The Back Row Pew: When the Cold Wind Blows It Will Turn Your Head Around

Forecast Summary for North West England

Here is our latest forecast: "Staying generally dry overnight but with clouds increasing. Clearer skies may lead to frost patches. Becoming breezy for all. "

But Looking on the Bright Side
As quoted on SMOOTH Radio..."The first English Strawberries will be appearing in the markets this weekend after the sunniest winter in 90 years. The chairman of British Summer Fruits said that because of "high levels of sunshine" the strawberries will be appearing slightly earlier this year."

These Berries are from Spain but we will await the British Berries.

Jay-Walking

According to Wikipedia, Jaywalking is an illegal or reckless pedestrian crossing of a roadway. Examples include walking between intersections without yielding to drivers.

Did you know that it is perfectly legal to J-Walk in Manchester ? People just walk wherever they want to. We have worried about the safety of the general population here in England, but we are now getting used to it. Today, Sister Pew Jay-Walked several times and really liked it. She has always liked breaking rules.

For what it's worth...

Some Things We Have Learned:

The World is small! We have made so many connections with people who know other people that we know
We have met people from all over the world...Members, Investigators and Missionaries from Mongolia, Brazil, Kurdistan, China, Malawi, Iran, Kazakhstan, Albania, France, Germany, India, Fiji, New Zealand, just to name a few.....we have met friends from all corners of the globe.
The England Manchester Mission currently has missionaries from 37 different countries
There is a BRANCH in the middle of China that has 13 missionaries out right now and 2 of them are serving in the EMM, with another one in Leeds.
Since we have been here we have noticed how dynamic the Assistants to the President have been and how hard they work. After the 2-3 transfers they serve, they are dead tired.
We have had some incredible Zone Leaders in the Manchester Zone from the very beginning of our mission. Thank you to all the Manchester ZL's, you have made our lives better.
It is amazing to us how many recent converts are serving missions
We are always surprised at the number of Missionary Referrals that come from investigators and new converts.
We are so happy for the missionaries when they end their mission and return home because we know how hard they have worked and how well they have served. We love keeping in touch with them.
We are VERY glad we don't have to keep the schedule of the younger Missionaries.
Everything in England is smaller, (refrigerators, cars, roads, houses); you just get used to it
Our Kitchen is VERY small, but we can cook a whole meal without taking more than one step
When the sun shines here, you feel so good and it's so nice
The countryside is SO green and SO peaceful, sheep everywhere
Cleaning Pancake batter off the counter tops is like cleaning up cement
The Preston Temple is a beautiful and peaceful place. We particularly love the marble, dark wood and subtly patterned carpet. The paintings are all so huge and add a lot to the temple.
Last school year almost no one in the YSA dated but this year, they all seem to have boyfriends/girlfriends -the ward has paired up nicely
It's amazing how challenging the 7 hour time difference between here and Utah added to our crazy schedule has been in making FACETIME calls home to our family. We thought we'd make one a week and we have not come close to that.
We only wear Sunday Dress. There is no decision to make in the morning..No tee shirts, jeans etc.. Choosing what to wear is easy...You Dress Up!

Baptism Update for the Manchester YSA

Francis was baptized with by Elder Green (on left). He is a great young man from India and already has a deep testimony.

"Alma" from China was baptized and is a student here in Manchester. How did he get his name you ask? The missionaries found him on Oxford Road the second day he was here and he had not yet selected his "english" name. So they recommended Alma and he liked it.

Baptism of Alma

Elders Peterson, Green, Curtis, ALMA, Elders Clark, Johnson, Carlson and JOE (another recent convert)

Elder Peterson baptized Ali on Thursday May 5. Ali walks 50 minutes (each way) to church because he can't
afford a bus pass.

This is Javier. She is a bright student from Chile and studies at the
University of Manchester.
We have sat in on many of her lessons and have gotten to know her and love her. She was also baptized on March 5, 2015.

