Saturday, October 29, 2016
28 October, 2016
"We had a YSA Halloween party last night after Elder Warnick taught the Institute lesson. No one chose to dress up, but one of the youth did an activity through a darkened church and grounds that they enjoyed, and we did Halloween themed refreshments. These glasses with the eyebrows made the rounds."
26 October, 2016
The next day we got a call from President Gubler asking us to drive 2 sisters to their home. It was a long day of driving, but we were happy to help. It turned out well and they even got to see Stonehenge on the way.
We had district meeting in Plymouth the next day, then a flat inspection, and returned again to Plymouth that same evening for Institute and YSA activity. The young people have been taking turns coming up with the activity, and have been very creative. This night it was a 12 foot banana split served in a foil lined rain gutter.
We were invited to the one year birthday party for the granddaughter of the ward mission leader. She was born with abnormalities, and they didn't know that she would make it this far, but all is looking positive for her and they are most grateful. They had decorations everywhere and food of all kinds and people in every nook and cranny, which happens quickly as most homes are quite compact.
Next day was YSA choir practice, and we came home to a pleasant FaceTime with Heather and Afton (daughter and granddaughter). We are so grateful for the technology that allows us to see them, and recognize how amazing that would be to our ancestors when they left loved ones behind.
We had a great meeting with President Fullwood, the stake counselor over YSA, updating him on the YSA status and made several recommendations for them to consider. He is such and amazing man. He is deaf, but lip reads so well you wouldn't know it. We are certainly glad for that since we don't sign. Even if we had learned from the Kings, the signs are not the same in the UK. He is most supportive of the YSA.
Anna, our neighbor, stopped by with a cottage pie. She has had several experiences feeling the presence of her deceased mother, and wanted to talk about that but didn't really connect that with a belief in God until we pointed that out to her. Cottage pie here is made with beef mince, like what we would call shepherd's pie, but shepherd's pie is made with lamb, which only makes sense.
Edward's going away party was last Thursday, even though his leaving date was pushed back a couple of weeks due to visa problems. We will enjoy him longer now, as we will likely not see him again after a 2 year mission, although one never knows. Our stake president just returned from the US and Canada having run into people he knew from here, or who know people that he knows all along the way. He and his wife and daughter got to go to general conference and said they were so overwhelmed by the Spirit upon entering the conference center that they were all in tears. President and Sister Gubler were here for zone training, and we were impressed with examples they gave from their own lives and from the scriptures to illustrate their points. Sister Gubler talked about how scared she was to drive a two ton truck as a 14 year old in Idaho to deliver wheat, but did it because she loved her father, comparing that with what the missionaries are asked to do and why. President Gubler talked about the importance of knowing who we are in order to fulfill our missions here on earth. He used the example of Moses being called 'my son' in Moses 1 repeatedly, and that giving him the power to resist Satan, along with other scriptural examples. We sang 'I Lived in Heaven', noting the truths taught there.
In the afternoon President Martin went with us to look at repairs that needed to be made in one of the flats before turning it back to the landlord. We want to leave them in as good shape as possible, and he volunteered to use ward members to accomplish that. We are grateful for the help, as we don't have the tools nor even knowledge of where to go for materials.
Elder Leimer from Germany was our visiting authority at stake conference, and we didn't quite know what to think when he said he had heard of us. It was a wonderful conference, and we were very uplifted by the messages and love evidenced there. Two of our YSA were asked to share testimony, one who has been a member 6 months, and then Edward who has been a member 3 years and is leaving on a mission. The YSA choir sang two songs for prelude, and an arrangement of 'Come Ye Disconsolate'. We saw two YSA at stake conference who have not attended during the time we have been here, and it was great to meet them. We discovered that Elder Leimer had visited one of them Saturday night. He is an amazing man, and we felt good just being in his company, not to mention the powerful message he have of Heavenly Father being anxious to speak with each of us.
Elder Warnick teaches Institute tomorrow about prayer and revelation, and we are taking Halloween themed food."
10 October 2016
"The leaves are falling from some of the trees, and we have more rain. It feels like winter is not far away, but winter here is mostly rain. With bishop's wife in Redruth, who is from the Midwest in America, says that snow is rare and if there should be a little, people don't know who to deal with driving. Most of the traffic instructions are painted right on the roads, so if that gets covered up with snow it becomes difficult, and there is no such thing as snow removal equipment, though we have seen bins for sand by the roads.
