May Your Days Be Merry and Bright....

   

    Hard to believe that Christmas is just days away.  It will be our second Christmas here in England. We are busy doing things we don't do at home and trying not to be too homesick for our family. Many of the YSA's have left for home to spend Christmas with their families or they are using their two weeks away from the University to travel.  There is no Institute or FHE so the YSA Building will be very quiet for the next two weeks.  

   In late November, we spoke in the YSA Ward Sacrament Meeting.   Sister Pew spoke on soft hearts, humble hearts - hearts our Lord loves.  Elder Pew spoke on how baptism changes us - forever, and used the last 9 chapters of the Book of John as his source, specifically the Savior's questioning to Peter of his love for Him.  

On December 22, we had our mission Christmas party at the Manchester Stake Center.   It was 6 hours of fun, entertainment from the missionaries.  We had turkey dinner for all.   President Ulrich then spoke to us for about 90 minutes on the "real" story of Christmas.   I will try to quickly summarize.  First, what's in the New Testament is good but not fully accurate.  It is important to know that only in Matthew and Luke is the story of the Savior's birth written  Matthew, because he knew Joseph (the Lord's earthly "father") wrote it from Joseph's memory.  Luke, who did not even become a Christian until after the death and resurrection of the Savior wrote his from accounts from Mary, Jesus' mother after His death.  Both Mary and Joseph were from the lineage of David, which had been prophesied by Old Testament prophets.  Mary was probably between 13 and 15 years old.   Joseph was probably about 16 years old.   They went to Bethlehem for a census, not to be taxed, though taxes were determined from the census.  They went during the time of the Passover, in April, not in December.  That is why there was no room in the inn(s); many, many people had come to Jerusalem and the surrounding area (Bethlehem is about 5-6 miles from Jerusalem) for the Passover.   It is true he was born in a stable, which a kind innkeeper found for them. But his manger was not one of wood, but of concrete or block that had been carefully cleaned out with fresh straw brought in.   

The Shepherds were no ordinary shepherds, they were priests in the temple and the sheep they were tending were unblemished sheep that would become sacrifices for temple ordinances.  They were very righteous men who knew the scriptures and the prophets.   Mary and Joseph stayed in Bethlehem for a couple of years after the birth because Bethlehem was the home of their ancestry and they had many relatives there.   The wise men from the east came when the Christ child was approximately 2 years old.  They were not just smart men from the Orient, they were prophets that fully understood the scriptures as well.   While the New Testament story includes much of this, some has been lost in translation.  The Book of Mormon helps provide us with better information, as do modern day prophets.  How grateful we are for this additional information and knowledge about our Lord and Savior.     

We have enjoyed the Manchester Markets...mostly eating...German Hot Dogs, Sausages, Licorice, Cheesy Potatoes, Dutch Pancakes and bread...

Snowflake at the window on the top floor of the YSA building...great view of the city. 

Last Lunch and Learn Class until 2015 ! Soup was Sweet Potato ...
Pictured are: Melody, Brogan, Sam, Garth, Kieran, Luca,
Mario, Amanda, Susie, Beth and Ella

Baptisms

   We have had several baptisms the last few weeks.  First Ted, and then his two friends, Rebecca and Joe -all from China. They are great converts and great friends.  One of the keys to their conversion is that they have the support from each other.  

This is Ted, one of the latest converts.  He is an extremely smart and likable young man who fits in so well with our YSA.  He is shown here with Amanda from Brazil who is studying and pondering the church but not yet ready to be baptized.  We have really grown to love Amanda.  She will be spending Christmas Day with us. 

This is Rebecca, who is very sweet and a friend of Ted's.  She was very fearful of the water and of baptism but all went well, even though she had to be baptized twice.

This is Joe, friend of Ted's and he and Rebecca were baptized the same night.
He is a super nice guy and a pretty good ping pong player too.   As you can see, Joe and Ted are very sharp dressers.

Missionaries  

We love our YSA Missionaries who landed here at Pre-Christmas Transfer.  Pictured are (left to right)
Elder Green (St George), Elder Christiansen (Pleasant Grove),  Elder Clark (Logan), Elder Curtis (Logan)
Sister Gjikaj (Albania), Sister Riley (Australia),  Elder Carlson (Pleasant Grove), Elder Razanadahy (Madagascar),
Elder Jin (China) and Elder Suriyachan (Thailand) kneeling 

Elder Razanadahy from Madagascar goes home in February. He says he looks forward to getting his "tan" back.

Elder Clark with President Fletcher, Stake President of the Ashton Stake and Priesthood Leader over the BYU-Idaho Pathway Program here in Manchester. 

The Elders all wearing matching grey sweaters in front of the YSA Building Christmas Tree...with an investigator. 

Very Tired Elders on the Way Back from Multi Zone Training in Chorley (Elder Curtis)

Glad Elder Clark had time for a little snooze!

