Twenty Two missionaries arrived today to the England London Mission. It was fantastic to have a front-row seat to see the process. Dave and Deb were up early early. SK and I slept deeply and well and awakened late in the morning (to our chagrin). Nevertheless, we got ourselves over to the Hyde Park Chapel in time to make a minimal contribution to helping get lunch on and served. The Hartviggsens managed everything involved with serving 120 lunches - yes, 120 lunches.
The cultural hall was lined with large suitcases as every new missionary to the England London Mission brought two large and one small pieces of luggage with them, AND every missionary who was being transferred from one area to another also brought all of their belongings with them. And then there were the trainers - each coming to pick up their new missionary who basically brought nothing.
We started in the chapel - which was nearly full of the exuberant young missionaries. The APs conducted the meeting, there was an outstanding pianist among this group who played a beautiful prelude and then accompanied the hymns with panache. Three missionaries gave brief talks, and then Sister Checketts and President Checketts spoke.
The songs that were sung were "I Know that My Redeemer Lives," "Jerusalem," and "The Spirit of God." Honestly, you haven't truly experienced a great hymn until you have sat in the midst of 120 young people as they have sung out with all their hearts.
The hymn "Jerusalem" is much beloved in England. and more especially so among the church members, and most especially so among the missionaries. It is beautiful. Here is a link for you to listen, and here is a short article about it:
Jerusalem was seen as a patriotic number to rally patriotism during World War One when it was first adapted for music in 1916
Is it England's national anthem?
England doesn't actually have a national anthem at all - though the debate has raged in Parliament about what such a song should be.
God Save the Queen is the national anthem for the UK, and is often used for England too.
But the strident, vivid Jerusalem seems to have won the hearts of the English, consistently emerging as the nation's favourite.
So it was no surprise that in a public vote conducted by Team England in 2010 to decide the Games anthem, Jerusalem was backed by a 52 per cent majority.
Another song that is often mistaken as the English national anthem in Land of Hope and Glory, written by Edward Elgar.
A survey conducted by the BBC in 2006 showed that 55 per cent of the English public thought it should be the nation's anthem.
What are the Jerusalem lyrics?
And did those feet in ancient time Walk upon England's mountains green? And was the holy lamb of god On England's pleasant pastures seen?
And did the countenance divine Shine forth upon our clouded hills? And was Jerusalem builded here Among those dark satanic mills?
Bring me my bow of burning gold! Bring me my arrows of desire! Bring me my spear: o clouds unfold! Bring me my chariots of fire!
I will not cease from mental fight; Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand Till we have built Jerusalem In England's green and pleasant land.
After the devotional, 120 hungry people went into the cultural hall to devour 240 subway sandwiches, dozens of packages of chips, apples and apples and large cookies. This was not a sit-down meal on china. It was casual, and you can see why it was.
From there, President Checketts met with each new missionary individually, and then he and Sister Checketts and the two APS conferred about where to assign each one, and which trainer they should have. The interviews took nearly 3 hours and the trainers just sat and studied or watched church videos in the visitor's center.
When all decisions had been made, President and Sister Checketts met with all of the trainers and said two or three very positive things about each new missionary as he assigned them. They met each other in a large room where they had 10 minutes to get to know them, and then were instructed to go outside and do street contacting for 15 minutes, where they were to give a Book of Mormon to someone.
I was inspired by their example and their willingness to do difficult things right off the plane!
We stayed in the visitor's center for awhile and then went to dinner with Dave and Deb and the two "tech" elders, the ones who take care of all technical problems, and who train all of the missionaries on how to handle their technology.
We are back in the mission home. Dave and Deb are meeting with several missionaries doing some long-range planning
Throughout the day it rained, sometimes in torrents. When we walked a few blocks to the little Italian Restaurant where we ate dinner, it was relatively clear. It was absolutely glorious to walk. This part of the city is charming, beautiful, even majestic. The museum just up the street is a stately old stone building with great pockmarks in its exterior, the vestiges of World War II.
