16 May 2017- Our Trip to Enmore

"Last week we took a trip to the village of Enmore, about an hour's drive northwest of Newton Abbot in Somerset.  What makes this place of particular interest to us is that some of our ancestors are from there.  William and Emma Stevens and their children left England for America after joining the Church.  They were a prominent family in the area, as William had a thriving blacksmith business and they were landowners.  We have attached a short history of them.  We first went to the Enmore Parish Church looking for family gravestones, but soon realized that markers of that age are not to be found, especially considering the climate, so we were unsuccessful.  We decided to stop for lunch at a pub and restaurant down the road, feeling a little disappointed at not finding anything at the church.  The food was good and as we thanked the owner for the fine meal we mentioned that we had ancestors from Enmore and that they were blacksmiths.  He stepped back outside with us and pointed directly across the street to what is now a small garage, and said that had once been the location of the blacksmith forge, and the house adjacent to it where the blacksmith's family lived.  The address is even 2 Forge Cottage.  We were amazed that we even stopped there in the perfect location to find a connection to our past.  This was more than just a pleasant coincidence.

The surrounding countryside is beautifully green- a sharp contrast to where they settled in Oakley, Utah.  Of course, if they were seeking pleasant surroundings they never would have left in the first place.  Their desire was to follow the call of a prophet of God to gather with the Saints.  We gained a greater feeling of closeness and appreciation for their sacrifices in order that we might have all the blessings we enjoy today." 

Home adjacent to forge

Blacksmith forge former chimney location

Location of former blacksmith forge

Enmore Parish Church gate

Enmore Parish Church (St. Michael's)

26 April 2017

"New Sister missionaries have arrived in Newton Abbot.  Elder Warnick realizes he is not as young as he used to be by lugging their very heavy suitcases into a car too small for them and then up three flights of stairs to their flat.

We took this companionship to see the moors, the sheep, the ponies, the Belted Galloways, and even stopped for a stone circle we just saw from the road.  We had a picnic lunch for them near the clapper bridge in Postbridge, and though it was cool, the sun came out.  Both sisters seemed to enjoy the day, and it gave them a chance to see some things on their preparation day.

The multi zone conference was great.  President Gubler spent significant time talking about repentance and the Savior's absolute willingness and desire to forgive us of our sins if we sincerely repent.  He counseled us to be passionate about repenting in our own lives, and teaching repentance.  He said the story of the prodigal son should hold meaning for all of us, with the father seeing and running to the son from a great way off.

We attended an 18th birthday party for a new YSA that was Harry Potter themed and cleverly done in decorations and food, including butterbeer (similar to cream soda) and aptly named snacks.  There will be another one we are invited to that is Star Wars themed.  People are invited to come in costume.  We may just skip the costumes.

We went to visit Knightshayes, a beautiful house with extensive gardens that included topiary and animals made of natural products.  Maxwell will like the foxes.  The source of the wealth came from the invention of lace-making machinery.  Actually the inventor and his sons' families lived very modestly, giving good wages to employees, but the grandson decided to spend the family fortune on the estate and be a "gentleman" rather than hands on with the business.  The company is still running, and over the years has produced many of the wedding veils for royalty.  One of the benefits of working there is to be gifted a wedding veil.

We attended two separate baptisms on the same day.  One of them for a young man from Bermuda going to school in Plymouth for the next 2 or 3 years in electrical engineering.  He has attended Institute a couple of times already.  The other baptism was in Paignton for a Chinese lady and her 9 year old son.  She wanted to be taught quickly so she could be baptized, having accepted everything with gratitude.  
We have been working for many months on developing a workable process to broadcast Institute to some of the remote locations in the stake.  For many of the YSA a two hour drive is just not feasible.  There are several who are fully active and would attend.  Last week the right man came forward to help test it with the equipment he knew was already available.  We ordered and received another camera for the building where it will be taught in the summer, and should be able to actually broadcast with a screen for the power points this week.

Some of you will know Van Johnson.  His funeral is this Friday.  It makes us grateful for the time we have been able to share being on this mission together.  The time we have on earth is uncertain.

Tuesday was Grandpa Keith Warnick's 101st birthday.  None of our children ever had the opportunity of knowing him in this life, as he died long before any of them were born, but we hope that reading about his life and remembering his birthday will help them appreciate what a marvelous heritage they have.  If each of you could end up being as kind to others and look out for the downtrodden like he did, you would do well.

Sister Warnick made labels for the quilts the ward is making for refugees, and the sisters asked for a tutorial.  Little did they know she had only done it once, and learned how from the internet.  For anyone interested, it is easy to print on fabric using a freezer paper backing and setting the ink with white vinegar.  It works great.

We greatly appreciate Daniel looking after our affairs while we are gone.  He recently took care of our taxes yet again, and keeps our house from flooding by controlling the secondary water.  The lawn is a big one to keep mown, and there are constant details to attend to.  Thanks, Dan."

5 April 2017 - Our Travels, Thoughts, and Conference

"Since we last wrote we have spent a wonderful and full week with Dustin, Heather, and Afton, followed by General Conference.  It was so good to see them and spend several days with them.  Afton has grown and retains her kind nature.  We visited many of the places that we had previously seen with Keith and Sarah and other senior couples.  While the weather was a little rainy, many flowers were in bloom.

