A week following the YSA convention in October, we went to visit with LaMar and Debby Hatch in Bristol where they have been assigned as senior missionaries to the YSA there. They took us to Tyntesfield and Dunster Castle. Tyntesfield is one of the most lavish manor houses that we have visited, the money having come from the mining of bat guano in South America. Dunster Castle in Somerset is a fortified castle from Anglo Saxon times. The next day we took a bus tour of Bristol where they were also having a zombie event before Halloween. Some of their costumes were very creative.
John and Dot Martin took us to lunch at Welcome Stranger on the edge of the moors, and even had a birthday cake having found out it was Mom’s birthday. We had a roast dinner which is quite common here with meat and gravy with many roasted vegetables and potatoes.
The last time we went to district meeting in Redruth we met Elder Gehring, a new missionary from none other than North Logan. He knows families in our home ward but is in the other stake north of ours. On the way home we stopped at McDonald’s for the first time on our mission. The food isn’t any better here than the US but orders were made from a kiosk and delivered to you in the zone you specify your seating. Perhaps it is that way in the States now also. We wouldn’t know that.
We had 23 at Institute—the largest number so far at one meeting.
Elder Luis de Mendoza came for Stake conference and bore a sweet testimony of his conversion, which we later discovered had convinced two investigators in attendance to be baptized themselves.
Other things we have been involved in are obtaining requested items for missionaries like airbeds, mops, clothes drying racks, toilet seats and lightbulbs. They want senior missionaries to be in charge of these larger purchases so that there are more consolidated reimbursements. We have also been helping a sister missionary get to doctor appointments on an ongoing basis, with trips to the hospital as well.
Our last multizone conference in Poole was very good with the added bonus of getting to see LaMar and Debby. They are enjoying both the YSA and young missionaries, and have the added bonus of not being restricted on how much they can spend on food for them, and also have access to a Costco. They are also starting an addiction recovery program in their stake under the direction of the Stake president which will be a great blessing there. It is wonderful that they have the experience to do so as they also served in Utah in this capacity and started a program on their mission in Kentucky.
We were asked to speak briefly in Paignton on a Saturday evening about the joys of serving a mission, then the next day we spoke there in sacrament meeting. We were able to be in the gospel essentials class with the newly baptized Lo who was being taught when we first arrived on our mission. She is not the same person now that she was then and is so very happy. After the meetings the Ward surprised us with a going away munch and mingle with a gift to remember them by. That Monday we went to Bishop and Sister Schofield’s home for family Home evening and a lovely beef stew.
Later that night Christina called and as we hung up the phone with her somehow Clay Carter was on the line. We felt it a tender mercy as we enjoyed the unexpected visit with him and neither of us had actually intended to make the call. He has served so diligently and well as our bishop and is now released and Bishop Zane Rust in his place. We go home to many changes in the Home ward with boundary changes as well.
We went to visit a couple who have quit coming to church. The Spirit was with us as we reasoned with them and shared our feelings. Dad felt he should share the story of his great grandfather, William Woodward, of how he resolved his differences with the bishop and another man who did not and the difference it has made to their posterity. We left feeling we had done all we could to help bring them back.
On Thanksgiving Day we met the Costleys, who will be replacing us. We spent the next 4 days with them taking them to Institute, District meeting, and a speaking assignment in the Holsworthy Branch and dinner there with the Branch president’s family and also a lunch at Sandygate Inn where we know the chef. If her husband would become active she would join the church. There was also a going away dinner hosted by the YSA. We have been treated very well and feel every confidence in this couple replacing us to be able to accomplish things we have not.
A member couple in Paignton arranged for us to have dinner at a Chinese buffet with another couple who we connected with in a meaningful way when they first started going to church there. It was hard to say goodbye to them.
We are in cleaning and dejunking mode until we leave, wanting to have things as orderly as possible for the new couple.
We had a holiday dinner with all the senior missionaries at Pres. And Sister Gubler’s home. The next Sunday we were able to bear our testimonies in what would be considered our Home ward, Newton Abbot, and Dad taught the YSA Sunday school lesson. We understand they have now given a calling to one of the YSA to teach the class, which has been needing to be filled for quite a while.
For this last transfer both sisters in Newton Abbot were moved so we had to load suitcases into every possible space in our small car to get them to the train, then pick up 2 new ones two days later with an equal luggage challenge, helped them get their luggage up 3 flights of stairs and wished them well in their exhausted and rain soaked state, then returned to the train station to take the Paignton Elders to their flat a half hours drive away. Only one of them was new to the area, which cut down on the number of suitcases. It seemed so easy by comparison. This new elder joined the church 3 years ago along with his parents and wanted to serve a mission from the beginning to share the gospel he values so much.
We are now at the London Temple accomodation center having had a wonderful day in the temple with the YSA. It was great to see some of the returned missionaries doing the baptisms and confirmations and feeling of the importance of this work for those who did not get the chance in mortality—how just and merciful all wrapped together. The next day we attended the Crawley Stake conference along with the YSA before they headed out on the 4 hour journey home. The Europe Area President, Elder Paul V. Johnson was the visiting authority and spoke comparing our lives to the barges built to be “tight like unto a dish”. He spoke on our need to endure the mountain waves that crash upon us as the winds of this life blow us to the promised land of eternal life with Heavenly Father and the Savior.
We are staying the night at the London Temple accomodation center to be on hand tomorrow to help feed young missionaries who are coming for their Christmas present of being able to attend the temple. They have been excited about the opportunity since it was announced as it is does not happen often.
You are in our thoughts and prayers. We miss you so much but will be home in a week from today."
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| Elder and Sister Warnick's departing photo in the mission newsletter |
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