Spring Events

TrueTube

Religious instruction in primary and secondary schools in Great Britain is still part of their overall curriculum. Teachers can resource videos about religions on a internet channel called TrueTube to instruct their students on the various doctrines and practices of a number of denominations with some major exceptions including the Mormon faith.

Malcolm Adcock (our director of Public Affairs) patiently arranged for the production and acceptance of a video introducing the Church to young people. Lewis Mancer (a recent convert and Cambridge educated programmer) along with Leanda Akuoko (a BYU-Idaho graduate and a current medical student) were selected from dozens of interviews we conducted with Young Single Adults.

Lewis and Leanda represented the Church as moderators for the TrueTube video introducing the beliefs and everyday practices we hold sacred. In all the interviews with the YSAs it was amazing to hear their convictions and personal experiences which fortify their faith (and ours). 

Leanda and Lewis outside the Hyde Park Chapel welcoming the film crew to a typical Mormon building. They gave the intended audience a tour of the building including the baptistry, Visitors' Centre, cultural hall, classrooms and chapel.

While in the Public Affairs Hosting Room, the director (Bob) and cameraman (Nuno) give instructions and share their vision of what they would like to see on the final version of the video.

During the Brittania YSA Ward Sacrament service, three ward members performed an intermediate hymn that was world-class. Jeremy Dick (a  young opera protege' who has performed in the Conference Center was accompanied by two Royal School of Music students on the cello and piano). He sang a beautiful number which absolutely impressed the director of the video. Above you see the film crew taking additional cut-away shots of the performers. Elder Ohman, BYU Professor, also played the magnificent organ music for the meeting.

Our home away from home in London

Although we are not in London as much as some previous missionaries, we still have spent nearly twenty nights at our favorite hotel that is near Harrods, the Hyde Park Chapel and across the street from the Victoria and Albert Museum. This part of London is delightful and to think that when President David O. McKay selected the site for the Hyde Park Chapel there was not a member of the Church within 7 miles! Today the Hyde Park Stake has 8 units and is having a stake fast to acquire another piece of property in London for the Whitechapel wards.

Cotsworlds

One can hardly imagine the beauty of the Cotswolds which are more amazing in the spring after a bit of a gloomy spell during April and March.

Joyce in Chipping Campden (45 minutes from our flat in Shirley). This village oozes with charm and tourists!

Crumpet Tea (Hot Chocolate in our case) at Badger's Tea at Three is a culinary delight as the owner personally bakes each crumpet, sweet, and cake. One could get chubby just looking at the treats...

General Conference

With the seven hour difference in time and the stake centre thirty-five minutes away, we chose to watch conference in the comfort of our living room. Thank heaven for BYUtv, the internet and a smart TV! We were nourished by the talks, music and celebration of the Easter season as we listened to apostles, prophets and revelators.

Blenheim Palace

We visited Blenheim Palace, the childhood home of Sir Winston Churchill, with the Jolleys and were amazed at the splendor and background concerning this great British leader.

Joyce smiling (always) with the rather somber Winston in Blenheim.

Here we are outside Blenheim...

Dan dreaming again...

Winston Churchill is buried in the family plot in Bladon, a small Oxfordshire village not far from Blenheim. Clementine Churchill is buried next to him as she was the great love and support of his life. Churchill's mother was an American millionaire's daughter and said to be the most beautiful woman in the world at the time as well as one of the most negligent of mothers. Churchill's father was older and distant to his son, Winston, who grew up with a lisp and stutter. Not a great student as a young man, Winston learned to love the English language. Writing over 3000 words each day, Church was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1953 for Literature, not the Nobel Peace Prize which he most assuredly deserved!
It is remarkable that family meant so much to Churchill that he is buried in a nondescript Anglican cemetery with his family, rather than with the greats in Westminster Abbey. A painter, brickmason, soldier, statesman, eccentric and spendthrift, Churchill is clearly one of the great figures in all English history... and a hero to us!

