Oh How the Wind Doth Blow...

Over the River and Through the Woods....

   We had a great Thanksgiving and we have a lot to be thankful for.  Serving a mission reminds us everyday of how much we love our Savior.  We are grateful to be members of His church and to be here in England. Working with YSA's keeps us young.  We have been out a year now...unbelievable how fast this has gone.  Our mission has been based upon promptings and we are grateful to be able to act upon promptings to guide us to the people who need us and the things we should do.  Heavenly Father has definitely given us a gentle push in the right direction when we needed it. One example ocurred this past week as we have been pondering if we could do anything about a recent covert that had gone less active.  Sister Pew received promptings that she should text the individual and tell her that we do not understand what has happened,that we used to be good friends and we were very disappointed the friendship should end.  The convert accepted a lunch invitation with Sister Pew.  

He also has helped us get comfortable in situations that wouldn't have seemed natural before.  These experiences have helped us grow and we are grateful for that.  How grateful we are for our family at home and we miss them so much.  We are grateful for their health, happiness and good lives. We are blessed beyond measure.  We have enjoyed two Stake Conferences here in Manchester recently, both were inspirational and full of good messages.   In one, a counselor in the Manchester Stake Presidency spoke of Christ's love for us and why that should enable us to love everyone, even those that make it difficult to love. It was painful to hear but much needed. 

We have given 2 area authority seventies tours of the new YSA building here in Manchester.   It seems everyone in Europe wants to know about this building.  There is none other like it.  We are blessed to do this.  

  

   We were more than happy to have Ali and Clark visit us here in Manchester. They experienced our lovely and humble missionary flat with the terrible bed and drip drip shower. We walked to the Manchester Christmas Markets, had Thanksgiving Dinner and attended Institute together. 

It doesn't matter how many are coming to dinner, you still have to do all the fixings and sides. 

I love setting the table...even here with the Ikea dishes.

Clark at the Manchester Markets at the Puppet Booth. 

Reed, Ali and Clark in front of the John Ryland Library. 

Ryan Hoyle made the pastry for my First Ever Pumpkin pie.  In the past, I have gone to Cherry Hill or Costco for our pies. It was so good that we ate it for breakfast the next day. 

    The day after Thanksgiving we drove to North Wales for a little getaway.  Ali and Clark sat in the back of a Vauxhall Meriva and we drove two hours southwest to a little Country Inn called Tyn Rhos in Llanddeiniolen, Wales (easy for you to say!)

Here was the quaint and charming Inn out in the middle of no-where. So relaxing with every detail thought of in this great little spot.  

We drove around the countryside, saw lots of sheep and ate lunch at a cute spot called Dylans right on the water of the Irish Sea.  We traveled through a a little village called Beaumaris and tried to find a castle but ended up in the middle of a field.  So much for Satellite navigation!

Clark and Ali at dinner at Tyn Rhos.

This was our fantastic dessert.  The Rhubarb Special. Rhubarb Do-Nut, Rhubarb Cheesecake, Rhubarb Sorbet, Rhubarb Custard and Rhubarb Cotton Candy!  And we don't even like Rhubarb. 

On Saturday we explored the Conwy Castle.  Ali and Clark wear matching coats.

Clark on the tallest turret of Conwy Castle.

We stopped in Chester where it was very, very crowded with Christmas Shoppers but we went up onto the old City Walls and took the 3 mile walk around the city.   These walls were originally built over 500 years ago.   We were pretty tired at the end but stopped at an Italian Restaurant before heading to the airport.

   It is always so fun and relaxing to have family come but it is always sad to see them go.  We  dropped  Ali and Clark off  for the next leg of their trip...London.  We wanted to go with them...

"Spoonful of Sugar" Night

   On Friday Nov 21, We had a "Movie Night" where we showed Britain's favorite Nanny, Mary Poppins.  We had about 13 YSA at our flat for Movie Night and lots of Sugar! 

Sugar Popcorn, candy, cookies, sweets and juice. ...More than a spoonful of sugar. 

Movie Viewers !

Tan and Beth

Anatole and Melody

Missionary Happenings

With our Institute teaching assignments and now the BYU-Idaho Pathway program, we are not as involved with the young missionaries as we once were.  So we don't know the investigators like we used to, so we try to catch up with the missionaries whenever we can- there are now 10 in the YSA district. This is what they do when they are not out street tracting.  

We came in to find our 6 of our 10 YSA Missionaries in the CES Office playing the spinning game. It was a cold night out on Oxford Road and they needed a reprieve. 

Here they are lined up as YSA Frankie Buntain reads a verse and they have to tell where it is found.  Elder Suriyachan from Thailand, Elder Curtis from Logan, Elder Jin from China, Elder Webb from Draper, Elder Carlson from Pleasant Grove and Elder Swallow from Fillmore. 

When they make a mistake they have to spin around. The next day two of them were ill.

The Monday before transfer day, all 10 (plus us makes 12) missionaries walked in to the City Centre to have lunch.  4 of the 10 were being transferred out in 2 days.   But we alway get 4 great replacements so it's always good.  We  have  learned not to get too attached to each missionary because they will leave and we don't want to get overly emotional each transfer.  

Elder Pew took us all to Dogs and Dough where only hot dogs and pizza are served...some unusual combinations such as Mac and Cheese Pizza and the No Way Jose Hot Dog (guacamole, sour cream and Doritos on your dog) are served.  Everyone loved the American Rootbeer and Cream Soda.  Perhaps the most expensive hot dogs in the world - average price was about $13 after conversion from pounds - and that's only the dog, fries are extra! (They loved the Cheese Fries)

Elder Swallow, Sister Chu and Sister Riley at Dogs and Dough.  Elder Swallow is leaving to take a zone leadership assignment in Chester Stake while Sister Chu is leaving to be a trainer in Lancaster.  

