Good-bye's
Saying good-bye is always hard. The last couple of weeks have included a few good-bye's to students & missionaries that have left the institute. We also know that with these good-bye's will soon come many welcomes. We have been busily getting ready for Fresher's Week (that's what they call the influx of new Freshman to the different Leeds campuses). There is much alcohol and partying that goes on at the campus. The stake president has asked us and the YSA council to have lots of fun activities provided at the institute so the newbies will feel welcome and find a refuge from the party atmosphere of the campuses.
Ver Chan is a recent convert. He joined the Church in March and we arrived in May. He is from
Beijing. He has progressed rapidly in the Church. I've watched him bless and pass the sacrament, speak in a Mission Fireside, bare his testimony, and support and help other recent Chinese converts. He completed his Masters in Electrical Engineering from Leeds University. I've felt his spirit and love for the us and the gospel of Jesus Christ. I cried when we said good-bye. Hopefully, we will meet again. Maybe he'll come to America. In China the son has to have enough money to provide for his parents and his wife before marrying. Ver Chan is hoping he will have enough money to buy a home for his future wife and family in a year. I've seen pictures of his girlfriend. She is not a member but Ver Chan is hoping she will get an opportunity to join someday too. Ver Chan is one of the few Chinese converts that I feel will always find a way to learn and participate in the Church.
Ver Chan and Pete. These two have a great love for each other. Pete has been an awesome example to Ver Chan as well.
Ver Chan's last day at Leeds University. This picture was taken in our apartment.
Sister Teo is from Singapore. She has been on her mission 9 months and to this point served it all in Leeds. She is excited to work in another Mandarin speaking area. She is going to Leicester. It's the southern most part of our mission. I will miss her. She is also a great cook, even if one week she gave the entire district food poisoning. She didn't know the food would get contaminated if she left it out all night. Excluding the one bad experience she has fed us many yummy dishes after district council.
Elder Cottle, our district leader is leaving for New Castle. It's the furthest northern city in our mission. He was a Farci Elder and taught and saw baptized some great Iranians. Every Tuesday we have had some enjoyable "Farci" nights at the institute with Elder Cottle and Ethington's friends. I made cinnamon rolls for the last Farci night just for Elder Cottle. He loves to eat! Usually, I don't provide food for Farci night but decided since it was his last time with us, I should cook something he liked. You would never know it to look at him, but he's gained 30 pounds on his mission. He's 6'5" tall and looks normal now. So, the weight gain has served him well.
Katie is from Scotland. She is one of the outstanding YSA at the institute. She left for her home to get prepared for her mission. She leaves the end of October for Melbourne, Australia. She has helped much at the institute. At the spur of the moment she has prepared lessons for Home Evening Group, been the guest chef on Wednesday evening, and supported and attended all the classes. I will miss her.
Bee Sting
We bought a £3.00 meal deal at the Tesco Market and a bee wanted the sandwich more than Pete did. Pete tried to get away from the pesky bee, but failed. This was right after the bee sting. By the time we got home, his whole upper lip and cheek was swollen much bigger. He looked like he had Botox overload.
Harry Potter's Castle in Alnwick
We took a two day weekend trip to Alnwick & Bambourgh with some of the office staff. We also met up with the newest senior couple to our mission, the McCombs from Reno. They live in New Castle another northern city in England. They're far away from most of us so it was a fun get-a-way for them too.
Bambourgh Castle is at the northern top of England by the North Sea. The views were spectacular. The windy air coming across the North Sea blew strong the day we were there.
Alnwick is where Harry Potter and some other famous movies were filmed. It is a living castle for one of the noble families in England. The library was exquisite with first edition signed books by Charles Dickens & Edgar Allen Poe. They also owned a copy of the Book of Mormon.
Alnwick Castle had some fun Harry Potter activities outside the castle. Harry Potter & Dumbledore made an appearance. We also took a try at flying on the broomsticks. We enjoyed our time together laughing and having fun.
Outside Alnwick Castle (Harry Potter Castle)
Alnwick Castle
Alnwick Castle & Senior Missionaries
Courtyard at Alnwick Castle
Alnwick Castle in the Rain
Alnwick Castle
Broom riding taught by Harry Potter's friends
Archery at Alnwick Castle
Hit the Dark Blue Mark
Fun to Learn
Pete did Great!
Harry Potter & Dumbledore
Bambourgh Castle
Bambourgh Sits On top of the mountain
Beautiful View of North Sea
Inside the Castle
City of Bambourgh
Windy Day-Beautiful Views
New Castle Upon Tyne City
New Castle Upon Tyne Cathedral
New Castle Upon Tyne
Restaurant in New Castle Upon Tyne
Outdoor Medieval Campers - Each with a Different Talent
Standing on top of the Cast with Views of the City Below
Bolsover Castle was not a Military Castle-No Protective Guns Here
Tapestry Room
Durham Cathedral
Outside Durham Cathedral
Inside Durham Cathedral
Durham City Views from Cathedral
Antique Car Show Outside Durham Cathedral
Skipton Canal Boat Ride
Skipton isn't too far from Leeds. One day we drove to the scenic town to take a canal ride. The weather was beautiful and we had fun.
Embassy
Embassy was near Skipton so we hopped aboard a steam engine for a train ride in an antique Steam Engine Train.
Derwent Valley Mill a World Heritage Site
Derwent Valley is a large area with several towns. It's all part of the World Heritage Site. We drove through the valley and stopped at the North Mill in Belper.
Mill Museum
We ate in Wenslydale Creamery
Beamish Historic Town
Beamish is a historical town much like Nauvoo. All the historic homes and towns are conveniently along a large circular road. A trolley travels through the town allowing riders to get on and off to explore each spot.
Beamish Street
Ladies Creating Beautiful Lace
Leeds Canal - Beautiful
Pete Loves Walking Along The Canal in Leeds
Missionaries Doing Street Contacting Outside The Institute
We went with the Leeds 1st Ward on their evening of "Finding." It was a fun night. Pete and I met Adam Smithfield who hasn't been attending for a while. Pete had a great time teasing him about his Napoleon Dynamite t-shirt. We wanted him to have a Book of Mormon. He told us he had one somewhere in the house. Then, we invited him to read it. He said he would. Pete told him it wasn't by chance that two missionaries from Utah met someone with a Napoleon Dynamite t-shirt on.
ENGLAND, LEEDS MISSION IS THE GREATEST MISSION IN THE UNIVERSE!
That's what all the missionaries tell us.
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