June 16-23

Sunshine All Week

We enjoyed having light from the sun all week long. 

The sun rises at 4:30 a.m. here and sets at 10:30 pm

Every Wednesday we have a devotional with Brother McMorn (institute director), and 

Marian (secretary). Last week we watched Elder Holland's talk for CES educators at their annual symposium. Elder Holland talked about igniting the light in YSA instead of focusing on filling their jar.  It was a powerful topic reminding us to point the YSA to Christ. He reminded us to teach in a way that the students will be eager to share their light and become better through Christ. It was powerful and we were reminded that Christ is the source of Light! 

Since the sun shined brightly all week we went about enjoying the light. Here's our week's adventures.

Monday a new convert at the institute volunteered to do the lesson for home evening. She did great and shed her light to all of us. 

Tuesday, we picked up a new senior sister at the airport. She is from West Jordan, Utah. We took her for a sun filled car ride to Hull, England. It was an 1 1/2 hour ride there. Her eagerness and conversation with us was filled with light, even with her jet lag. At Hull we met President and Sister Turvey leading a zone conference. After eating a missionary pizza lunch we headed back to Leeds so I could get my hair cut. That evening we were enlightened by our Iranian friends who were there to mingle together and were taught about Christ. They brought the dinner. 

Wednesday, it was warm and sunny. We took a long morning walk and saw many of the owl statutes on the buildings here in Leeds. 

Owls on pillars

Owls on fence

The gold owls all over the city. 

Salt Lake City sent a film crew from Germany to Leeds England Institute. They came with their  lights and camera. Many students were interviewed. They filmed our pizza lunch from Costco; students working on a service project and delivering of goods to the St. George's Crypt (not far from the institute); filmed our Wednesday evening guest chef dinner; filmed my family search class; and filmed the students doing lots of different activities. They even had a drone getting aerial pictures.  

Wednesday afternoon Pete and I and a YSA couple from Manchester, England, (The Quinns) had a two hour spiritual, Christ centered, meeting with Sonny Donaldson, (director over CES in all of England), K. Roy Tunnicliffe, (area authority 70), and another area authority seventy, Elder Hans Degroot, from the European headquarters in  Germany. He took a picture with us to send to our friends Calvin and Teresa Barlow who are serving a mission in Berlin Germany. He knew them well. Pete and I both felt of  Christ's love for the YSA during that council gathering. These leaders expressed their love and concern for the YSA in this area. They shared important council from the brethren for us that afternoon and expressed gratitude for our service with the YSA in Leeds, England. Leeds Institute of Religion has built quite a reputable name in the European area.  

Thursday, we went on another sun filled walk, had a great devotional with the institute director, fixed a chicken Alfredo dinner for everyone, and Brother McMorn taught the Parable of the 

Talents in institute. Many comments shed inspirational light to all.  Here's some pictures from our walk in 

downtown Leeds. 

Friday,  we started the day with our pancake devotional bright and early at 8:00 a.m. Instead of pancakes we had french toast. Some had never tasted french toast. The talk we used for the devotional was Elder Scott's 1999 talk called, He Lives. We usually get a big turnout for this event because they're hungry. I'm always impressed with the YSA's insights at these devotionals. 

The YSA played some card games with us. After they left, around 1:00 P.M., we enjoyed the sun in Knaresborough. It's a beautiful town just 30 minutes north of Leeds. 

Knaresborough Castle 

views of Knaresborough below the castle

Knaresborough city

Painted windows on a lovely home

city street in Knaresborough

lovely flowers surrounding quaint home

Knaresborough linen mill water dams

River walk in Knaresborough

Saturday was our p-day and President Turvey asked if we could help him pack. We were glad to help and we ended up coming home with lots of food for the YSA. After lunch we headed to see the Harewood Home just outside of Leeds. It is quite a huge mansion with lovely yards. 

The kitchen in the basement of this home is where the movie Victoria was filmed. 

When we got home a Chinese friend knocked on our door. She was looking for the Mandarin sisters. We had a nice visit with her while we waited for the sisters. She was interested in seeing the inside of the institute. 

 This is what I showed her. 

Missionaries teaching room

Gathering room/Movie room

Hallways on each level

library room and Pathway classroom

bulletin board in gathering room

big classroom

billiards room

Council room where I teach family history

kitchen

Brother McMorn's office

Secretary's desk across the hall from Brother McMorn's office

Another missionary room with fold up ping pong table. YSA love to play ping pong,

Map of our building layout

June 10-16

“Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, that is all that ever has.”

Margaret Mead

Last week we had transfers. It was sad to say good-bye to those we loved but also exciting to welcome those new ones to the great area of Leeds. I would change the statement above to read this way:

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed missionaries can change the world! Indeed, that is what missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do!

Our district includes 8 missionaries. Two stayed and the rest of them are all new. We look forward to seeing the change of personalities and the different direction the new missionaries have planned for our area. 

The institute hosted a big training that took place this transfer. It was threefold; those missionaries who had been out for their first 6 weeks; those missionaries who are having their last 6 weeks on the mission; and those who have received new leadership callings. It was a huge event with many filling the rooms here. The assistants came and got the rooms ready for the training and they brought lots of food for all the missionaries to eat. It was orchestrated very well with lots of missionaries going up and down our many stairs. 

Can you see Elder Carrier standing at the very bottom. He has on an argyle yellow sweater. It's 7 flights up to our apartment. When I get to the label on the wall that reads Level 6, I know I'm almost home. 

