"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
Elder and Sister Warnick wrote an email to their grandchildren with more detailed information on the castles they have been touring recently.
"We got to visit a castle and learn more about what they were like. Castles looked cool on the outside, but really they were cold, damp, and poorly lit. The only heating was provided by fireplaces in each room, and castles had to be lit by torches because they were very dark inside.
People tended to spend much time outdoors to get away from the dampness of the castle. Tapestries were hung on the wall to help brighten up the halls and keep in heat.
The main furniture in the great hall were wooden benches and large tables made by laying wood planks across other benches. At night, the table was taken down to make room for the servants who slept on the floor. The floors were covered year-round with reeds, bones, and scraps of food. When the room began to smell, the servants added more reeds and sprinkled spices to help get rid of the odor. Once a year, the servants replaced the soiled reeds with new ones, and the whole process started again. The king and his family often shared a single room where their sleeping quarters were separated by curtains.
The king's kitchen staff decorated most of the food before they served it. Sometimes when the meat was served, the servants put the fur or feathers back on the meat to make it look alive! On the other hand, because there was no refrigeration, the food spoiled quickly. Sometimes when the food was spoiled, they just dumped extra gravy on it and served it anyway. One of the only ways to preserve and season the food was to salt all the meat.
In fact, since salt was so important at the medieval table, it began to be sort of a status symbol. Most great halls had only one large salt container, and where you sat in relation to it told people how important you were. The more important people sat "above the salt", and those that were less important sat "below the salt". During the evening meals, the lord and his family sat upon a raised platform and watched court jesters who sang, juggled, and told stories.
Castles had no modern plumbing, but the garbage disposal presented no problem. The servants dumped it into the moat. Bathrooms in castles often emptied right into the moat as well. Since people in the Middle Ages believed that washing too much could make you sick, bathing became a once-a-month affair. Most didn't even bother with soap, because the soaps were so strong that they could eat holes through cloth. The royal family preferred dirt to holes, so wash days were few and far between.
From now on you'll want to notice where the salt is at your table, but we wouldn't advise only taking a bath once a month."
"Since our last update we have continued our travels throughout Devon and Cornwall. We attended Harold's baptism in St. Austell. Harold is a fairly intellectual man, whose first impressions of the missionary discussions were that it sounded logical. He talked about not doing "feelings", but the missionaries explained that the Holy Ghost can speak to us in different ways, and that his impression that it was logical was his answer about its truthfulness. We often fail to recognize the Holy Ghost's influence in our lives, much as in 3 Nephi 9:20. "The Lamanites... were baptized with fire and the Holy Ghost and they knew it not." Recent convert Rose was in attendance, and another recent convert family who have attended every Cornwall baptism since their own baptisms this summer. They say they really feel the Spirit at baptisms, which has been our own experience as well. Their daughter is joining our YSA group when she turns 18 next month.
The next day we returned to St. Austell to speak in sacrament meeting on overcoming our doubts and choosing to believe in God. The topic was requested by the bishop. One quote we particularly liked and shared is: 'We as members of the Church tend to emphasize marvelous and dramatic spiritual manifestations so much that we may fail to appreciate and may even overlook the customary pattern by which the Holy Ghost accomplishes His work. The very "simpleness of the way" (1 Nephi 17:41) of receiving small and incremental spiritual impressions that over time and in totality constitute a desired answer or the direction we need, may cause us to "look beyond the mark". (Jacob 4:14) ... I have talked with many individuals who question the strength of their personal testimony and underestimate their spiritual capacity because they do not receive frequent, miraculous, or strong impressions. Perhaps as we consider the experiences of Joseph in the Sacred Grove, of Saul on the road to Damascus, and of Alma the Younger, we come to believe something is wrong with or lacking in us if we fall short in our lives of these well-known and spiritually striking examples. If you have had similar thoughts or doubts, please know that you are quite normal. Just keep pressing forward obediently and with faith in the Savior. As you do so, you "cannot got amiss". (D&C 80:3) (David A. Bednar, April 2011)
We have been working on our Plymouth Stake YSA convention which takes place in September. It will be held at Dragon Archery, owned by a church member who is also the branch president in Bideford. He has 3 YSA children of his own.