One of the things that struck us as we toured these beautiful estates is that the people who built them and lived in them are long gone.  There were the privileged, and even those who served them fared better than many around them.  But even they were beset with trials and tragedies of their own.  Now they are all gone, and their luxurious dwelling places are empty.  We can't help but wonder what has become of them, and whether their feelings and knowledge now would have made any difference in the way they lived.  It is something to consider.  At least we think about it as we contemplate our own lives and situation.

We left the Petersens in Bath on Saturday and returned home to enjoy conference weekend.  Because of the 7 hour delay between time zones we were not able to watch any of the sessions in real time, but have enjoyed them all through technology.  How privileged we are to live in a time when any time we choose, we can hear the words of the apostles and prophets.  No other generation in the history of the world has been so privileged as ours in this regard.  So many of the talks spoke to us personally.  We have a hard time thinking of favorites, because each one touched us in some way.  We strongly encourage you to watch and ponder them for yourselves.  We express to you our testimony of the truthfulness of the restored gospel, and that Jesus Christ is leading us with love through all we face through His chosen servants.  It is our love for Him and His teachings that sustains us and bring us joy.

On Monday we had a couple over for dinner.  The wife has been a member almost a year now, and we were able to talk with them about the eternal blessings available for them in the temple.  It was a nice evening.  Yesterday we went to lunch with a fellow who rents lodgings from church members.  He is an amazing family history expert, and is helping us with some of our own family history on ancestors who lived in Somorset, not far from here.  It was his 70th birthday, and we had a wonderful time with him joking about growing older.  We feel it is a blessing that we have come to know him."

17 March 2017- Happy St. Patrick's Day

"It is hard to believe that it is spring again, although we are most glad for its arrival.  The daffodils are blooming everywhere, including random roadside corners.  Trees are in blossom and the sheep continue faithfully gracing green fields with their calming influence.  By the way, did you know that speed bumps are called 'calming measures' here?

We continue to participate in the teaching of Lee's mother, and see her again Saturday.  She expressed last time that she never thought she could pray for herself, only other people.  We read to her from Amulek's discourse in Alma 34:17-27 where we are instructed to pray for everything that concerns us.  This should open a new avenue for her as she realizes she can pray for her own needs as well as others'.

Mission presidents have been instructed to interview all the missionaries every 6 weeks.  In order to do that President Gubler has scheduled interview days where he travels to Plymouth.  We were asked to provide the lunch somewhat last minute.  We served BBQ chicken sandwiches with crisps (chips, for you Americans), vegetable spears, and dessert.  President Gubler requested banana splits for dessert as a reward for them, which was a bit of a challenge for us because the chapels here don't have freezers.  We ran to the store just before lunch and hoped it would not turn too soft.  It turned out OK, but here were some leftovers that became soup.  It is hard to know how much they will eat; some missionaries have reputations that they never get full.  We think he should promise them chocolate chip cookies next time, which have a better chance of surviving.

The Paignton Ward celebrated the tenth anniversary of being in their building.  We were asked to participate in a choir performance about the life of Christ on the Saturday, followed by food and mingling and displays of different church programs.  There was at least one woman that just came in, having heard about it.  She had gone to school there as a child and wanted to see what it looked like now.  At the table about family history we met a man, not a member of the church, who is quite an expert and very willingly offered to help us with our Somerset ancestors.  He himself is Roma, which entails its own challenges to research.  It brought back memories of being with Ben in Bulgaria, and he would point out Romani to us.  Since then this researcher provided us with additional documents we did not have on our Stevens ancestors, and continues to work with us on researching that line more accurately.  It will be nice to get rid of some of the "about"s that have been included on dates.

We received a call from Sister Gubler of the need to check on a sister who was having back problems, especially with the increased walking required in her new area.  She asked that we evaluate her mattress to see if that was part of the problem.  She needed a new mattress, which was provided, but it hasn't yet made the hoped-for change.  As Aunt Linda and Uncle Paul know, it can be a challenge to keep missionaries well.

The Newton Abbott Ward has a sewing group providing quilts for refugees, and we are attempting to help out in that area with a little handiwork that can be done in spare moments without a sewing machine.  We work with the local councils, who know ahead who is coming from the refugee camps.  So much needs to be done.

The Paignton Ward had a celebration for one of their YW turning 18 and invited us.  She then came to Institute for the first time, and we hope will continue.  Transition times are hard even under the best of circumstances, and this young lady will have to find the strength without family support.

Last night in Plymouth Elder Warnick instructed all the Ward YSA committees in the stake regarding their responsibilities.  The meeting was conducted by a member of the stake presidency, who is extremely supportive and committed to improvement.  One of our young leaders shared the YSA perspective of the challenges they face, including things such as transportation and money and feelings of isolation.  We are hopeful this will jumpstart some action.  Too much of the time this age group has been overlooked locally, with the thinking the stake is taking care of them.

Afterward we rejoined the YSA and had very green rice crispie treats for St. Patrick's Day, although most do not celebrate it in England.  We did it for our young people from Ireland.  Elder Warnick had to go to 3 different stores to find truly green food coloring.  It finally worked so well that it turned their teeth green when they ate it.  But if the Chicago Irish can dye the river green in honor of St. Patrick's Day, why not a few green teeth in Great Britain?  Happy St. Patrick's Day.  Hope you don't get pinched!"

A couple Irish sayings for you:

"As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction."

"People who wonder whether the glass is half full or half empty miss the point.  The glass is refillable."

"You don't scare me, I was raised by an Irish mother."

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."