22 October 2017
Hello everyone! Thank you to so many who kept in touch this past week. It was great to hear from you. Happy Birthday to my niece Angie! Please tell Corbin that Jean Pierre and Marie miss him! Also, Happy Birthday to my friend Lori Park! Thank you for making the effort to come see us during your visit to England. I hope your day is wonderful today!
We are missing the sun this week and crossing our fingers that we will see it again before next year! It has been dark and gloomy – a scene right out of a Sherlock Holmes movie. We woke up to a severe fog warning on Thursday. Maybe the Brits are just used to it, but I think if I lived here permanently I might be in a state of depression for the winter . . . The temperatures haven’t been too bad yet, so there’s the bright side! I was able to get just one walk in. I think I’m doomed this winter.
We are thankful for a week in the office with very little travelling. I was able to keep my email inbox down in the twenties which makes Elder Partridge a happy camper. We are in the beginnings of a very big filming project for social media so the logistics of that has kept me on my toes. I’m finding that I don’t multi-task as well as I did when I was younger. My brain seems to go on overload quicker, so it has been a week of balancing. On the bright side, we are seeing results from our training in the Leeds Mission as missionaries are posting videos about why they are serving a mission. It is so fun! If you see them on my Facebook page, could I ask that you share them! We want this to be a successful endeavor. The PA Area Director in Frankfurt is taking this idea to the Area Presidenttomorrow in her meeting. We are very excited about that!
Monday, we took the sister missionaries to lunch. Sister Bessendorfer, who has been here since the beginning of her mission (she was Whitney Crandall’s MTC companion) was transferred. We helped them get her luggage to the train station on Tuesday. I was truly worried about her! I’ve never seen a missionary so nervous. It’s hard to get on and off the train by yourself with two pieces of large, heavy luggage, a heavy backpack, a bike, and a helmet. And the wheels on Sister B’s large piece of luggage were completely shredded, so it was nearly impossible to roll. You just hope that some kind soul will see her struggle when it’s time to transfer to another train and give her a hand. (For those with future missionaries, buy GOOD QUALITY luggage for them! The cheap stuff doesn’t hold up through all the transfers and it makes it ten times more difficult!) I asked her what made her the most nervous about transferring? Was it actually getting there? Or a new area? Or a new companion? She said, “It’s that the area formerly had Elders, and now I am moving in with my new companion to the Elder’s old apartment!” I laughed. “Nothing a scrub brush won’t fix,” I said. I could feel her pain. But there was more to it than that. First transfer is always scary. I just hugged her and told her there was someone who needed her in her new area.
One of the Elders was also transferred, but not the one we thought! The one that had only been here for one transfer was being made a Zone Leader and going to Nottingham. Elder Beining, who has been here for 4 months, stayed and will become a senior companion and the new District Leader. Secretly, I really think he was ready to experience a new area. Another challenge. Because Elder Blair was leaving, we took the Elders to dinner. (I like those kinds of days . . . I don’t have to pack a lunch or worry about dinner! But it was an expensive day. Worth it! Five Guys is always worth it.)
Speaking of expensive, the exchange rate for dollars to pounds is less favourable than it has been. Instead of things costing about 25% more, it now costs about 33% more, and rising. For everything we purchase on our credit card in pounds, we get an immediate notice of how much is costs in dollars. OUCH! I told Ron we needed to live off British grown fresh fruits and vegetables because they are yummy and inexpensive. He was thrilled about that . . . not.
Thursday we took lunch to the missionaries after their district meeting. Four missionaries – four different countries represented; USA, Australia, Italy, and Philippines, yet they were all there for the same purpose, making the same sacrifice, to share something with the people of England that is near and dear to their hearts . . . the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was very humbling. “Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven!”
Thursday evening we drove to Nottingham for more training with President Leppard on missionary videos. It was raining British cats and dogs on the way, and when we ran from the car to the church, thank goodness we had ‘brollies’, but our feet were soaked! That’s how hard the rain was coming down. We had planned to have a nice dinner before heading home, but the weather was so bad we hit the drive-thru at McDonalds (yup) and headed home after the meeting. We were glad to get home safe, but without one Robin Hood or Maid Marian sighting. J
We were also happy to have a Saturday home, spent doing cleaning, laundry, finances, and grocery shopping. I attempted to make cookies again for our YSA activity, but then bought some at Costco that looked a whole lot better. I just can’t get the hang of converting recipes or using the oven here. Ron said he would ‘sacrifice’ and eat them so they didn’t go to waste, bless his heart . . .
This past week “Festival of Lights” week, a Hindu and Sikh holiday celebration. I don’t know much about it, but beginning Wednesday night there have been massive fireworks going off every night until WAY past my bedtime. I think tonight is the fifth and last night. They do know how to party . . .those Hindus and Sikhs!
My little darlings were pretty good singers in Primary today! We gave them all a CD a couple of weeks ago of the Primary Program songs, and I can tell they have been listening to them at home. They are learning the words quite well, and I say a prayer of thanks at the end of Primary. Even the Nursery children engaged today. It was a day of tender mercies. Tonight we have our first YSA activity. I’m praying for one more tender mercy.
Today the Opening Song in Sacrament Meeting was “Thanks for the Sabbath School.” I’m not sure if it is an LDS written hymn or it appears in other church’s hymnals as well. Maybe one of my friends that belong to a different faith can tell me. As many times as I’ve sung that song in the last 50+ years, there were a couple of lines that stuck out today . .
“Thanks for the teachers who labor with care that we in the light of the gospel may share.”
Ron taught Sunday School and High Priests today. I witnessed all of his preparation. We had great talks in Sacrament Meeting. I’m so thankful for all the preparation that goes into Sundays by so many people. When we arrived at the church, the lights were on and the doors were unlocked and there were people to greet us. The Sacrament was prepared. Bread appeared as it always does. I felt an overwhelming amount of gratitude for these things today. It is the season of bountiful harvest and giving thanks, isn’t it? And the second line . . >
“Strive with the noble in deeds that exalt, and battle with energy each childish fault.”
There is always so much that can be done. Today I was reminded again to focus the BEST things! And aren’t we constantly trying to overcome weaknesses and be just a little better? It’s part of my daily prayers as I ask humbly for help.
We are so grateful to all of you for the bounteous blessing you are to us. We learn from you as we watch you deal with your trials. Our testimonies grow stronger as you share your own testimonies with us. We feel indebted to so many who care for things at home for us. We especially thank our family for the sacrifices you are making so that we can serve, knowing you are ok. WE LOVE YOU!
Favourite quote today, applicable to all:
You will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice will prove instead to be the greatest investment that you will ever make.”
Gordon B. Hinckley
Love you all,
Elder and Sister Partridge
Ron and Marie
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