London Mission missionaries by asking questions using a Harvard Business School case methodology approach.

Returning to Oxford to speak to Oxford Ward FHE

Joining Clayton at Christ Church College at Oxford University.

President Aitchison introducing Clayton and Christine to faculty, students and ward members at the Oxford FHE. One guest, Dr. Cole, expressed to an LDS colleague that this experience was the most spiritual experience of his life.

Clayton speaking in the House of Commons

The Portcullis House is where the MPs offices are located as well as committee rooms for important hearings. One of the largest of the hearing rooms is the Boothroyd Room which was filled with members of government, business leaders and church members.

Elder Herbertson, Clayton and Christine solving the initial technical issues before the House of Commons presentation.

Over 150 packed the Boothroyd Room to listen to Clayton speak on how the UK and most of the world's developed economies need to turn from Efficiency to Market Creating Economies.

Elder Clifford Herbertson discusses Clayton's presentation with David Rutley, Conservative MP, and Barry Sheerman, Labour MP.

 Morning Breakfast at The House of Lords

Clayton spoke on the power of being "needed" in society and in business to 60 invited guests at the House of Lords including Lord and Lady Leitch. Lady Leitch is an American with a parent living in Moab, Utah. Lord Leitch is head of the largest private hospital group in the UK. While visiting Moab for his father-in-law's funeral, they came in contact with members of the Church. Even though Lady Leitch's parents aren't LDS, the Church members surrounded the family with love and support. The Leitches speak glowingly of their respect and love of the Church. Joyce presented them with a hardbound Family Home Evening Resource Book when Lady Leitch inquired about the "thing you Mormons do on Monday evening."

 Lord Sheikh introducing Clayton and Christine to the dignitaries at The House of Lords breakfast.

Elder Herbertson, Craig Whittaker MP, Clayton and Christine join interfaith leaders from Wales at the event.

Savannah Stevenson along with husband, Nathan Copier, joined the breakfast prior to her matinee performance in the role of Glinda in the West End play, Wicked.

View of the Thames from The House of Lords private terrace.

 Palace of Westminster tour and PM Questions

Craig Whittaker, Conservative MP and Church member, giving us a tour of the Palaces of Westminster prior to our attendance at the Prime Minister's Questions in The House of Commons.

 Speaking to stake leaders and wives at the London Temple Visitor's Centre 

While he presents a commanding intellectual and physical presence, Clayton at 6'8" is still the most humble man we know.

Teaching Area Seventies, Stake Presidents and wives how to invite others to participate with the Church.

Christine answering questions about member missionary opportunities.

What a remarkable way to conclude our service as missionaries! We love and admire these dear friends as they lift everyone around them despite the tremendous health concerns Clayton experiences. What an amazing week as we near the close of our mission!

English Summer with its charm and cool weather

Shirley Station Master's House

Almost everyday we drive or walk past this charming Station Master's House in Shirley near our flat. In speaking with the owner on our frequent walks, we found that the home was derelict until he remodeled and brought it back to it's former glory about ten years ago.

Trains and buses come every 15 minutes but it doesn't diminish the absolute charm of this quaint little  home which is a reminder of the early 1900s.

Ironbridge

The first iron bridge metal works project built in 1779 is now a World Heritage Site. It is Britain's best known industrial monument and was near the villages of Dawley and Wellington where Joyce's ancestors joined the Church in the 1850s. Over 378 tons of iron with each part individually cast to fit were produced in the Coalbrookdale foundry by Abraham Darby.

Joyce on the bridge over the gorge where iron was initially smelt in 1709. The Industrial Revolution began here using the coal and iron ore from the region.

Charming village...

Charming girl among the beautiful flowers...

Gorgeous Saturday afternoon for a history tour...

Not far from Ironbridge, Buildwas Abbey stands from the 12th Century as a Cistercian Monk ruin with trails and fishponds.

Shropshire is simply magnificent with its rural setting... Can you imagine leaving this lush countryside for the deserts of Utah?

Elder Frazier (CA), Elder Onekawa (NZ), Elder Evans (AZ) and Elder Miller (UT) outside the Wellington Ward Chapel. These Manchester England missionaries serve in the city where Joyce's Baugh great grandparents first heard the gospel message in the 1850s.

With three wards in the Telford area and this new chapel in Wrecken, the story of the growth of the Church in Shropshire unfolds.

Joyce's great, great grandmother was from Dawley which was a village in the center of the Industrial Revolution with its huge ironworks 'Horsehay' operating from 1755 to 1984.

Missionaries

Elder and Sister Michaelis have taken on a new assignment from the mission president to serve as CES missionaries in addition to their Self-Reliance missionary role. They will share the teaching and organizing of the YSA in the Lichfield Stake.

Elders Mthethwa and Rane will have another baptism this coming Saturday, August 22nd. Elder Rane is an excellent new missionary from Rigby, Idaho who plays the piano extremely well. Elder Mthethwa is a recent 26 year-old convert with an Electrical Engineering degree who represents the finest of South African members.