Missionary News

February 25, 2015. 37 Missionaries head home and Transfers..The one certain thing in life is change. It seemed our mission was gutted with so many great missionaries leaving, but the new ones come in and quickly get up to speed. Elder Pew had to say good-bye to many missionaries he had come to love and had a few tears at this transfer.

Departing Missionaries sing "God Be With You"

We were sad to say Goodbye to Elder Clark from Paradise, Utah. All reports are that he is adjusting to life
back in the US splendidly.

Sister Gjikaj was very sad to leave the YSA Ward. She was
transferred to Stockport but still in the Manchester Zone. We will see here on March 22 when Elder Pew speaks in Stockport Ward.

Elder Carlson from Pleasant Grove was transferred to Bolton. He has done such a great job here.

Elder Green from St George has been an outstanding Zone Leader.
We promised to drive to Lancaster to visit and when he has leadership meetings in Manchester, he promised
to come and stay at our flat.

Elder Johnson from Las Vegas takes Selfies while Elder Pew drives him wherever he needs to go.
He is our fantastic District Leader.

These Elders (Peterson, Johnson, Curtis and Clark) are giving
Elder Pew advice (at the same time). Elder Pew pretends to listen.

Elder McDonald from Draper and Elder Lee from California came to stay at our flat

Elder Bruder always looking sharp!

Ohhh...Sister Riley...We will miss her but she is now happily home
in Adelaide, Australia.

Elder Diperi from Mesa, Arizona heads home. A great AP and
a wonderful Missionary. A convert of just a little over a year when he came into the EMM.

Sister Nelson from Long Beach, California and Sister Burridge from Australia say goodbye at Transfer Meeting.

Sister Nelson has to go but Sister Reed from Texas gets to stay with us.

Sister Once , on the left, heading home to the Philippines.

We will see Elder Rasmussen at the Kaysville Taco Time in 2 1/2 months

Elder Swallow completes his mission and goes home to Fillmore, Utah.
He then returned
with his family the next week and we got to see him again.

Elder Pew tells Elder Christiansen congratulations and good-bye. He's on his way
to Pleasant Grove, Utah. Another great missionary that we will miss.

Sister Reed and Elder Johnson at our monthly Pancake Breakfast

Elder Ding from China has his first taste of American Pancakes. He is one of the 13 missionaries from his branch in China.

Elder Johnson wears the apron and cleans up after pancakes...THANK YOU, Elder J.

Sister Cristobal from Spain is so sweet and has been a great asset to the YSA.

Our Zone Leaders, Elder Maughn and Elder Peterson keep us smiling. Elder Peterson sings "Mama...." from QUEEN whenever he sees Sister Pew.

YSA Happenings

The International Munch and Mingle was a success.

YSA bring a food from their culture or a traditional family food .
(African Do-nuts, Chick Pea Curry, Chinese Fried Milk, Chinese Potato and Sweet Sauce,
British Victoria Sponge Cake, Italian Pasta, American Pulled Pork)

Lots of Traditional CRISPS...I mean CHIPS

Lots of boys and Elders at the Buffet

Ryan Cooper from Crewe and Ella Goodall from London, they are such a cute couple.

Sister Gjikaj from Albania and Kaya Joseph from India

Wongani hurt his hand but still came to church and Pancakes

Crowding in at the Pew's flat for the Pancake Breakfast. Kuda, a recent convert, his friend Patricia, Pillar, a current investigator and Javier's (in front) friend - both from Chile. In the back is Brogan, current investigator, Katie, Melody, Anatole, Frankie and Jay.

After Institute, Sam did his famous Quiz Night (a bit like Jeopardy)...a fun activity.

At Lunch and Learn everyone planned a Family Home Evening Lesson

on the conference talk by Elder Ballard, "Stay In the Boat".

The Whitworth Gallery

The Whitworth Gallery has been under construction since we came to Manchester but opened a few weeks ago. It was worth a look around. This building, originally built in 1889, has 55,000 pieces in it's collection. In 2003, 3 paintings by Van Gogh were stolen from the Gallery and later found in a public toilet. These were subsequently put back on display.