Missionary Training

Missionaries make great spokespeople. It was our privilege to train more Elders in Guernsey for a BBC Radio piece via Skype as well as the companionships of sisters and elders below. VGTV in Norway wanted to shadow'a Norwegian Sister (Steffensen) and her companion to produce one of a 5 part spiritual journey of a television host in Oslo. Sister Lacey and Sister Steffensen are naturally vivacious, engaging and spiritual as they serve the Lord in Orpington of the London South Mission. Prior to the filming we spent a day with the missionaries to become better acquainted before the Norwegian crew arrived.

Sister Lacey visited with Joyce and explained why she chose to come on an 18 month mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A marvelous pianist, Sister Lacey exudes enthusiasm.

Sister Steffensen (Norway) is a training missionary with great depth as she is a bit older than some of the other sister missionaries. President Millar calls her "one of his best." We agree; she is hard-working, energetic, obedient and completely committed to missionary service.

Elder VanDongen (Utah) is a talented guitarist and Elder Gerrard (Idaho) an excellent singer as they combined their musical talents with our two ukulele playing sisters. We are so proud of these valiant missionaries.

Elder and Sister Jones with our lovely young sisters in Orpington. 

International Night

Our ward comprises about 300 people from 17 different countries. Each year the Sheldon Ward hosts an international night where people bring traditional dishes from their native countries. We took BBQ pork sandwiches and the Jolleys brought baked beans to represent America.

Elder Burke (Austrailia) and Elder Farley (America) are spending their last days on their missions serving happily.

Elders Farley and Pailite do the Haka for the ward members who especially liked Elder Pailite's Samoan grunts and pounding of chest!

Daniele Camisani explaining Italian food... it's a lot different by region and from the American or British versions of pasta, pizza and spaghetti.

Chatsworth

A Saturday excision to beautiful devonshire find Joyce and Celia outside the entrance to Chatsworth.... famous for all the Austen films.

 We always have plenty of 'laughing' when we get together with the Jolleys.

 Magnificent inside and out with murals and artwork done by local artists of the Peaks District.

Do you remember when Elizabeth (Pride and Prejudice 2005) goes into the hall in Pemberley and sees the beautiful sculptures including the one of Darcy (below)?

 Mr. Darcy

 Fountain setting of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire at Chatsworth

Idyllic setting of Chatsworth

Norwegian Filming

Filming began early on a Monday morning with the Sisters street contacting in Orpington. Virtually everyone they met struck up a pleasant conversation with them. Following these energetic sisters wore the film crew out after just one day!

Orpington High Street with Sister Steffensen and Sister Lacey

Contacting on the train while going to Bromley High Street caused a wonderful unsolicited response  form a passenger who overheard the conversation with the sisters and two Asian gentlemen. Before exiting the train a lady got up and walked over to these great missionaries and spoke to them (and the video camera) and stated that she admired them so much. She said these great young women "glowed" with goodness and that she wished all young people where like them. She said that they made her day and she felt inspired to be on the train to hear their message!

Filming with the Norwegian moderator Rut while the director watches the interaction.

Street contacting with the Elders on the Bromley High Street... notice the ukulele being played by Sister Steffensen.

The afternoon brought service at a member's home and garden where the sister's happily jumped in to run the weed-wackers and trimmers with a local member, Carol.


London Temple and Starborough Manor

When the film crew needed a break from the frenetic pace of the sisters, we took the afternoon to attend the London Temple. The temple always brings the peace that is needed in our lives.

Dan on the mobile before and after time spent in the temple.

We stayed overnight at the Starborough Manor in Kent next to the little castle with it's moat.

Lynn the proprietor or the Manor provided the best breakfast we have had in England. What a charming B & B with lovely accommodations and hospitality!

The gardens are starting to bloom with the air fragrant.

Portugal

Each year the Directors of Public Affairs from the 25 European countries gather for instruction and best practice sharing in a central location. We met in Lisboa (Lisbon) for three days to affiliate and learn. We took our senior sisters a couple of days early to see the sights. Lisbon is the city built on seven hills and borders the Tagus River which was a central port for the Romans for more than 700 years. The Moors and Spaniards have also occupied the country which has also had dictators until the 1970s.

