Busy is best...filling our days!

We haven't been home before 8:00 or 9:00 p.m. for the past month with every Saturday being filled with assignments or in making arrangements for the Sisters' (new senior missionaries arriving on the 30th of September) flat.

WITNESSING STRENGTH OF MEMBERS
Let's start with the media training we conducted in Bristol with the Public Affairs Council for the South West and Wales for twelve people. We appreciate the invitation extended to us by President Crewe and Martin Turvey to train the Stake Public Affairs Directors at their quarterly meeting in Bristol. With a thousand years of history as a port city, Bristol is home to some famous mariners such as Blackbeard, Bartholomew Roberts and Alexander Selkirk. While the first two were infamous pirates, Selkirk is Daniel Defoe's inspiration for Robinson Crusoe. Robert Louis Stevenson met with Selkirk at the docks on the right of the picture below and chronicled the adventures of the marooned sailor to fashion him as Benn Gunn in Treasure Island. While we are clearly not marooned on a small island for five years, we see inspirational characters like Selkirk among the Church members in the United Kingdom.

 Pleasure craft now occupy the docks where privateers and pirates once launched their vessels.

You cannot imagine how much good people are doing as they engage the RBL (Royal British Legion) to help with the Poppy Appeal to help veterans in the UK. In some areas, the Church is so well organized that the RBL turns to the local members to conduct the entire donation campaign using the organization of the local ward to provide the 'manpower' and more importantly 'women power' to run the drive.

Many of our nearly 270 meetinghouses are used for the NHS Blood Drive campaigns that are conducted regularly to source the units needed for the nation. Over 12000 units were donated in these chapels which produces 36000 units of blood.

As we listened to the enormous good that is being done, we cannot help but think of the Good Samaritan in the New Testament. We witness modern-day Good Samaritans like Jane Somerville of the Plymouth Stake where she is involved in so many causes that promote good will for the Church.


RECORDING MEMBERS' STORIES
Sister Jones has written a number of articles this past month including one for the Church News concerning the BYU London Centre

 www.deseretnews.com/article/865611523/Living-and-learning-in-London.html

Other news releases or articles in mormonnewsroom.org.uk stories on the European Women's Meeting with Elder Ballard and Elder Bednar, a Conservation Heritage Magazine piece on the Salisbury and Chesterfield Chapels, the introduction of the European Union Public Affairs Office in Brussels for a news release and a World War I ceremony release for the London Visitor's Centre.


EXPANDING THE WORK
We've been keeping busy painting, putting together furniture, decorating, purchasing items for the Sister's flat. I remember going to IKEA (once) with Brittany and the children... I don't know whether it was for the Swedish meatballs or the 'wander' of several miles of halls of modern furniture. Whatever the case, what we've learned is that every piece of furniture in England has to be put together following the IKEA model.

The Sisters' flat BEFORE

A small sample of the Sisters' flat AFTER

A wee bit of a difference.... Hopefully the Sisters will enjoy some of the touches of home.

SHARING  UK CULTURE
On a Bank Holiday weekend we traveled to Angelsey in Wales... where I am reminded that I am proud to be part Welsh! With our good friends, the Jolleys, we stayed at a wonderful B&B in Beaumaris with the Irish Sea just out the front door with the tides making the view ever-changing.

Elder and Sister Jolley along with Elder Jones enjoying themselves on the ocean path in front of our B & B.

Beautiful gardens for late September...

Beaumaris has a castle, pier, multi-colored houses, good seafood, great ice cream and very friendly people.

 Bangor Wales in the distance with high tide.

Low tide a few hours later...

 The Welsh coast is magnificent and you can see the tide lines on its rocks.

Gill is our wonderful host at Cleifiog Bed and Breakfast in Beaumaris where it has a 5 Star rating and the Anglesey Tourism Award winner. The house dates back to 1610 with the motto of "Peace to all that enter, Health to all that leave" hanging over the door.

Beaumaris was a leading Welsh port in the1800s, but presently relies on its beauty to attract tourists. The ice cream shop (above) was favorite find!

Cleifiog's gardens are spectacular as is the seaport community.

Not far from Anglesey is Conwy Castle, a walled city built by conquering English as one of seven fortifications to keep the Welsh under their control. With narrow gates and imposing ramparts guarding the fortressed city, it is probably one of the best preserved of the Welsh castles.

Elder Jones added colour to an old castle.

Conwy and the waterfront

Sisters Jones and Jolley 'chatting up" strange men in historic castles.

EXPANDING THE WORK

Later in the month we traveled to Preston to meet with the new Interfaith Leader for the National Council of Great Britain. Brother Keith Bishop and his lovely wife, Val, work in the Preston Temple and he is a legend among the Family History consultants in Europe. Brother Bishop was a professional Archivist for the Counties of Durham and Lancashire before becoming the Chief Archivist for the European Commission in Strasbourg. With world-renowned academic credentials, he was the conduit for the doors to be open for the Church to acquire parish records throughout all of Europe.

Joyce at the Preston Temple

REALIZING GROWTH

When I was a missionary some forty years ago, Chorley was a little branch in my district with some 20 members. We recently visited the house where we lived as young missionaries on Platt Lane in Hindley near Wigan. Not much has changed except the outhouse (the small white building behind the gate in the photo) is now a garden shed as plumbing has been installed the small home. Many a cold morning was spent in that 'shed.'