The office asked us to help another set of missionaries find an apartment to split up a dwelling of four to just a single companionship. That took a little time but with Elder Carrier's expertise, with the help of the Lord, and many prayers we found the perfect house for them in Dudley Hill. It's close to the Church and right in the middle of their area. 

Later that evening we helped the Farci Elders host another fireside at the institute. This time there were more people. Elder Carrier and I ended up watching the little children while the Elders went to separate rooms to teach the people. One of the men they taught was baptized on Saturday. The sisters also had a baptism on Saturday. They were both special to witness. One of the new members is Chinese and another is Iranian. Leeds is a diverse community with many different nationalities living here. 

Last Sunday we hosted a dinner for the mission office people. We had eight for dinner. It was potluck and we provided the spaghetti and vegetables. Afterwards, Sister Turvey said to me, "Do you think this institute kitchen needs an update?" I said, "Yes!" She thought we should have a dishwasher and a bigger oven and the whole outline of the kitchen revamped. I guess she talked with President Turvey and he agreed. Unfortunately, it won't begin until 2021. We'll be long gone. 

Here's some pictures of our kitchen area in the basement..


Pancake breakfast



Pancake breakfast ( Elder Carrier is the chef for this event)

Monday Tom did the lesson for FHE. He is a recently returned missionary and led a discussion through Job and his trials. It was excellent. After the lesson and treats, everyone was hanging around. So, we started to play a monopoly card game. First we have a spiritual discussion and then everyone gathers for party time. I'm getting a little more used to staying up until 10:00 p.m. I am glad that Elder Carrier sends them out the door at that time. I assume they gather at someone's apartment and continue the party there. Now that finals are over it's much more relaxed around here. 
Here's a picture of Tom. He's also on the institute council. 


Tuesday was a less busy day. After our walk we got in our missionary attire and then just sat down for our breakfast and someone walked right into our apartment without a knock. It was the facility management resource, (fmr) guy. We knew he was coming but didn't expect him to walk all the way up to our apartment unannounced.  I'm glad we were dressed. He wanted to check the boiler room. Last week the boilers were removed. It was a big project for 4 old men to lift heavy equipment down our stairs and out the door. They made the carpet dirty but shampooed it after. The fmr guy also checked our apartment. He agreed to get us a bigger mirror and told us to take a picture of any other changes we want made to the apartment. Then, he told us to submit them through the app that Brother McMorn put on my phone.  Everyone is so accommodating to our needs. We keep telling them that we're happy with everything.  

Elsa was our guest chef on Wednesday evening. She made a delicious Cajun chicken, roasted vegetables, sweet potato fries, and blackberry, lemon drizzle cake. One of the best meals yet.  Here's Elsa sampling her dinner. 


Wednesday my Family history class was better attended. I went from 1 participant to 4. The students told me more will come this week. We'll see if that actually happens. It's nice having a small group. Those that came to class found some exciting things to put on their family tree. My goal is to get some to attend Rootstech in London during October. They're offering free lodging and food for all YSA who attend. If they go, then maybe Elder Carrier and I will get permission to attend. 

The same four who attended my class stayed for Elder Carrier's calligraphy class.  That was received well. 

Thursday morning we took a longer walk in the rain. We wanted to see the river walk pathway. It was beautiful.  The river, Aire, isn't too far from our house. It's a major river in Yorkshire, England. It's 148 kilometers in length. It flows into other rivers which ultimately end at the ocean by Liverpool.  

We also toured the train station. It's not far from our home either. We were pleasantly surprised at how upscale the train depot was. 

Here's pictures of the river.







Thursday we also enjoyed our weekly devotional with Brother McMorn, institute director, and Marian, the secretary. Marion and I cooked the dinner Wednesday evening and Brother McMorn taught the Parables class.  Both were well attended. 

Friday after pancake breakfast we listened to President Benson's talk on the book of Mormon and had wonderful insights from all the kids that attended. I love doing our devotional because there is so much discussion and we play for a long time afterwards.  Last Friday we taught them how to play, Cover Your Assets. It was such a hit that they kept wanting to play another game. I ended up making grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch and then the girls stayed with me and shared all the little crushes they have on different YSA boys. Elder McMorn and Elder Carrier walked into the room not knowing what was going on and everyone was silent for a moment and then they all laughed. 

Friday evening was a ward barbecue at Bishop Barker's home. Here's pictures below. There was lots of food and of course it rained.  We've had rain for the past 3 weeks. We don't go anywhere without umbrellas and raincoats.








When we're not having fun with the YSA we're searching out lost YSA, preparing lessons, helping the missionaries, and sometimes we get to rest for a minute or two.  

The last pictures are of our p-day travels. We went to three little old towns north of Leeds called Ilkley, Ottley, and Skipton. They were about an hour away from our home. The drive was lovely with lots of sheep, horses, and cows in beautiful green pastures framed with rock fences. It's so beautiful here! 


Ottley street with outdoor markets and parade



Our Church in Skipton (very old building, It used to be a court house. The other is a lovely English Garden.

Here's a picture outside our back window. 



This last picture is of Elesia. She completed her 5 years of dental training. She is now a full fledged dentist. She worked so hard for her degree and this last semester of study for her was very intense. I saw her often at the institute and we become quite close. I'm so proud of her. 



This mission may not follow the traditional missionary mode but it is certainly rewarding for us to be here.