"Institute this week focused on the Book of Abraham. In preparation, we read the Gospel Topic Essay on the Book of Abraham. We continue to attend district meetings with the young missionaries. They are such an inspiration to us. We have a new elder from Thailand whose companion is patiently helping him learn English. We tried a new recipe on them: muffin tin chicken tacos. The meeting does end at lunchtime, after all.
On Friday night we attended the Plymouth concert band performance held at our chapel. The stake president said they like holding it there as it has a 'good feeling'. Kathryn Martin, one of our young single adults, is a featured singer with the band and did a wonderful job. She has a degree in vocal performance. We got to sing along with some English favorites and enjoyed some Broadway tunes as well. There was even music from a Beatrix Potter ballet, if you want to google it. The ballet takes place in full animal costumes, and is quite entertaining. The concert was in remembrance of the Battle of Somme in WWI where there were over 1 million casualties on both sides, without anyone gaining a clear advantage. We don't think about it much in the US, but WWI cost England the best part of a generation. They still think of it here in painful and vivid terms.
On Saturday we went to Broadsands Beach near Paignton for a YSA activity. Dad fell and hurt his knee playing cricket (fielding, not batting), but is on the mend. He says his body is becoming increasingly resistant to what his mind tells it to do. He gets reminded he is not 25 anymore.
Sunday we went to meetings in Newton Abbott. Dave Grant, a convert of less than a year, is the new YSA Sunday School teacher. He did an outstanding job teaching Alma 30 and 31 about Alma's encounter with Korihor. He started the lesson with a profound question: is there anywhere in the world you haven't been, but you know is there? He went on to emphasize the need for faith and reliance on the testimony of those who have actually seen God, rather than dismissing those witnesses simply because we have not personally seen Him. It was a powerful lesson, and we were so impressed with his conversion to the gospel. He expresses such great gratitude for coming to know the church is true and the difference that has made in his life.
Sunday afternoon we had a Face Time with the Germanys, a senior missionary couple who are assigned here who are in Sneddon's ward in Providence. President Gubler has asked if they can move up their arrival as they are sorely needed. Three couples are leaving, without replacements. We made a list of the things we thought would be useful for them to know before they came. Number one on our list was getting a no-international-fee Visa card, as Heather arranged for us. It has saved us a lot of money and been convenient to use rather than always going to the bank. We have been very glad to both have iPads. They are used constantly by the missionaries here as well. We hope our suggestions are helpful to them. Sister Sneddon would love to come to this mission.
Yesterday Bishop Vousden and his wife Susan took us on a ferry ride across the river Exe from Starcross to Exmouth. We spent some time walking on the beach, but did not find any sea glass this time. We stopped for lunch in Shaldon with them on our way home and just got to their place before the rain poured down. We think it has rained some portion of nearly every day since we arrived.
Dad is studying for his drivers license exams. It is a much more difficult process than in the US, and more expensive as well. It will be a relief when he has passed."
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