Elder Warnick went to the rebroadcast of the priesthood session of conference Sunday at the Newton Abbot ward, and helped with the preparation and cleanup of a breakfast. It was a wonderful session. He particularly enjoyed Elder Holland's talk on home teaching. When he got back we invited the sisters over to watch the Saturday sessions, and fed them. It made for a long day, but we were happy to help them see some of the sessions, as we have wifi, and none of the young missionaries do. It is wonderful that we are able to watch these conference sessions halfway across the world. The technology may seem commonplace, but it isn't to us. It puts new meaning to the gospel flooding the earth. Elder Uchtdorf's talk 'Fourth Floor, Last Door' has particular meaning to missionaries, but has application to any stage of life. We gained something from each talk, and look forward to reading and listening again, and will encourage the YSA to do the same.
Tuesday we did another flat inspection and repaired a chair with a broken leg. The repair actually took a few days, since they said it didn't work the first time. It will probably need another repair, as the fix wasn't as good as Elder Warnick could have done with the proper tools, but we are glad for what we do have and he has since learned of a man in the ward who does have a good supply of tools. Missionaries seem to be rough on chairs.
Sister Warnick made ham and cheese rolls for Institute night. They played a game of life Pacman, with chairs set up in the cultural hall, and designated ghosts with bands around their heads. The group was small that night but they had a great time. It is a good thing they enjoyed it because it wasn't easy for them to set up and take down all those chairs! The young man with the blue headband is Edward, who is leaving in a couple of weeks on a mission to South Africa.
We attended sacrament meeting in Redruth on Sunday, where Edward spoke in sacrament meeting. He talked about the love of the Savior, and that we all need to work on developing that kind of love. It was an excellent talk, and he will be a very faithful missionary, judging by the courage and loyalty to the gospel of Christ that he has already demonstrated in his few short years as a member. He has ridden farther on trains to get to and from meetings than any of our YSA, often arriving home very late at night, and train tickets are not cheap.
Choir practice continues Sunday evenings for stake conference in two weeks. It is supposed to be a YSA choir and include the young missionaries. We will not be able to blend into that age group, but have been asked to sing with them."
Elder Warnick went to the rebroadcast of the priesthood session of conference Sunday at the Newton Abbot ward, and helped with the preparation and cleanup of a breakfast. It was a wonderful session. He particularly enjoyed Elder Holland's talk on home teaching. When he got back we invited the sisters over to watch the Saturday sessions, and fed them. It made for a long day, but we were happy to help them see some of the sessions, as we have wifi, and none of the young missionaries do. It is wonderful that we are able to watch these conference sessions halfway across the world. The technology may seem commonplace, but it isn't to us. It puts new meaning to the gospel flooding the earth. Elder Uchtdorf's talk 'Fourth Floor, Last Door' has particular meaning to missionaries, but has application to any stage of life. We gained something from each talk, and look forward to reading and listening again, and will encourage the YSA to do the same.
Tuesday we did another flat inspection and repaired a chair with a broken leg. The repair actually took a few days, since they said it didn't work the first time. It will probably need another repair, as the fix wasn't as good as Elder Warnick could have done with the proper tools, but we are glad for what we do have and he has since learned of a man in the ward who does have a good supply of tools. Missionaries seem to be rough on chairs.
Sister Warnick made ham and cheese rolls for Institute night. They played a game of life Pacman, with chairs set up in the cultural hall, and designated ghosts with bands around their heads. The group was small that night but they had a great time. It is a good thing they enjoyed it because it wasn't easy for them to set up and take down all those chairs! The young man with the blue headband is Edward, who is leaving in a couple of weeks on a mission to South Africa.
We attended sacrament meeting in Redruth on Sunday, where Edward spoke in sacrament meeting. He talked about the love of the Savior, and that we all need to work on developing that kind of love. It was an excellent talk, and he will be a very faithful missionary, judging by the courage and loyalty to the gospel of Christ that he has already demonstrated in his few short years as a member. He has ridden farther on trains to get to and from meetings than any of our YSA, often arriving home very late at night, and train tickets are not cheap.
Choir practice continues Sunday evenings for stake conference in two weeks. It is supposed to be a YSA choir and include the young missionaries. We will not be able to blend into that age group, but have been asked to sing with them."