I'm pretty sure that I will sleep tonight. Tomorrow, Deb will be busy planning the day, lunch and dinner for the senior missionaries of the England London Mission, scheduled for Thursday. I am unsure how many of us there are, but I believe about 12 couples or so. I am hoping that I can help her with that, although "social director" has never been on my resume.
Well, somewhere in these mission boundaries tonight are new young missionaries, settling down in a little flat with their trainers, having carted all of their belongings across London and beyond. They will have companion prayer, and they are no doubt tired (although most came from the missionary training center north of here several hours). I wonder what they think of London, what they think of their companions, their mission president, their call as missionaries. I wonder if they know they will remember this day, this night and these two years for the rest of their lives? I wonder if they will say and believe that this experience changed them for good, forever?
WoW!! Busy times. You have such a way with words. Did not see a photo of you - but I'm sure it will come sooner ---or later. I remember the devotionals at the MTC in Provo. It was the only MTC at that time - if memory serves me correctly. When we all stood to sing "Called To Serve" - I could not sing and cry at the same time - so cry it was - all 3 weeks we were there. The Spirit was SO strong! These young missionaries have such enthusiasm!
Don't know if you got the e-mail I sent to you - but got moved rather abruptly - to West Bountiful, UT due to health issues that could not be taken care of in or near Snowflake. Saw my dr. today - and things look promising - but I doubt that I will ever be able to live in that messy, little FRIENDLY town again. I LOVED it there - and MISS it so much.
Take care of yourselves - and those wonderful young adults. They NEED people like YOU! L&P, Judy
Mondays - have always been my favorite day of the week. It is a re-freshing day. It is a day to start again at everything. Mondays here in Oxford are a little bit different. From the moment I get up until I drop into bed in the evening, I am thinking, planning and executing THE MEAL. It is not difficult, and in fact I kind of enjoy it. The young people are amazing to help me, and they are doing it more these days. They come into the kitchen and chop vegetables and help cook. They are also good to help clean up. It just takes so much of my focus. We do our shopping for the fresh food, we prepare dishes throughout the day (desserts and other things that can be made ahead), and just spend our time moving toward that evening meal. Today I was almost lost, because that focus wasn't there. I didn't fix a meal. I didn't serve a meal. I went to the wedding shower of our Institute teacher at the Bishop's home. All women in...
What are we celebrating? Wellllll....One of our YSAs contacted us this afternoon with the astonishing message that today is a great occasion, and thus cause for celebrating. It is known as Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day. Shrove Tuesday, as Wikipedia describes it is: the day before Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent), celebrated in some Christian countries by consuming pancakes; the last day of "fat eating" or "gorging" before the fasting period of Lent. Throwing ourselves into the spirit of the day, we declared it pancake night, and we truly gorged. Berklee made the pancake batter and cooked them up. They were at least 6 inches across and thick and delicious. We topped them with buttermilk syrup and whipped cream. We had other toppings, but they all seemed to prefer that particular combination. They were better than most desserts....well they were dessert! We had nine YSAs here. Earlier in the day we inspe...
We were up late last night - nothing unusual about that, but we were up very early this morning - and that is unusual. Normally, 7:30 to 8:30 is the time we get up and get moving. Today it was 5:45 - which is almost the time I go to bed sometimes! (just kidding) But it felt like we had just gotten to sleep. What moved us to awaken at that indecent hour? A trip to London to meet with the entire mission and be trained by Elder Patrick Kearon of the Presidency of the Seventy. Everyone was excited to attend. SK got a break today; we took the train. With the whole mission there (well over 200 missionaries) there would have been no place to park the car. When SK and I first took the train into London, about five months ago, we went into the station on the day we wanted to go, and to our dismay, had to pay nearly a hundred dollars to ride, and that was with the senior discount! We have been somewhat reluctant to ride the train since, although oth...
Comments
Don't know if you got the e-mail I sent to you - but got moved rather abruptly - to West Bountiful, UT due to health issues that could not be taken care of in or near Snowflake. Saw my dr. today - and things look promising - but I doubt that I will ever be able to live in that messy, little FRIENDLY town again. I LOVED it there - and MISS it so much.
Take care of yourselves - and those wonderful young adults. They NEED people like YOU!
L&P, Judy