8 February 2017- Jammie Dodgers

"To catch up a little, do you remember Bishop Vousden asked Newton Abbot Ward to fast for someone to baptize?  Lee was the one, and now his mother and sister are hearing the discussions.  At Lee's baptism his mother asked us why each church picks and chooses what to believe, and ignores the rest of what the Bible teaches.  That reminded us of the story of Wilford Woodruff's search, who had the same questions.  We invited their whole family for dinner and showed them the video, A Search for Truth.  They agreed to hear more from the missionaries and have met weekly, and we have been participating in those discussions.  Lee is enthusiastic in his desire to share with them his new found faith.

We are teaching a temple preparation course at Bishop Vousden's request, with 4 members.  It is a great experience, and leaves us wishing everyone could take it before they go to the temple.  In the second lesson 2 of the 4 expressed doubts about their ability to pay a full tithing.  One of our YSA bore a very powerful testimony of how obeying the law of tithing has blessed her family who came here recently under the poorest of circumstances.  The Spirit has been evident in these discussions and they have become real friends.

We continue to drive the missionaries to conferences and respond to problems with their flats.  A curtain rod in one had fallen down in the middle of the night, and it required some extra long screws to fix it.  Three hours later we were pretty sure it will not come down again.  It took a couple of trips to the stone in an unfamiliar town.  We hear it had been an ongoing problem, and the previous missionaries had put a note on them warning against touching the curtains.

We have made two trips to Bideford in the last few weeks.  The first time was to speak on the keys of the priesthood, and the second time to attend branch conference at the request of the Branch President.  He invited us for dinner afterward.  Three of his children are YSAs, and really delightful.  They served a lovely roast chicken, just one serving 10 people as there were 8 or 9 different vegetables, plus Yorkshire pudding and stuffing.  We have found that typical of English dinners.  And lots of gravy!  The drive from Bideford is always a little harrowing, especially in the rain this time of year.  We always arrive home with a muddy car, but love those people so much it is worth it.

Institute carries on, with the need to provide food and teach sometimes.  Elder Warnick's most recent lesson was on our eternal identity as sons and daughters of God, and Heavenly Father's Plan for us to live together with Him as families.

Last Friday we drove 3 hours to Oxford for a senior missionary conference.  We arrived a little before noon at our hotel and took a bus from the park and ride to the Vault and Garden restaurant located under the first college in Oxford, dating from the 1300s.  We then went to Christ Church College for a tour conducted by Bishop Tootle of the Oxford First Ward, who is an official with the college.  He took us places most visitors never see, so we felt special.  We sent our son Dan pictures of the medieval kitchen, which has been in continuous use since the 1500s.  We also saw the dining hall and stairways used as a model for the Harry Potter movies.

Elder Warnick with Alice in Wonderland carvings in the Christ Church College library.

In meeting with the other senior missionaries, we found that a lot of our problems are the same, but discussed ways to solve common problems.  We end up glad that we have never gotten a traffic ticket, as some have multiples.

The next morning we drove to Blenheim Palace, where Winston Churchill was born, though his father was not the heir (second son of the 8th Duke of Marlborough).  Blenheim was a reward from Queen Anne for the first military victory in a very long time against the French.  Too bad she couldn't guarantee the next generations would be as grateful and continue to financially support it in full.  Marriages into American families like the Vanderbilts has allowed it to remain in private hands.

The Eagle and Child pub where C.S. Lewis and friends hung out was full of drinking students, even though we went early, so we went to another place and had quite a good meal that evening.  Oxford has respected the very old, but functions well into current times.

At the Oxford First Ward we discovered that Bishop Tootle is the father to the daughter-in-law of our stake president, and there were three young people from Bountiful, a student and two missionaries.  Small world.

After the long drive home we went to choir practice, as they need bodies.  There is an upcoming performance of a cantata to celebrate 10 years for the Paignton Ward in their building, which used to be a school.  They have lovely views of the ocean from the upper level.

Elder Warnick presented a proposal to the stake presidency to help the YSA become more self reliant.  Interestingly, the church has announced the expansion of the BYUI Pathways program into BYU Worldwide.  This online education program could be very helpful to a number of our YSA, and there is a missionary couple that will come and present it to them."

Cornish Legends

Elder and Sister Warnick shared some local mythology in an email to their grandchildren.

"Most cultures have they have told about the past where they live.  You can just imagine in an evening sitting around a fire and telling stories to fascinate each other and the children.  They didn't have the 'telly' or computer games.