1 October, 2016- a family visit
"We have been putting a lot of miles on the little Hyundai. On the 22nd we drive missionaries to a 3 zone conference in Poole. This is an all day affair with picking them up early in order to get them there for an early meeting for new missionaries, regular meetings, interviews and pictures, then travel home. The main focus of the training centered on becoming good listeners and asking better questions. The training missionaries receive new is far different than when Elder Warnick was a young missionary, where the focus was on teaching lessons. The focus now is trying to understand where individuals are in their spiritual journey, and helping them come closer to Christ and his teachings. We consider these young missionaries to be absolutely amazing. It gives us hope for the future to see them doing the Lord's work.
After returning them to their flats late that evening, we drove back north to a senior missionary conference in Staines the next day. While the drive was long and tiring, the opportunity to interact with the other senior couples is uplifting and spiritually strengthening, and worth the effort. We discussed the history of the early church in England. These early converts came to Nauvoo and Utah by the thousands, and were literally the means of strengthening the church in its early days. The bretheren have prophesied that there will be a second great harvest to parallel that of the first.
On Friday afternoon we all went to Runnymede, where the Magna Carta was signed in 1215, the forerunner and inspiration for our US Constitution. While whis was an agreement between the king and the barons, it also promised protection of church rights, protection from illegal imprisonment, and access to justice. It represented the first time a king had ever ceded power or recognized the rights of others in their governance. We went to dinner all together nearby, and enjoyed getting to know some of the new senior missionaries. One widowed sister says her mentally ill son is doing so muuch better since she left.
Saturday morning we drove to Bath and rejoiced in meeting Keith and Sarah (son and daughter-in-law, there on vacation.) We drove directly to Dittisham and ferried across the river to Greenway, the summer home of Agatha Christie. In the gardens a vinery is featured, where the grapes grow inside, with the roots outside, and a walk past a monkey puzzle tree. In the home are clothes that Agatha wore, and a mural on the walls added by soldiers who requisitioned the house in WWII. There is one chest of drawers, very heavy and made of bone. It was purchased in their foreign travels and had to be fumigated as they heard scratching sounds coming from it when it was really quiet. We ate scones with clotted cream and jam at the restaurant there.
The narrow roads there and back introduced Keith and Sarah to the kind of driving we have to do in some areas. There was plenty of backing up to let another car pass from the opposite direction. People seem used to having to accomodate each other, as the roads are not going to change any time soon.
We made our way back to the flat and had fish and chips from our local take away. It was nice to have a little time out of the car.
Sunday we all went to the Newton Abbot ward. In the afternoon we went for a drive in the moors in Dartmoor National Park. The ponies were overly friendly, no doubt looking for something to eat that surely must be in our pockets. We did see Belted Galloways and lots of sheep, as well as clapper bridges and water that looks like root beer. At Postbridge we struck up a conversation with a couple who had used the church's family history website, and had friends that are members. They were most friendly toward us. Afterward we celebrated birthdays for both Sarah and Keith with carrot cake cupcakes and lemon sauce.
Monday morning we drove to Cornwall to visit the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Lunch was Cornish pasties with ginger beer or an elderflower drink. We then drove to Port Isaac, of Doc Martin fame. The tide was in, so the sea glass hunting was poor. The sat nav (gps) took us through the back roads and right down through the town. There was hardly room for the car to pass without scraping the buildings, and of course tourists to avoid. We had ice cream, which is famous, but we don't think any better than in Cache Valley. We then drove to Jamaica Inn, the site of Daphne Du Maurier's novel and Alfred Hitchcock's movie of the same name. The smuggler's museum had displays of artifacts used in that enterprise. We had dinner at a restaurant there and then headed home on a dark and rainy night.
Tuesday morning we drove them past Stonehenge on our way to the hotel near Heathrow, then took the tube to London for an Italian dinner and play, 'The Mousetrap', which is the longest running play, in its 64th year. The tube ride can be interesting if you are a people watcher. Elder Warnick doesn't know quite what to think when he is offered a seat by someone he thinks looks about as old as him.
We had a nice breakfasat the next morning before having to say goodbye to Keith and Sarah. They were great traveling companions, and we appreciate the time they took to see us.
Thursday was another great district meeting, and Institute that evening. Bishop BUndy from St. Austell brought Aaron and Megan, which is really going the extra mile (many miles, in this case). Distances continue to be a major issue in who can make it, but broadcast equipment to the buildings is in the near future. It still will be important to be physically together for the YSA as much as possible for the social support.