The Presidential Palace is beautifully situated on the Tagus River.

Dan with Sisters Banner and Russell enjoy Pedro, our highly recommended guide, who shows us the  historic Jeronimos Monastery built in the 1500s. Pasteis de Belem (Portuguese custard pies) and all sweets were produced by the monks as part of the good life inside the monastery. Later this production of sweets, breads and wines provided income for the cloistered priests.

Lisbon's sidewalks are chipped marble after the earthquake of 1755 which destroyed 90% of the city's building and killed 85% of the population while attending church for All Saints Day.

Pasteis de Belem are the best custard pastry we have ever eaten... and they are produced locally in each city. Thus these are from the Belem Tower area and called Pasteis de Belem. They are simply divine...worth a return trip!

Custard pies served with cinnamon and powdered sugar.

Under the direction of Prince Henry the Navigator, the Portuguese discovered the passageway through the Cape of Fear (Cape of Good Hope) to India along with Brazil, Macao, Sri Lanka and much of Africa. One of his most famous captain navigators was Vasco da Gama who returned in 1500 from Goa (India) with the territory and the spice trade route.

Tomb of da Gama in the Jeronimos Monastery

The Belem Tower (Torre de Belem) is a UNESCO World Heritage site from where the caravels (small ship invented by Portuguese sailors) sailed to discover the world.

Monument of Discoveries built in 1940 to celebrate the 500 year anniversary of Infante Dom Henrique (Henry the Navigator) who founded the school of navigators which produced da Gama, Cabal and a guy by the name of Christopher Columbus.

Replicas of the Golden Gate Bridge (built by the same company) and the Rio de Janeiro's monument to Christ, known as The Christ King.

We marveled at the tiled walls, beautiful flowers and fountains dot the Al Fama area of Lisbon which includes sections for the Muslims as well as Jews.

Al Fama quarter has the narrow 'casbah-type' streets which are still occupied by families that have lived there for generations.

Churches and religious monuments are on every corner in Lisbon.

Electric Trolley Cars are a principal means of travel in Lisbon.

Aguas Livres Aqueduct is a 18th-century aqueduct that brought water to the city from 50 km away.

The summer castle in Sintra welcomes visitors to its hilltop splendor.

Martin and Judith Cook, National Directors of Public Affairs for Great Britain, are wonderful friends.

Colourful Sintra 

 Sintra with its castle on top of the mountain and colorful architecture.

With the Sisters Russell and Banner, we stopped outside the summer palace in Sintra.

Missionaries at the Tivoli Hotel in Sintra.

Another UNESCO World Heritage site, the Pena National Palace.

One of Portugal's largest exports is cork which is grown on a tree. The cork tree takes 40 years to produce it's first harvest (basically bark) and that harvest is not good. Harvesting is generally every 9 years, so it takes nearly 50 years before a tree will be productive. Talk about patience!

Here Joyce is at the Cabo de Roca is the most western part point of Europe and closest bit of land to New York City.

Cascais is a coastal town that housed all the European royalty during WWII as Portugal was a neutral country. Today it is a popular vacation spot on the Estoril Coast.

Gabriele Sirtl leads the Europe Area Public Affairs team and seminar in Lisbon.

Joyce in the city center of Lisbon.

Sister Jones along with Ana from Croatia (Adriatic North NDPA) taking a selfie...

A fabulous square in the center of Lisbon near the Bairoo Alto (High Quarter) and Chiado districts of Lisboa.

Gabi along with Elder and Sister Kagel (a former BYU Communications Professor with his attorney wife).

The NDPAs boarding the tourist trolley for our brief tour of the city.

Sister Jones outside a Fado restaurant in the heart of Lisbon. Fado is a soulful music sung in husky voices (yes, both the women and men sing in a very deep voice) sharing stories that our American Country Music fans would identify with... lost loves, missed opportunities and wailing hounds.

Lisbon with St George's Castle (Castel de Sao Jorge) in the background.