We made it!

February 19, 2017

I’ve missed everyone so much!  We have come to the end of our first week here in the mission field, and we survived!  We feel your love and prayers sustaining us and appreciate you so much.  This first email is WAY TOO LONG!  You won’t believe how many details I skipped to shorten it to just the highlights.  

Lunch with our Utah kids and their families before we headed to the airport.

Goodbye Mom. Be happy while
I'm gone! I love you!

Before flying out on Monday, we enjoyed lunch with our family at our favorite place to eat, Market Street Grille.  We thought it best to say our goodbyes there since the airport can be very stressful and crazy.  We hugged everyone, shed a few tears, and admonished everyone to make good choices while we are gone.  I think that is the best chance we all have of staying safe.  Taylor drove us to the airport.  It seemed like we were in the car for at least an hour . . . it’s like time was going in slow motion.  I’m not sure why.

Our bags were a little too heavy for the airline’s liking, so we did a last minute shuffle and paid an overage charge for one bag.  Well worth it.  If I ever get to the bottom of my suitcases, I might find the kitchen sink.  I certainly have everything else.  I may not have to go the store here at all . . . ok, I’ll find a reason.

We ran into a few of our Delta employee friends and were able to hug them good bye; Chris Bertin who always keeps as watchful eye over Mom as her friend and Visiting Teacher, Stephanie Malmrose, a long time friend from WX, and Trudy Moulton, my Festival friend. 

It was fun seeing our old friend, Trudy Moulton, on the plane!

Our flight was uneventful.  That’s the way we want it, right?  We had upgraded our seats to Delta Comfort, and I highly recommend it for anyone flying overseas.  It made all the difference in the world of being able to stretch out a little and get some sleep.  Business Class would have been optimal, but at $4,000 more a seat EACH, not an option.

Our new mobile phone - yikes!

Elder and Sister Jones, Dan and Joyce, who we are replacing, met us at the airport and began our training the second we were in the cars.  Yes, I say cars because it took a station wagon and a taxi to get the four of us and all of our luggage transported.  They are the kindest people, so genuinely loving and helpful, so organized, and the “Hosts with the Mosts”, as the saying goes.  They had an agenda ready for us covering everything we need to know and do until they leave.  They have been our guardian angels.  They are here with us through next Thursday, a day I am anticipating with great trepidation. 

We are staying at a hotel near the office, living out of our many suitcases.  It will be good to get into our place we will call home and get settled, although the hotel has been nice and convenient.  We walk to work in the mornings, stopping at McDonalds for a little breakfast on the way.  Yesterday we decided to be bold and try some English Porridge.  Hmm….not sure we will do that again.  At least not at McDonalds. 

The week has been filled with getting to know those we share the office floor with, training, and a lot of eating.  I

McDonalds! We feel right at home!

would say we have been wined and dined, but that is not quite appropriate.  We certainly have been dined.  A highlight was being invited to dinner Friday night with the Joneses by the mission president and his wife, President and Sister Leppard.  They are the kindest people, and very witty!  It was such a fun evening.  They are British and put us to ease so quickly.  I feel like they are friends already.  They are only 50 years old and left promising careers to accept the calling.  The missionaries in their mission are blessed to have them.  I’m excited for Whitney Crandall in our ward who will be serving here beginning in June. 

After dinner we attended a Ward Fireside, where three mini classes were being held on Prayer, Scripture Study, and How to Answer Hard Questions.  The Joneses were the presenters of the third.  We were able to meet some of the ward members and begin our transition into that ward, as President Leppard assigned us to that ward, the Solihull Ward, and asked us to strengthen the ward with our experience and leadership.  We are excited to do so.  The church is right around the corner from the office.

President and Sister Leppard warmly welcomed us to the Birmingham Mission.

Friday was Ron’s birthday, so we also cut out of the office early and went to visit a nearby castle, Warwick (pronounced Warrick) Castle for a little break and fun.  It was nice to break away from the office and enjoy the old English atmosphere. 

By the time we got home after 10pm on Friday we were exhausted, as was evident by crawling out of bed the next morning close tonoon.  The jet lag had caught up with us and our bodies needed some rejuvenation I think. 

Yesterday we had the day to ourselves while the Joneses packed their bags and got ready to leave the ‘flat’.  We took a nice walk, found an ATM to get some pounds in our wallet finally, and stopped at Subway for lunch. 

Some new words we’ve learned:

Jumper – we call them vests

Car Park – where you park the car

Troller – the cart the hotel maids use

Bin – trashcan  (they don’t store things in plastic bins here, just plastic containers J)

Elders Partridge and Jones in their matching "jumpers"

The Joneses picked us up for Stake Conference both last night and this morning.  The Stake Center is about 1/2 hour away.  Elder Herbertson, our area authority presided over the meeting.  We had the opportunity to meet him as well as the Stake Presidency and also our new Bishop.

For the intermediate song today, Elder Herbertson requested that we sing a traditional song for this country, “Jerusalem”.  I believe it is the opening song in the movie “Chariots of Fire”.  The words go like this:

And did those feet in ancient time walk upon England’s mountain green?

And was the holy Lamb of God on England’s pleasant pastures seen?

And did the countenance divine shine forth upon our clouded hills?

And was Jerusalem builded here among those dark satanic mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold!  Bring me my arrows of desire!

Bring me my spear!  O clouds, unfold!  Bring me my chariot of fire!

I will not cease from mental fight, nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,

Til we have built Jerusalem in England’s green and pleasant land.

In talking with Brother Jones, I learned that this song goes way back in time.  He sang it here as a young missionary some 50 years ago.   England believes that during the time Christ was 12 – 30 years old, when we have no record of his life, he was walking the land of England and will someday return.  As the congregation sang, there were many tears of pride, including the Joneses who will be leaving this great land in a few short days.  My heart was full of gratitude for the blessing of being here and for this beautiful green land and the wonderful, humble people.

After Stake Conference, we took the maiden voyage driving the car (left side of the road), and we made it to our new flat to join the Joneses for Sunday dinner.  We will check out of the hotel tomorrow and sleep at the flat tomorrow night.  Flat Sweet Flat.  Home Sweet Home!

Thank you again for reaching out to us and for your love and prayers.  We pray for you also!  I know the work we will do here will be challenging and rewarding.  In no way do I feel qualified, but I do know that the Lord qualifies whom he calls.  Have a wonderful week this week!  I will be thinking of you!