Today just 10 miles away the Church has the Chorley Stake (like a diocese for our friends of other faiths) with 4 congregations, a Temple, Distribution Centre, Missionary Training Centre and housing for people to stay while visiting the area. Sister Jones is in the garden by the Temple (above) with the spire that reaches heavenward over the motorway to Manchester (below). It's hard to realize the growth in just a short period of time as the Church has many prominent locals involved in government, judicial, and commercial ventures.

NOTING MILESTONES
The Church recently applied for membership in the Interfaith Network which is made up of most of the large denominations in the United Kingdom. We were accepted by the required 75% vote this past Monday and it allows us to have continued dialogue on national issues regarding religion. Interestingly enough, until that acceptance was formalized we were not afforded the recognition as anything more than a cult despite our 187,000 members. The Methodist Church has about an equal number of adherents, but the Church of England would not work with us on community outreach or political issues until we were acknowledged by a formal ecumenical "charitable" group. All religions in the UK are charities first and religions second.

MAKING NEW FRIENDS
As we entered the Church Office Building in Solihull we recognized a gentleman who is the father of one of Jameson's good friends from his days as an EFY counselor at BYU. Scott Conlin (in the middle below) travels on occasion in his role for the Church and was meeting with a number of individuals while on business here in England. Upon our recommendation, Scott visited Warwick Castle and Gadfield Elm while in the area. It was interesting to hear how he traced his LDS roots to a great, great, great grandmother that was baptized by Wilford Woodruff in the Benbow Pond in 1841. He hadn't realized how that side of his family had joined the Church until he went to the small chapel at Gadfield and it had his ancestor's story among its historic and genealogical records.

Joyce was called as the Second Councilor in the Primary Presidency... so now she has the opportunity to not only play the piano, but lead in the Sharing Time. She absolutely loves the children and we home teach one of the the primary boy's family (the Williams). Ricky is the cute little guy with the perpetual smile who seeks us out each Sunday.

 Ricky and his perpetual smile...

The Williams family with Elder Jones

STRETCHING CAPACITIES
One of the most significant challenges in living in the United Kingdom is getting over driving on the left in very, very tight spaces with traffic coming at you like darts! But guess who is driving???

Sister Jones now drives and she is somewhat used to the narrow spaces... Although her heartbeat becomes a bit irregular as she is frequently holding her breath to get by the oncoming traffic. She believes that holding her breath and sucking in makes our little Vauxhall Meriva narrower in tight circumstances.

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...

Witnessing the measure of commitment . . .

Part of our Public Affairs responsibility is helping to bring people to the understanding that we are followers of Jesus Christ. The London Temple Visitor Centre along with the Hyde Park Visitor's Centre have the Christus by Danish sculptor Thorvadsen in their lobbies to remind all of our commitment to the Savior. We are impressed with the community outreach and spirit of Elder and Sister Pinegar of the Visitor Centre. Elder Pinegar was a Professor at BYU Marriott Business School prior to their mission. Sister Pinegar has equally as deep intellectual roots being a daughter of Elder Bruce R. McConkie.

Elder and Sister Pinegar with Sister Madducks at the Visitor Centre

The temple grounds are magnificently maintained which make this sacred spot truly a 

peaceful sanctuary from the cares of the world.

Gadfield Elm is the first chapel owned by the Church as it was given to Wilford Woodruff by the United Brethren when 600 of their members were baptised (English spelling) in the Malvern hills during 1840. See if you can unlock the door to get into the little chapel by answering the quiz that allows access?

Now that you've answered the quiz, let's see if you unlocked the door.   

Sister Jones at Gadfield Elm where we celebrated the 24th of July with Elder Jay and Sister Joan Peck and Elder Reese and Sister Kathryn Hansen (Office of General Counsel) who drove hours from Chorley to join us at this historic site. The Pecks are friends and neighbors from Farmington while the Hansens are new-found friends from Provo with whom we have several family and personal connections.

The inspirational Joan and Jay Peck... marvelous role-models of service, faith, and humor!

Kathryn and Reese Hansen have the calm, thoughtful demeanors reflecting their depth. Elder Hansen is the former Dean of the BYU Law School and Sister Hansen is a sister to Ann Smedley Hansen, a dear family friend.

On Saturday, the 19th of July, the Birmingham Stake celebrated the summer with a Barbecue hosted at the Harborne Ward / Stake Centre. The day was gloomy as we experienced a downpour... Debating between traveling all the way across Birmingham (the second largest city in the UK) and staying home, we exercised our faith and started out in the rain. Just as we arrived, the welcome sun burst out from behind the clouds and bathed us for the entire event. The jump houses for the children were set up in the cultural hall as a safety measure, but everyone soon began to vacate the church for the parking lot, green spaces, and warmth.

Elder Hess (on the far left) is the grandson of Patriarch and Sister Hess of Farmington.

Elder Alldredge (far right from Kaysville) is a cousin to friends of Sister Jones's from Bountiful, the Horgesheimers of Mueller Park Jr. High School.

With a free Saturday morning and the welcome sun out, we purchased our English Heritage passes and ventured to historic Kenilworth Castle. Just a short drive from Solihull where we live we saw jousting, birds of prey show, toured the ruins, walked in the gardens and ate delicious 'real' ice cream all while basking in the sunshine. The reason we note this rare treat of 'real' ice cream is that it was creamy, flavorful, hard and just like home! With the beauty and heritage of this land, it is a delight to partake of the cultural offerings.

We suspect Rachel, Madeleine and London would love the horses while Jackson and little Carter 

would love the Knights!

Kenilworth was finally conquered (and subsequently destroyed) by Cromwell. In addition, Queen Elisabeth I enjoyed time spent here. History comes to life as we see where great events have taken place.