January's Ice and Sleet ...Freeze the Toes Right Off Your Feet!

If You've Been Wondering What We've Been Up To:

    The pace has definitely picked up again in January and we are in a steady routine now.  We have been busy teaching, prepping, planning, cooking and carrying on with assignments. The young missionaries, the YSA, BYU-Idaho and Manchester Institute keep us busy.
     Early in the month, Elder Pew spoke in the Macclesfield ward and we had a beautiful drive to the south end of the Stake on a snowy morning.  It was not snowing in Manchester when we left but Macclesfield is a little higher in elevation and it became a beautiful winter morning.  Elder Pew spoke on Bringing the Good News of the Gospel to Those Seeking the Truth. It is a change to attend a family ward, hear children, meet members in the area and occasionally YSA that attend in their home ward. Our goal is to reach out wherever we go.
    We thought we were coming here to deal with just Young Single Adults and their lives but we have experienced  the human life cycle.  We have been blessed to attend a baby blessing of dear friends,  Hospital Visits to both  YSA and of other, more senior friends we have met, weddings of YSA (both planned/ prepared and last minute-meet us at the Town Hall), University Graduations of YSA who didn't have parents, a baptism of an 8 year old and Patriarchal blessings. We hoped to pass over the occasion of a funeral but when Sister Gore suddenly passed away we were honored to attend. There are some differences of a funeral in the states and here in England.  It was hard to hold back tears when the Gore's grandsons came down the Chapel Aisle with the casket up on their shoulders. (there were no handles on the casket) Some grandsons looked to be eleven or twelve years old and tears rolled down their cheeks as they carried their grandmother's casket to the front of the chapel. It was a beautiful 'last act of kindness and respect'. Another difference was that the flowers sent from other's were placed on the hearse in little baskets around the funeral car. There were beautiful flowers in the chapel but they were coordinated and planned.  Food was served at the church for all that attended the funeral and then more food served when the family returned from the cemetery.  Sister Gore was a kind and lovely person and we had the great privilege to know her.
    Our BYU-Idaho Pathway class is off and running and the students are now in the routine of their weekly assignment, homework and the weekly gathering class which we attend and support.  We have 15 students.  We spend some time each week checking on students and supporting them with reminders, ideas and encouragement. We prepare and set up for the gathering each week where a different student takes the lead in teaching their fellow students and supporting each other.  Pathway is a unique and inspired program.  It was funny, but Elder Pew in his Book of Mormon class mentioned the "students teaching other students" concept with BYU-Idaho.  While doing so, he asked how the professors at England universities taught and the first thing he was told was that they were not taught by "professors" but by lecturers.   Elder Pew, who is often critical of educational processes, has fallen in love with the BYU-Idaho concept.
   We began a new Institute semester this past week which will take us to the end of our mission. Elder Pew teaches 'Principles of Leadership' on Tuesday evening, Sister Pew teaches 'Teachings of the Living Prophets" on Wednesday for Lunch and Learn, Elder Pew teaches Book of Mormon on Thursday Nights and we both facilitate the Pathway Gathering on Thursday Nights. We've also been asked to be frequent guest teachers at Preparing for Eternal Marriage on Wed Nights.  We continue to be amazed at the support the YSA here give to Institute.   Even though some have more than enough credits to graduate, they still come to more classes.  
   Cooking still includes weekly family home evening treats, weekly institute snack/meal and lunch for Lunch and Learn.  Monthly we do a pancake breakfast for the YSA, a missionary dinner for all 10 missionaries in our district and a Munch and Mingle for the YSA at the church.
   We continue to invite  people out on double dates, missionary dates, after Temple Nandos (portuguese restaurant that is popular here) dinners and other times. We've also recently taken a number of missionaries to lunch at 5 Guys - the only decent burger place in Manchester.  But the cost!   Elder Pew took 2 young missionaries the other day and did not eat himself as he was not hungry.  The missionaries ordered 2 bacon cheeseburgers, large fries and a drink each.  Cost?  $47.  We don't mind and like to treat them, but will be glad to see reasonable prices back in the USA.
   Our Zone Leaders had no heat or hot water for 10 days so after a few mornings of cold showers, they finally asked if they could come to our flat until repairs were made.  We were completely entertained by them for a few days.  We haven't laughed that hard on a daily basis since we moved to England. We loved having Elder Green (from St. George) and Elder Peterson (from Tucson).  We saw first hand their organization, obedience, study and phoning duties to ensure that our Zone runs smoothly. They asked for Room Service and Breakfast in Bed but we only complied with one morning of Pancake Breakfast. To be honest, they were up and going faster than we could even think about getting up and going.

Macclesfield Chapel on a snowy Sunday morning. 

View of a quiet round-about near the Macclesfield Chapel

BYU-Idaho Pathway Gathering

Getting ready for Pathway Gathering  - Joanna Ferguson, Deborah Contrares, Sam Norton, Liz Herman, Richard Jones and Grant Whillens (from left to right)

Pathway Class
(Front from left) Jamie, Rhianne, Sam, Joanne
(2nd Row) Carl, Danny, Andrew H., Martin, Andrew M
(Back Row) Pres Fletcher, Ismael, Dylan, Deborah, Richard, Dale

We Love our YSA

Anatole and Melody posing

Hadrian cleaning the building...  

Celebrating January Birthdays..Kieran, Anatole and Fred

Amanda…bundling up to go outside

Rachel Teal and Katie Magee
We LOVE these two!  They have served, along with Carter McClean who is now in Utah, as the Entire Institute Council for the entire time we have been here and Rachel even before.  Planning Firesides, Dances, Weekly Activities, the New Building opening, Fresher's Week and much more, they have done EVERYTHING and done it with a smile. You couldn't ask for more lovely ladies and so much fun too.  Everyone, including us, has appreciated all they have done.