Liverpool

     We went to Liverpool on Thursday Dec 11 to give a presentation to the Liverpool Institute and the Liverpool Stake High Council on the BYU-Idaho Pathway Program.  We really like going to Liverpool and driving on the one really wide street in downtown Liverpool.  We went early and did some Christmas Shopping at Liverpool One shopping center and had an early dinner at Wagamama.  

     After presenting to the Liverpool Institute and their YSA's,  6 new people signed up for Pathway. We are getting very excited about starting in January and have come to love what it is doing for people's lives all over the world.  It is a great way to get a University Degree while working and raising a family. What an opportunity BYU-Idaho has provided for 12,000 people.  We begin our program on January 8th.

Christmas Lights at Liverpool One

The Truce...Commemorating World War 1 at Christmas

    There has been a lot of talk about World War 1 here in England as we remember it's beginning 100 years ago. All Christmas Concerts in the LDS Church in England were asked to focus on the WW1 Christmas Truce in 1914.  The story goes that the Germans and the British were deep in their trenches on that cold Christmas Day when they came out and onto a muddy field in no man's land and a football appeared and they stopped being soldiers and became "just boys" enjoying a game of football.

Both Ashton Stake and Manchester Stake based their  Christmas Concerts  around the WW1 Truce at Christmas time. 

The London Tower exhibit displays thousands of ceramic poppies. Poppies were added from Aug through November of this year.  A beautiful work which was a lovely tribute to the deaths of WW1

 Munch and Mingle

It was an extra special Munch and Mingle on Sunday December 14th.  The Bishopric Wives helped Sister Pew out and a delicious meal was served...Turkey, Pork, Ham (or gammon as it is called here, very salty) Stuffing,  Rolls (or Baps, Buns or Oven Bottoms...as they are called here), Potato Salad, Pasta Salad, Fresh fruit and veg.... Desserts of all kinds.

Here are several YSA with their crowns on...after they "snapped"  their Christmas Crackers.

YSA Line up to eat on top floor of building

Desserts included cake rolls, Cake, Brownies, Biscuits and EnglishTrifle ...both English Style and American Style.

Matt Robinson and Emily Olson don the crown.

Stephanie and Ella!  

"Bang"  and Sunny

Sister Justine Roberts (Bishop Robert's Wife) and Sister Lynne West (Bro West's Wife) cooked and served at the Munch and Mingle.  It was great to plan, prepare and get to know these ladies better. 

Michael Leeds and Tania Rafael

Ladies before Gentlemen....so the boys line up later

After the HUGE munch/mingle meal...these two Elders, Suriyachan and Jin, cooked dinner and brought it up to us (Rice. Mashed Potatoes and leftover turkey) that same eveing.  We were stuffed to the gills but glad to sit down with these two.   Great young men from Thailand and Beijing.

Special Christmas Highlights

Our Sweet Grandchildren made this nativity and sent it to us.  It is a TREASURE !  We love so much about this and it has become the focal point of our flat.  We shed a few tears while opening it.

What a lovely surprise! 

Julie's hair salon serves hot chocolate...with a stenciled snowflake of powdered sugar on top!  Delightful!



Had to twist Elder Pew's arm to get him a new Christmas gift...of course a TIE... from Josh, at Frank Rostron Clothiers on Princess Street in central Manchester.


Of course...it was easy to find me a little something at this spot I can't seem to get enough of.

We made little gifts for all our YSA...Hot Chocolate for 2 (hint hint) in a little jar and a photo Christmas Card!

It can't be Christmas until we watch..It's A Wonderful Life..and this time it was on the Big Screen in the Cornerhouse Theater in Manchester. It was packed and at the conclusion there was a huge round of applause.  We loved it..and shed a tear or two.  

We love the Preston Temple and we enjoyed another YSA Endowment Session Temple Night on December 12 with dinner at Nandos in Bolton after. A few days later we were back for a Missionary Temple Trip.  A turkey dinner in the temple cafeteria followed prepared especially for the Missionaries.

 Gingerbread House Decorating Contest at Institute

Sabrina and Emily decorate together.

Houses Waiting for Judging.

Hadrian and Michelle working on their creation...They won 1st place! 

Rebecca, Amanda and Ted show off their house.

We celebrated our 41st Anniversary at Institute...but the next night we celebrated properly at a really great place.

 41st Anniversary at Australasia 

I don't know why Reed's Ahi Tuna was served with FOAM on the side...the rest of the meal was fabulous.

Other Bits and Bobs

This is my 3rd Mixer Burned into the ground from OVERUSE!  Too many cookies!!

But the YSA love these.!  The Swig Sugar Cookie. 

Nothing says "Merry Christmas"  like a Fortune Teller ...Here is the Fortune Telling Booth at Trafford Centre...notice the line of ladies waiting to receive their Holiday Fortunes. 

We are quite liking the yellow light before the green.  And you never know what kind of crazy signs you see in England!

Figuring out the results of the Fall Institute Ping Pong Tournament
1. Mauro  2. Anatole  3.Amanda   4. Garth