I love November!

5 November 2017

Happy November everyone! I do love the month of November! Some of my favourite people have birthdays this month. Happy Birthday this week to two of my besties, Shauna and Sharon. You all sweeten my life and I love you dearly! I also love November because it is a month of giving thanks, and I have so much to be thankful for.

Today is a significant day because we are officially halfway through our mission. Notice no exclamation point behind that statement . . .I’m not sure how I feel about it. We comment all the time about how sometimes it seems like we’ve been here forever (particularly when we’re talking about how much we miss the kids), and other times we can’t believe how fast it is going and we only have nine months to complete “all we were sent forth to do.” Today is a day of mixed emotions.

We have had a terrific week! Tuesday after work we volunteered for the Royal British Legion, which is a British charity providing financial, social and emotional support to members and veterans of the British Armed Forces. The poppy is the insignia, and it is traditional for everyone to wear one on their lapel from the beginning of November until November 12, which is Remembrance Day. We manned a table at a mall in Birmingham where anyone could give a donation and receive a poppy. We had a fun time, met lots of people, heard some heartwarming stories, and walked away after two hours so grateful for the opportunity. I’ve proudly worn my poppy pin every day since.

Thursday we attended District Meeting with the missionaries. They have just been given access to Facebook, so we were able to offer them some training on how to share the gospel using social media. It’s the same training we will give the entire mission next month. We had fun making a video and practicing with them. After the meeting we enjoyed their favourite, Alisha’s burritos. I can’t believe how much they eat! Our new missionary, Elder Anderson, is slowly adjusting, but still in a bit of culture shock, and I think a little homesick. We talked to him, asked about his family, his hobbies, and told him all the great things about serving in Solihull. I pray for the guidance of a higher power to say just the thing he needs to hear to help him get through the rough days.

Kensington Palace

Friday began our fun weekend with Sam and Alisha in London! We are so happy they could get away and come visit, and so thankful that Aunt Amanda could make arrangements for her own five children and go stay with Sam and Alisha’s kids so they could come. We had good, crisp, fall weather, with a little rain, but nothing that stopped us from having so much fun. We visited the Tower of London, Kensington Palace, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, rode the London Eye, and took a cruise down the River Thames. We ate the yummy Indian food, Fish n’ Chips, and even . . .drum roll . . . found pumpkin ice cream that was the BEST I’ve ever eaten! It was our first time since being here that we actually were tourists in London and not just working.

Top L to R: Tower of London, Thames River Cruise
Bottom L to R: Victoria Memorial, London Eye, Buckingham Palace

Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream @ Four Winters, Kensington

Today was Stake Conference (where several wards/congregations come together for a church service) at the Hyde Park Chapel. In the Hyde Park Stake we were told today there are 133 countries represented by the members. Our church has presence in 160 countries around the world, so when they say that London is the true melting pot of the world, I know it’s true. We loved seeing the diversity. In particular, there was an Asian young woman who had a very beautiful, strong voice singing in the choir, and as well as she sang in English, her Asian accent was heard loud and clear. I loved it. We were also fed well spiritually. I was reminded where to turn when we had a concern, what covenants we made at baptism, and how easy it can be to open share the gospel if we have the desire. After the meeting we went up to the rostrum to say hello to someone when an older women jumped into our path and with her hand out to shake ours, she introduced herself:

“Well hello, senior missionaries, I’m Sister (can’t remember her name). In 1983 two young men knocked on my door. They held up a book and told me they had a message to share with me about Jesus Christ. Well, I LOVE Jesus, so I told them they had better get in my house, and I’ve never looked back. Isn’t this Church wonderful!”

We could only agree with her!

We saw friends we haven’t seen since the Pageant, and met people we have had a conversation with over the phone but never met in person. It was a great experience, and we loved being in London for Church.

Tonight we got on the train to come back to Solihull, and just as the train was ready to leave Alisha realized she left her backpack on the chair in the station . . . with her computer and passport in it. . . so Ron took off and said “I’ll text you if I find it and then we will figure out how I’m getting home . . .” and he was off. We were all just praying that Ron could find it. Prayers answered! The bag was still where she left it. So he caught the next train just 30 minutes behind us. We were so relieved, so relaxed, that we missed our Solihull stop! So we had to go one more stop, turn around, come back. As it turned out, we pulled in at the same time as Ron. So it all worked out, and once again we were able to count our many blessings.

Thank you for all of your love, support and prayers. As we serve the Lord, and as we are away from so many we love, we have come to realize the power of prayer more than ever. We love and pray for you also. We hope you have a wonderful week. We are off tomorrow and Tuesday to show Sam and Alisha England in our neck of the woods!

Love to all,
Ron and Marie