Saint Michael's Mount- Giant Cormoran
Whether by boat or by foot the journey in itself to St. Michael's Mount is a mini adventure, and waiting is a world of fanciful tales bursting with courage and heroics.  Upon reaching the Mount, which rises dramatically from the bay, you will discover a land once tread by giants, and as the story goes, one giant in particular named Cormoran.  With a growling stomach he would wade ashore and feast on cows and sheep stolen from the villagers, but he met his match in a local boy named Jack, who dug a deep pit in which Cormoran fell to his death.  And the tale continues- visitors to St. Michael's Mount today can retrace Jack's steps and hunt down Cormoran's heart, hidden amongst the stone path.

Zennor- the Mermaid of Zennor
Easily the most romantic of Cornish legends, the love-struck take of the Mermaid of Zennor highlights Cornwall's connection to the sea, and sees a beautiful mermaid capture the heart of a local chorister.  With love as his guide, he turns to a life beneath the shore, leaving the villagers of Zennor to mourn his loss.  As a lasting memento they carved a Mermaid Chair from wood, which can still be seen in St. Senara's Church today, and is thought to be over 600 years old.  Listen carefully when you next visit Zennor- on a summer's evening it is said that you hear the sound of the lovers singing together.

Portreath- Giant Wrath
In Portreath see the remains of boulders said to once be the weapon of choice for a fearsome giant named 'Ralph the Wrath' who lived in a collapsed sea cave.  With an appetite for sailors and a craving for their treasure, he would attack passing ships and fill his cave, now known locally as Ralph's Cupboard, with his loot."

12 January 2017

"Institute and YSA resumed last week.  After a 3 week hiatus it felt a little like startinng new, so after the Institute lesson everyone seemed inclined to just sit and talk with each other.  They did however play basketball, girls and guys both included.  Some of the guys could learn how to manage their competitiveness.  One of the young men is more used to playing rugby, so you can imagine how it might have looked.  None of them are ready for the NBA as far as scoring goes, but they do have a good time.

In Plymouth district meeting we were asked to share the stories of our own conversion.  It was a nice opportunity to both reflect on and express how we have come to know that Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer and that this is His church.

Sister Warnick provided ham rolls and carrot sticks.  They really like those.  Some of the districts all bring items to share, but not this one, so they were glad for anything after the meeting.

Saturday we added another YSA to our roster; an 18 year old, Lee, was baptized.  He was invited by a friend who is not a member to go with him to see what we believe.  Lee continued learning, but the friend yielded to considerable peer pressure not to even complete the lessons.  We met Lee's mother at his baptism and spent time talking with her.  She wonders why there are so many different churches, much as Joseph Smith did.  We would like to show her the video of Wilford Woodruff's conversion, called A Search for Truth.  It shows his own quest for a church with apostles and prophets, and the practices and authority that existed in Christ's church anciently.  We will ask Lee tonight at Institute if they will come to dinner.

Sunday afternoon we took the Paignton elders to lunch at a member's home.  They played a role in reactivating her by dropping by one day when she was receptive.  She has been so grateful ever since, and has invited us, as well as them, repeatedly for meals.  She always serves a variety of vegetables, much like they do for a Christmas dinner.  Brussels sprouts are a must, it seems.

Tuesday we spent the day getting missionaries to and from the train station for transfers.  There was a train strike, so they new arriving sister was about an hour and a half late, but it all worked out in the end.  Some of their bags are so heavy it is a really good thing they have wheels.  The new sister used to be in Cornwall, so we know her, and it is so good to have her back,  She is from Madagascar; we call her SIster Andria, along with most of the missionaries, because her full name is difficult to say, let alone to spell.

Our first temple preparation class was Tuesday night at our flat.  There were supposed to be 5, but only 2 showed up for various reasons of being "poorly", and forgetfulness.  We will see what next week brings.  There has been a lot of illness going around, but we have avoided getting it so far.

We are speaking in the Bideford Branch this coming Sunday on the keys of the priesthood, so we are shifting some of our time to preparation.  We always benefit more than we feel we give.

Tonight is Institute in Plymouth.  We are glad to have a great man who usually teaches.  He is a former mission president in the Philippines, and travels about 2 1/2 hours to get to us, so we are grateful for his efforts and always hope for his safe travel.

It is raining a lot again, just like when we first arrived.  It is rare to see sunshine.  We have taken note of the snow and cold in the US.  We read that 49 of the 50 states have snow on the ground."