This is part of our NEW Institute Council
Anna, Mario, Rhianne, Kieran and Beth

Mexican Munch and Mingle

What sweet sisters…Sister Gjikaj and Sister Reed helped prepare 110 Cheese Enchiladas for monthly Munch and Mingle, it was fun to teach an Albanian to make enchiladas

It was decided that instead of paper plates the YSA ward would purchase plastic plates and cups, and then wash dishes. Unfortunately,  the sink faucet broke and there is only 5 minutes of hot water in the YSA building kitchen sink… the Ward decided to go back to using paper products.

Girls gather at Munch and Mingle…Ann-Christin, her friend Billie from Germany, Sister Schubert,
Sister Conlogue, Sister Reed and Ella.  

"Service Stations"

Family Home Evening

   We planned a service-themed Family Home Evening for the YSA.  After a 7 minute lesson from Elder Pew (I asked for 10 minutes but . . . ), we set up Service Stations where YSA rotated to perform different acts of service for our new building and the community.  1- Playdough for the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital  2- Emptying all the Bins in the Building  3- Making Baby Hats for the Ronald McDonald House  4- Making "Folder games" for a local Primary School  5- Fil-Er-Up …Filling all the paper towels and toilet paper dispensers in the building  6- Cleaning all the white board in the building.   After the projects, a rousing game of "Shaving Cream Pictionary" was played and tables were cleaned at the same time.

Play dough with Jello

Beth thinks about what color her baby hat should be

Josh Martin works on his folder games

Ryan Hoyle, Chantel Critchley and Mario Frietas work on Folder Games

Susie and Elder Sidhu get a little carried away with the play dough

Shaving Cream Pictionary was a HIT

Missionary News

Our current YSA district Missionaries all together
left-  Sisters Conlogue, Schubert, Gjikia, Reed and Elders Carlson, Curtis, Clark, Peterson, Green and Johnson
Unfortunately Sisters Conlogue and Schubert were transferred out 1 week later.

Elder Johnson…our fearless District Leader

Elder Peterson, showing Elder Green some love in the YSA building S&I office area

Elder Carlson's Birthday…with photo bombers !

Elder Johnson, Elder Clark and Elder Carlson with Two Thumbs Up

Hilarious Elder Peterson, from the metropolis of Marana, AZ

We took Sister Schubert and Sister Conlogue out for a Chinese Meal to get to know them better. Sister Schubert is from Germany and attends the Ward in Salzburg, Austria where her father is bishop. Sister Pew met her parents when she traveled to Salzburg with her College Roommates and attended the ward there. Sister Conlogue is a convert of about 18 months and interrupted her education at Columbia in NYC to come to Manchester to serve the Lord.

Sister Reed on her way to take her driving test, unfortunately there were no smiles on the way home.
She will pass it next time.  

Sister Gjikai asleep in the back

Incredibly beautiful building…the Runcorn Chapel, because it is up on a small hill and by itself, everyone calls it the Runcorn Temple.   

They Are Like Our Kids

  The Zone Leaders slept over for 3 nights and we have never laughed so hard.  They are tremendous elders and keep it fun at the same time. We love Elders Green and Peterson.

Elder Green from St George, Utah and Elder Peterson from Tucson, Arizona. Both plan to attend BYU in the fall. 

Right at home...

Breakin down their day! 

Elder Peterson discovering that he knows some friends of ours on our Christmas Card Wall

Elder Peterson commentating on our grandson's soccer game. 

Elder Peterson wanting a photo with us…saving our places on the couch.

Sitting down photos are rather unflattering so we opted to stand for this photo with Elder Peterson

 Other Bits and Bobs

This is the  location of a place Elder Pew found online to cut his hair.  He decided against it once he walked in.  

My daughter commented on the great paint color here in England.  I must agree and found this door to the Dr Office
so fresh and appealing.

Love this color of buildings in Hale, just outside Manchester

And this yellow fireplace color too.

I am trying to hone my Hot Chocolate skills here.  Here's another cup that was divine! 

We traveled to the cute little town of HALE and here is the train station. Notice the trim on the station. 

Love these Meringue Shells or Pavlova  packaged and tied with a black ribbon .

How did they get this license plate?

One of Elder Pew's greatest tasks is keeping us in "ICE"  It is a daily chore and he is very good at it. 

There are always greeting cards that celebrate that You've Passed the Driver's Test.
After taking it, we can see why everyone celebrates. It is a BIG accomplishment !  

Perfecting my Berry Crumble…served with custard or  ice cream

There is a pet rabbit in our weed patch (Garden) just outside our flat building

Elder Pew resting before his lesson

Always prepping for a class…ALWAYS! 

I like it when he teaches and I sit back and throw in comments.

We took a trip to test drive a car.  Notice the sleek dealership and the old and charming PUB next door.

The Mere Resort in Knutsford . . . we heard this was very nice.

The interior of a Tesla with its 17" touchscreen.  Amazing. and though electric, a rocket for a car!

Mario and Amanda went to test drive the car with us.  It was fun, fast and impressive… a little TOO much!

Unbelievable Touchscreen

We had lunch in a pub with a very low ceiling 

Finally had to get my bangs ..oops FRINGE  cut!  

The Bee/ Beehive Connection

Utah is known as the Beehive State. It is a significant representation of the industry, harmony, order and frugality of the people, and the sweet results of their toil, union and intelligent cooperation.  

Back in the 19th century, Manchester was at the heart of the Industrial Revolution, and the city quickly became a hive of activity, populated by hard-working citizens working away in mills and factories to produce the goods which created the city’s wealth. The Bee is the symbol of Manchester. 

New Phrases

Having a lie in=  Sleeping In

Today Elder Pew said "A to Zed" Are we turning British ?