There is Sunshine In My Soul Today..

Time is really running away from us.  Here are a few of the "Manchester Mission Happenings" as we start to wind things up, with less than 2 weeks left on our mission.  Our Institute Lessons ended today with Sister Pew's last lunch and learn on Teachings of the Living Prophets.  The lesson was on Elder Ballard's last conference talk about needing a great generation of young adults. Elder Pew taught his last Leadership class on May 12 - he will miss teaching that class, it has been fun.  

We have had lots of "Last Meals" with YSA, missionaries and local leaders, and little things to wrap up. We wouldn't trade this experience for the world..but our 18 months are up and it's time to think about home. We are so anxious to see our family.  We leave Manchester on Friday 22 May for a few days of travel in the English midlands and we fly home on 28 May. We will miss so many people that we have grown to love. We are busy now getting ready for our final institute night, "The Pew's Choice Awards." where we will honor our YSA with awards, a slide show and lots of stories and memories. 

Our "Last Pancake Breakfast" with the YSA in our flat. In the front group, from left is Ann Kristin Knoll, Javi Ramirez, Mario Frietas, Anna Core, Pilar Gonzalez, Rose Taylor, Emily Olson, Lizzy Jones (a visitor and friend of Emily's), Anatole Compton, Melody Bardsley, Michelle Leano and her father, Brogan Morrison and Katie Magee.  In the back group are Ryan Cooper, Helen Smith, Sam Norton, Ted, Anna Yklief, Sammy Henley, Ella Goodall, Amy Hickey and Aaron Boysen.

Rose Taylor is a miracle found by Elders Peterson and Maughan on Oxford Road and she will be baptized on June 16.  She asked us to speak at her baptism. What an honor! 

Michelle Leano is from Bolivia and just moved to Manchester to live with her father.
She just walked into the YSA building a few days ago to ask what goes on there. She
is a faithful Young Single Adult who taught institute back in Bolivia, who will be such an asset to the
Manchester YSA

This guy, Aaron Boysen,  has the privilege of marrying one of our favorite
people in the whole world, Helen Smith. He is one lucky guy.  He's also a RM from Czech Republic
 and a pretty special person himself.  

Here is Ella Johnson who is from Manchester but goes to University in Chester.
She is adorable, spunky and bright. We love it when she visits. 

This last month Mahdis and Mahan have been coming to Institute.
These beautiful Sisters from Iran have great testimonies and have enjoyed
coming to Institute

Mission News

    An All-Mission Meeting was held where Elder Dykes of the Seventy and Elder Allen came to talk about the iPads that were announced 2 years ago but have been delayed and are coming; but now not until August. 

These are the Senior Sisters.  We have loved getting to know them.
(left)  Sisters Shaw, Stevenson, Blunk, Johansen, Lee, Pew and Hill

And their counterparts (left)  Elders Butler, Stevenson, Hill, Pew, Blunk,
Johansen, Shaw and Lee

Elder Pew was asked to come to the pulpit during the meeting to compare
 how golf clubs can relate to using Missionary tools - that there is a purpose in so many different clubs and in missionary work, we now have many different tools to utilize. He did such a great job
that the Zone Leaders had this greeting for us when we got home. 

Bank Holiday = Mission Temple Day

The YSA District all drove together to the temple on May 4th. Here they inspect
another Mission Car driven by one of the Elders, that has a dent in it. 

Here at the Preston Temple is Elder Gordon, Sister Leung and Sister Lee, Elder Mongie,
Elder Johnson, Elder Peterson, Elder Maughan, Elder Ding
and Elder Pew in the back.

And after, lunch at the Toby Carvery. 

Later that evening, we went to Hyde Ward and attended a baptism
of a new YSA, Rhys Barber, who lives there.  Sisters Black and Doncheva found Rhys and taught him.  Also pictured are Elder and Sister Lee, the self-reliance couple who live in Hyde Ward.  Sister Emilia Doncheva is from La Jolla, CA and is a recent convert herself having been baptized just one year before coming on her mission.   She and Sister Black (from Ogden and a track runner for Weber St) are a delightful companionship.

Last Transfer Meeting

   Transfer Meetings are an anticipated event when new missionaries come into the mission and are introduced to their companions and departing missionaries say goodbye and bear their
testimonies.  We will be leaving mid-transfer so this was our last transfer meeting.
President Ulrich called us up to bear our departing testimony together. It was a wonderful day.
We said goodbye to many missionaries that we have gotten to know and loved.
There is a saying in the Mission...
"If I don't see you again in the UK, I will see you in the CK! (Celestial Kingdom)"

Saying Goodbye to Elder Suriyachan, from Thailand. He hopes to
come to BYU. We hope he does. 