We are looking forward to general conference. Everything will be by delayed broadcast. There will be a breakfast before they show the priesthood session tomorrow, and we are having the sisters over for the women's session this afternoon. Even where we can listen to it live, it is against the law without a license, so we won't."
After returning them to their flats late that evening, we drove back north to a senior missionary conference in Staines the next day. While the drive was long and tiring, the opportunity to interact with the other senior couples is uplifting and spiritually strengthening, and worth the effort. We discussed the history of the early church in England. These early converts came to Nauvoo and Utah by the thousands, and were literally the means of strengthening the church in its early days. The bretheren have prophesied that there will be a second great harvest to parallel that of the first.
On Friday afternoon we all went to Runnymede, where the Magna Carta was signed in 1215, the forerunner and inspiration for our US Constitution. While whis was an agreement between the king and the barons, it also promised protection of church rights, protection from illegal imprisonment, and access to justice. It represented the first time a king had ever ceded power or recognized the rights of others in their governance. We went to dinner all together nearby, and enjoyed getting to know some of the new senior missionaries. One widowed sister says her mentally ill son is doing so muuch better since she left.
Saturday morning we drove to Bath and rejoiced in meeting Keith and Sarah (son and daughter-in-law, there on vacation.) We drove directly to Dittisham and ferried across the river to Greenway, the summer home of Agatha Christie. In the gardens a vinery is featured, where the grapes grow inside, with the roots outside, and a walk past a monkey puzzle tree. In the home are clothes that Agatha wore, and a mural on the walls added by soldiers who requisitioned the house in WWII. There is one chest of drawers, very heavy and made of bone. It was purchased in their foreign travels and had to be fumigated as they heard scratching sounds coming from it when it was really quiet. We ate scones with clotted cream and jam at the restaurant there.
The narrow roads there and back introduced Keith and Sarah to the kind of driving we have to do in some areas. There was plenty of backing up to let another car pass from the opposite direction. People seem used to having to accomodate each other, as the roads are not going to change any time soon.
We made our way back to the flat and had fish and chips from our local take away. It was nice to have a little time out of the car.
Sunday we all went to the Newton Abbot ward. In the afternoon we went for a drive in the moors in Dartmoor National Park. The ponies were overly friendly, no doubt looking for something to eat that surely must be in our pockets. We did see Belted Galloways and lots of sheep, as well as clapper bridges and water that looks like root beer. At Postbridge we struck up a conversation with a couple who had used the church's family history website, and had friends that are members. They were most friendly toward us. Afterward we celebrated birthdays for both Sarah and Keith with carrot cake cupcakes and lemon sauce.
Monday morning we drove to Cornwall to visit the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Lunch was Cornish pasties with ginger beer or an elderflower drink. We then drove to Port Isaac, of Doc Martin fame. The tide was in, so the sea glass hunting was poor. The sat nav (gps) took us through the back roads and right down through the town. There was hardly room for the car to pass without scraping the buildings, and of course tourists to avoid. We had ice cream, which is famous, but we don't think any better than in Cache Valley. We then drove to Jamaica Inn, the site of Daphne Du Maurier's novel and Alfred Hitchcock's movie of the same name. The smuggler's museum had displays of artifacts used in that enterprise. We had dinner at a restaurant there and then headed home on a dark and rainy night.
Tuesday morning we drove them past Stonehenge on our way to the hotel near Heathrow, then took the tube to London for an Italian dinner and play, 'The Mousetrap', which is the longest running play, in its 64th year. The tube ride can be interesting if you are a people watcher. Elder Warnick doesn't know quite what to think when he is offered a seat by someone he thinks looks about as old as him.
We had a nice breakfasat the next morning before having to say goodbye to Keith and Sarah. They were great traveling companions, and we appreciate the time they took to see us.
Thursday was another great district meeting, and Institute that evening. Bishop BUndy from St. Austell brought Aaron and Megan, which is really going the extra mile (many miles, in this case). Distances continue to be a major issue in who can make it, but broadcast equipment to the buildings is in the near future. It still will be important to be physically together for the YSA as much as possible for the social support.
We are looking forward to general conference. Everything will be by delayed broadcast. There will be a breakfast before they show the priesthood session tomorrow, and we are having the sisters over for the women's session this afternoon. Even where we can listen to it live, it is against the law without a license, so we won't."