We made food and taught at Institute last week. The subject was Joseph Smith Matthew and the signs of the coming of the Savior. Last Sunday we traveled two hours to the Bideford branch located on the north Devon coast. We spoke once again in sacrament meeting, this time on the promises the Lord has made, and that He has all to fulfill them, with counsel from two good sources:
James E. Faust quoted Dr. Arthur Wentworth Hewitt as saying: "If on a basis of strict personal return here and now, all the good were always happy and all the bad suffered disaster (instead of quite often the reverse), this would be the most subtle damnation of character imaginable."
Henry B. Eyring said, "God makes it attractive to choose the right by letting us feel the effects of our choices. If we choose the right, we will find happiness- in time. If we choose evil, there comes sorrow and regret- in time. Those effects are sure. Yet they are often delayed for a purpose. If the blessings were immediate, choosing the right would not build faith. And since sorrow is also sometimes greatly delayed, it takes faith to feel the need to seek forgiveness for sin early rather than after we feel its sorrowful and painful effects." (April 2014)
Speaking in church so often is a great opportunity to study the scriptures and the words of the prophets by topic. We are most grateful for their guidance and feel deeply of their truthfulness.
After the meetings in Bideford we were invited to Peter and Maureen Smith's for lunch, which was very kind of them. They told us the stories of their own conversions. He was shocked to be called by then Elder Hinckley to be a bishop of a large ward after being a member less than 3 years. He and Elder Warnick shared with each other their feelings of inadequacy accompanying the call to be the leader of a congregation. Now his son is a bishop in Scotland, and feeling the same desires to serve to the best of his ability.
Yesterday we took the ferry to Dartmouth and on to the castle at the mouth of the estuary. It was built for defense, and had multiple cannons. Originally they employed a huge chain they could raise to prevent the French and pirates from traveling upstream. The castle is rumored to be haunted.
We had local crab sandwiches, and decided we will stick with fish and chips. Many people were crabbing right off the pier, which involves lowering a line with bait on a small net, which the crabs grab and won't let go. There ought to be a lesson in there somewhere."
"We have had several baptisms in our stake and think we have outstanding missionaries in this zone. On the 23rd Titus was baptized in Exeter. We spoke in the ward the next day and were able to see his confirmation. He is from Nigeria, which would interest Grandma and Grandpa Miller. (Sister Warnick's parents served a mission in Nigeria.)
On the 30th we drove to Redruth to attend a baptism, but when we arrived the font had overflowed and flooded the whole chapel. As a result they postponed until the week following, but we were able to drive to St. Austell and attend Rose Boyd's baptism. She bore a sweet testimony and told how she had believed in paganism bordering on witchcraft, but realizes now she was so wrong. It is wonderful that the Lord is able to accept us no matter what our past has been if we are willing to change and follow Him.
Yesterday we attended Harold's baptism in Helston due to the ongoing drying out of the Redruth chapel. While there we met Ellis, a soon-to-be YSA, who was baptized with her parents in July. She really wants to go to BYU but has a year before she can apply.
In the midst of all these travels we have been transporting missionaries and doing flat inspections. Some of the flats are in quite nice shape, but others are old and run down. The Helston elders have gotten permission to look for another flat as their landlord claims the privilege of coming in at any time of day or night. Their flat is a dump, besides.
We have also been attending Institute and YSA activities. On Friday night we prepared food and met at the church before departing for Spitchwick in Dartmoor National Park. We returned to our flat on the way to pick up some sports equipment, thinking to meet them there, but we were never able to find them with the directions we had been given. It reminded us of the old hide and seek game- we drove around the area for two hours. They were very apologetic, but it was all right, as they had enough food without ours. Next week they plan to go to Teignmouth Beach. We will make sure we stay in the middle of the pack this time. There ought to be a lesson there somewhere.
We also had the opportunity to visit Coleton Fishacre, the home of Rupert and Dorothy D'Oyly Carte, built in the 1920s. They owned the Savoy Hotel, and the theatre in London famous for Gilbert and Sullivan operas, which they produced, and ended up wealthier than the artists themselves. The home and gardens were beautiful, with a view of the southern coast.
Elder Warnick passed his written driving test with excellent scores. The hardest part was a computer hazard perception test, as they have their own way of deciding how soon you should see it and what exactly might turn into a problem. We fasted beforehand, and he got higher scores than he ever had on the preparation tests, so we are most grateful for the help. The next part to pass is behind the wheel, and we are paying a church member to get him ready for that and present him at the test, as that is the way it is done here. It is not scheduled until November. Through it all we have felt sustained by Heavenly Father and know of His interest in the lives of His children."