Elder Curtis, Elder Johnson and Elder Lindell.
We know we will see Elder Curtis from Logan, If we
want to see Elder Johnson he said we have to come to Vegas
because he is never going to leave there again. 

Sister Christensen and Sister Reed with Elder Cain photo bombing us.

Elder Pew and his new golf buddy, Elder Grant. He attended
East High in Salt Lake. 

Elder Rongo from New Zealand, a wonderful young man who truly enjoys everything about life, and likes to visit
us and have popcorn at our flat.  Though Elder Rongo never served in YSA Ward, Elder Pew taught a couple lessons with him to an older Chinese gentleman in the Stetford Ward.  

Elder Singh who is a fantastic Cricket Player from Guyana and a great
Missionary. 

Photo-bombing by Elder Rongo

Sister Reed with Sister Cristobal and Sister Schubert 

Elder Peterson with Pink Eye

Nooooo

Elder Boehme and Elder Maughan Comforting Elder Peterson's Eye as only Elders can; with
Elder Diederich looking on...

Elder Faupula at Zone Meeting leading discussion on serving with all your might.

Elder's Peterson and Maughan bowing to Sister Pew in honor and respect (and gratitude for all the food she has prepared for them the past few months).

Mother's Day in the UK

    A Mother's Day like no other... Below is the Missionary Skype Session Sign Up Sheet.  

We had the missionaries here all day long to Skype Home to their mom's. Sometimes we had three call going at the same time in different areas of our flat.  The calls were to all over the world - China, Hong Kong, Canada, Michigan, Arizona, Idaho and Utah.  When the calls were over, most of the boys had tears in their eyes.   

Elder Pew sitting in the corner - only quiet place he could find -  skyping his mother, Sue Pew

He had to go to the upstairs storage room...all the
rooms and devices were occupied.

Elder Peterson and his cute mom on the computer.  

Elder Maughan was happy to talk to his mom. 

They all waited their turn and had pizza and smoothies as they waited.
Javi and Rose came over too. After talking to their
families they came out a bit subdued. 

Javier Ramirez from Chile

Our new District Leaders Elder Diederich, from Alaska and Elder Boehme, from Alberta.

Bridal Shower for Melody

   I helped throw a bridal shower for Melody Bardsley who will be marrying Anatole Compton

in August in the Preston Temple.  Melody was one of the first YSA we met when we arrived in Dec

of 2013.  She attends most every institute class and she and Anatole are perfect for each other. Bridal Showers are not a UK "thing" but Sister Pew introduced the YSA to the concept and they all had a great night. 

(left) Angela Griffiths, Rhianne, Sophia, Katie, Brogan, Carmen, Chanice,
Melody, Cinthya, Amy and Keya. 

Melody opens her gifts.

Make Your Own Fruit Pizza Bar

Rhianne, Brogan and Carmen prepare 

Double Dates

Going out with Ryan Cooper and Ella Goodall was really fun. They
are a great couple and fun to be with.  We went to Avalanche, a trendy
Italian Restaurant in Manchester.

A wonderful lunch with John and Avril Saunders at TGI Friday.
John was the first Bishop of the YSA ward. He has had some major
health challenges the past few years but is still going strong. They are great folks with strong
testimonies.  John is the Stake Choir Director and the choirs at the Manchester Stake 
Conference are something to hear - amazing.  

Other Bits and Bobs

I will NEVER EVER get over these funky cakes at
Home Sweet Home.  We loved to walk to the
Northern Quarter to eat Eggs Benedict there. We
never ate the cake but I sure enjoyed taking pictures
of them. 

You DO need a waterproof purse in Manchester. It is a necessity. 

  

Here in England, often people have to "Top Up" their
electric bills in a local shop.  That means that when you pre-pay for electricity at your flat and
then pay again to get more when the previous payment begins to run out.  If you don't plan well
you could be out of electricity (and hot water) for awhile.  If you are zone leaders, you then call the senior missionary couple to come over to shower.  

These signs are necessary when University students are having their
dissertations bound. When there are 55,000 students within a few square blocks, the line outside the copy shops
was VERY LONG! 

One More Date...More to come this week... 

Another YSA couples date with the Pew's.  This is Hadrian Reamon and his cute girl friend, Michelle Mac, who attends University of Leeds and will graduate in accounting in just a couple months.   Hadrian baptized Michelle last October and hopes to marry her in the future.  Hadrian attends University in Bolton where he studies graphic and animations art.  His ideal job would be with Pixar.

This picture was shot from Michelle's polaroid camera.  We thought they were a thing of the past, but it seems to be a trend.