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."
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