Elder Suriyachan and  Elder Jin

Elder Curtis, Elder Webb and Elder Green from St George. 

Elder O'Brien and Elder Carlson,are pictured above.   Elder O'Brien has been a very good zone leader for the past 5 months and now goes to Newcastle to lead that zone before he goes home in February.  

My Hunting Dog with Barbecue Chicken, Swiss Cheese and Bacon.

Elder Webb and Elder Curtis with his new and very warm hat.
Elder Webb is now in Lancaster.



We will miss Elder Swallow!  At 6'8' he really stood out on the streets of Manchester.

Katarina McGuire with the Sisters.  Katarina from Wisconsin was baptized on Thanksgiving Day.  She is in Manchester getting a masters degree in marketing.

The Bake-A-Date Night

   We sponsored a Bake-A-Date night for the YSA on Monday Dec 1.  Each person who participated brought a cake with a towel over it.  Missionaries took the cakes to the 4th floor and then first boys then girls bid on the cakes.  It was a silent auction and then the winners were announced. The highest bid for a cake was 50 GBP for a girl's cake.  Whatever was bid on each cake was the amount that would be used on an upcoming date between the two YSA.  All dates must be complete by Jan 17.  As you can see below, the boys were more interested than the girls.  It was a fun night!  

girls pondering what to bid on and how much.   

YSA waiting for the announcement of the winning bids.

Tan and Beth would not participate.   Only, they thought it was funny.  

Bake-A-Date Attendants.  

Don't worry, these missionaries couldn't bid on a date at the Bake-A-Date, but they did come to eat the Cakes and Desserts.  Well deserved since they helped out that night.

Christmas Box Charity

   Operation Christmas Child is a charity out of North Carolina where shoe boxes are filled with gifts, toys and necessities to send to children in need around the world.  Our YSA donated items to fill 15 boxes.

BYU-Idaho Pathway Program

   We weren't expecting to be involved in an online-education program that is starting in the Manchester Area but it will be a major part of our mission for the last 6 months.  We have 14 signed up to take part in the program.  We will be facilitating their group each week in an academic subject and a Book of Mormon Class for the first semester.  After three semesters of this foundational program, they will have the option to attend BYU-Idaho online for a very reasonable cost or pursue something in England. There are 240 sites for Pathway around the world. It is currently bringing Education and hope to almost 12,000 members.  

President Kevin Fletcher (Stake President of the Ashton Stake) is the Priesthood leader over the program and he and Luke Kerr have asked us to head it up.  Above President Fletcher introduces  the program to potential students before we present our power point presentation. 

 Lunch with Elder Desir 

We enjoyed lunch with  former Elder Desir when he visited Manchester.  Steven Desir returned home to London in July and we have stayed in touch with him.  He was one of the first missionaries we met when we arrived and we were so impressed. He never served in the YSA ward but he was one that we immediately connected with and think so much of.   

Manchester Christmas Markets are On...

   Manchester is known for it's great German Christmas Market.  We have been to it several times to enjoy a bratwurst or a treat or purchase a new wreath.  There are more than 200 stalls and 1.3 million visitors enjoy the market each year.  

During a Priesthood Leadership Meeting, Sister Hill and I enjoyed the markets together. 

Food is our Game...

   Sister Pew continues to cook and Elder Pew continues to haul food into the house from Costco and to the church. (Did we mention we live on the 4th floor...)  We provide food for FHE each week, a light meal for Institute, Munch and Mingle once a month after church,  Pancakes with the Pew's after Fast Sunday,  Homemade Soup and Bread for weekly Lunch and Learn and regular dinners for the missionaries. We also provide treats for other events we plan.  Elder Pew generously takes YSA out to dinner on a monthly Temple Night that we started for the endowed YSA, Date Nights with YSA and celebrating other events with them. Thank Goodness for the break from the kitchen. 

Cookies for FHE

84 Baked Potatoes  (called Jacket Potatoes) ready to go to the Munch and Mingle.

Institute Buffet of Wraps, Veggies, fruit and Cheese

Other Bits and Bobs

In order to save about 50 pounds , we now drive Sister Pew out of the city to Boothstown about 25 minutes to get her hair cut and colored. 

love this notice on the Rochdale Chapel Door, lol.

I thought my Diet Coke was gone too fast.  Turns out, the British can is smaller than the American Can, but they make up for it by charging more.

 

Elder Pew buying the Nando's Gift Cards as the Prizes for the Ping Pong Tournament....Yes, we are sponsoring the Ping Pong Tournament ! 

  

Beautiful view of central Manchester on a Sunday afternoon from the top of the YSA Building.

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas 

Christmas is coming.... the YSA Building is looking festive!

It hailed in Manchester...closest Thing to Snow! 

 Bundled up at the Christmas Market

Hot Chocolate, Sugar cookies and the movie White Christmas ...at our flat.

 Christmas Tree at our flat...very small! Thanks to our daughters, there are pretty stars and mushroom ornaments!

 YSA at the Christmas Market....(left) Kelsey, Matt, Tan, Beth, Emily, Melissa, Joseph, Elder Pew, Katarina, Sister Pew

Had to buy these cookies today...Georgina and George!  

The English all carry diaries which are like calendars of  events and notes of things to do.  It's kind of a good way to keep track of everything.   They note a date down in their "diary"

They also sing with volume and stand to sing the intermediate hymm....Always !