21 September, 2016
"The once a year stake YSA convention was the weekend before last. It was held in Holsworthy and Bideford. We started at Bradford Manor, a 16th century home and farm owned by a member of the branch presidency. He bought it in rough condition and has worked very hard to respectfully restore it to its present remarkable condition. Since it needed so much work he got it for a very reasonable price. It becomes so obvious in a country with very old structures that without maintenance, nature takes over.
We took a hike through the sheep meadow down to the river he owns. It is apparently full of fish, and he does own them as well. There was paintball in his forest. Then we went to Dragon Archery, owned by the branch president, the #2 rated archery center in the UK. It is set up with one area for dinosaur targets; another is Lord of the Rings themed; another is knights and castles; and finally a dragon. While some were doing archery, others did laser tag in the woods. We finished the evening roasting marshmallows around a fire, followed by sharing of testimony, which had to be cut short as many were staying at branch members' homes and didn't want to arrive too late at night.
Sunday the YSA had prepared to serve the branch by teaching classes and providing talks. After church, the branch members provided a munch-and-mingle, which left everyone set for the journey home. It was a great event, with some participating that we don't normally see.
This last Sunday we spoke in the Exeter Ward with the assignment of Elder Ballard's talk titled 'God is at the Helm' as the theme. It was the perfect week to be in Exeter, as we met 3 new YSA. Exeter has a university, so these three are there for education. One served a mission in California, right where Elder Warnick served; another is from Ogden area and here for 3 years; another is from Peru, who joined the church while at school in Florida 4 months ago. We have yet to see who has arrived for school in Plymouth, but there are 3 new ones in Cornwall as well. We see this growth as a real blessing, and love these new young people already- a gift that goes with our calling.
They held a great FHE on Monday in Exeter, with such a good feeling among them. One of them brought a girl who has been less active, and it was wonderful to see her again.
One of our new sister missionaries is having a struggle, and called Elder Warnick for a priesthood blessing a couple of days ago. Missionary work can be challenging, physically and emotionally. We are glad to lend support wherever we can. We will drive them to Poole starting very early in the morning for a 3 zone conference."
We took a hike through the sheep meadow down to the river he owns. It is apparently full of fish, and he does own them as well. There was paintball in his forest. Then we went to Dragon Archery, owned by the branch president, the #2 rated archery center in the UK. It is set up with one area for dinosaur targets; another is Lord of the Rings themed; another is knights and castles; and finally a dragon. While some were doing archery, others did laser tag in the woods. We finished the evening roasting marshmallows around a fire, followed by sharing of testimony, which had to be cut short as many were staying at branch members' homes and didn't want to arrive too late at night.
Sunday the YSA had prepared to serve the branch by teaching classes and providing talks. After church, the branch members provided a munch-and-mingle, which left everyone set for the journey home. It was a great event, with some participating that we don't normally see.
This last Sunday we spoke in the Exeter Ward with the assignment of Elder Ballard's talk titled 'God is at the Helm' as the theme. It was the perfect week to be in Exeter, as we met 3 new YSA. Exeter has a university, so these three are there for education. One served a mission in California, right where Elder Warnick served; another is from Ogden area and here for 3 years; another is from Peru, who joined the church while at school in Florida 4 months ago. We have yet to see who has arrived for school in Plymouth, but there are 3 new ones in Cornwall as well. We see this growth as a real blessing, and love these new young people already- a gift that goes with our calling.
They held a great FHE on Monday in Exeter, with such a good feeling among them. One of them brought a girl who has been less active, and it was wonderful to see her again.
One of our new sister missionaries is having a struggle, and called Elder Warnick for a priesthood blessing a couple of days ago. Missionary work can be challenging, physically and emotionally. We are glad to lend support wherever we can. We will drive them to Poole starting very early in the morning for a 3 zone conference."
Clapper Bridge
"Since our last letter... we have driven to some of the places on Dartmoor that are of interest. Clapper bridges dot the moors and are made of huge flat stones set on stone pillars to provide crossing of small rivers for wagons and pack horses. We have also visited the ruins of one of the earliest castles in the area, Okehampton. Though solidly built of stone, without ongoing maintenance, even solid castles become ruins. Of course stone was often taken for other structures when there wasn't a resident nobleman."
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