Witley Court and Gardens

With the discovery of coal, England's rural gentry became fabulously wealthy.

This great mansion burned almost to the ground in the late 1800s and was later sold to art dealers who stripped the house of everything beautiful except the lavish grounds.

English Heritage maintains the grounds as they were during the heyday of Witley Court when it hosted the Prince of Wales and the royal family.

Amazing beauty in the gardens...

Elder Jones taking calls while on a P-Day outing...

History somehow preserves the serenity and peace of the English countryside.

Sister Russell's Farewell

With the return home of Sister Banner due to her cancer, Sister Russell has been re-assigned to the London Temple to complete her mission. We helped prepare the necessary physical requirements and everyone in the office, the Solihull Ward and the Public Affairs Department team wished her well.

Jan, Pauline, Sue, Sister Russell, Joyce and Shelley joined to have an afternoon tea send-off.

Typical 'English tea' with sandwiches (minus the crusts) with English mayo, desserts, scones, clotted cream and meringues all join with 'hot chocolate' to compliment the afternoon celebration.


Sister Russell's move

Office party wishing her well with cupcakes...

Most of the Solihull office join in the send-off...

Susan's parting gift...

We reserved the pool car (a Toyota station wagon) and it's a good thing we did... as evidenced by the photos of the load for a typical sister transfer. Just kidding!

We drove a fairly squished car to London without any delay.

Once we arrived at the accommodation centre at the Temple, several lovely people helped us move all the items to Sister Russell's compact, but lovely flat.

Port Isaac (Doc Martin's Portwenn)

For all of you that have ever seen an episode of the quirky English comedy,  "Doc Martin." Do you recognize any familiar sights here? That's Portwenn in the comedy series which is Port Isaac in real life.

Colourful (British spelling) characters are real in Port Isaac.

David, an extra in all of the Doc Martin series, was our guide for the tour of Port Isaac. He's also in the new BBC hit "Poldark" series which bring the Winston Graham Cornish novels to life. This could be coming to the US as it's been all the talk in the UK.

Doc Martin's surgery is the second from the right. The Large's restaurant is the long white building just off the water. The name Burt Large certainly fits the character in the comedy.

"Squeeze Belly Alley" (the tiniest street in the world) got it's name from smugglers squeezing through its slender opening. Supposedly the customs revenue men were fed well and the smugglers were a bit smaller and could get through with ease as they tried to avoid the taxation on imported goods.

Louisa Glasson's home in the series with it's 5 foot door is still occupied in the village where there are only 27 full-time residents in the lower village. The rest of the homes are holiday rentals that go for hundreds of GBP per week. This little home could sell for over $500,000 based on our examination of the local real estate market flyers.

Looking up at Louisa's school from the beach in Port Isaac.

Tintagel

King Arthur of legend made his home in Cornwall. It was our experience that it DOES rain during the day despite the lyrics sung by Richard Harris and on Broadway where "the rain may never fall till after sundown."

The hike down to Tintagel is steep and long, but nothing compared to the hike around and out of the castle area.

Joyce wondering not only about King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot but how are we going to hike "outa-here!"

Magnificent Cornish Coast...

 Nothing much left of the Castle that was abandoned as a central point of Cornwall in the 1300s.

Sailing out to sea....

Devon and Cornwall

Many English people holiday in the south of England (Devon and Cornwall) where the warm weather and coastal regions resemble San Diego with palm trees included. Having never seen balmy temperatures or anything the vaguely resembles San Diego for the last 16+ months, we headed south for an abbreviated weekend before heading to Exeter for church on Sunday.

Torquay lights up the beach and the harbor in what must be one of the best natural ports in the world.

Sailing has been and still is all-important in Torquay...

About 70 miles from Torquay on roads that took us 3 hours to traverse is charming Falmouth.

We happened to choose the only weekend where the town was completely booked as it was celebrating Falmouth days. After seeing their parade (consisting of a local RBL band of 15 instruments followed by 25 people in outrageous costumes) we've come to appreciate Bountiful's Handcart Days, Brigham City's Peach Days and even Farmington Days parades!

Joyce enjoying the sun and surf...

Home Teaching Families

A family we Home Teach --- The Wilkins family of Carol, Amy, Jasper and Paul have welcomed us in their home for the past 17 months. We, in turn, have welcomed these good people into our hearts.

Linda Tucker (left) has been twice widowed and was just released as the Relief Society President. We home teach Linda and Mary Jo (below) who is the Ward Primary President. They have so little and yet are so generous with their resources, time and concern for members of the ward. Richard and Tonia were married last year, and it's cute to see how they take care of each other.

Mary Jo Smith is a teacher's aide at a Primary school and simply loves children.

We love the Camisani family, Daniele, Giulia, Fabio, Anna and Suzie, where our visits turn into Family Home Evenings. They welcome us with treats and always serve a punch or some English soda pop. We see the importance of home and visiting teaching as we feel connected to those we serve.