Just Around the Corner
There was frost on the ground and on the flowers and trees this morning. It was a beautiful sight. The sunlight illuminated a magnificent clear blue sky and lit up a million sparkling ice crystals spread throughout the landscape.
We dressed and walked just around the corner to the temple from temple housing. We weren't sure that the YSAs would make it at the time they agreed to be in that beautiful place. They would have to be up early enough to get ready and walk to the meeting place for a ride to the temple. That meant walking in the dark and the cold.
We entered the temple and went to change. As I came out of the dressing room, there was a line at the clothing rental....our YSAs! Looking a little tired and quiet, they were yet so happy to be there. They divided up and each went to do different ordinances. We met up again around 11 a.m. Everyone was glowing. We trooped outside where it was still very cold, but also still so gorgeous. We walked around the temple grounds, took a picture and then all got in the cars and we came home (With one stop at a service center - which is like a rest stop on steroids. It had about 10 or 12 restaurants surrounding a huge dining center...basically a food court. It had KFC, McDonalds, Krispy Kreme Donuts, and a variety of other fast food places. We once again all scattered to get our own favorite food, and sat together to eat.)
SK and I got home in time to clean up and little and then go out to dinner with Dave, Deb and their guest Tom Christofferson. Brother Christofferson had spoken in London and then thought Dave and Deb ought to see Blenheim Palace. They made the long trip up here, but were not able to get in because as Dave put it, "Everyone in England decided to go to Blenheim Palace today." But luck was with them. The Christmas Market Place was open on the grounds, and so they shopped. (SK and I will be going next week to see the palace and the Christmas Market Place - something I've been anticipating.)
They came here with one hour left before they had to be on the road to London. We walked to a nearby restaurant where we had a delicious Lebanese meal.
On Saturday evenings, the entire mission calls in to the mission office where we receive training and schedule updates from President and Sister Checketts. As a mission, we are reading The Book of Mormon and are all in 3 Nephi 3 today. It is really a great thing to participate with every other missionary in the England London Mission in reading, and in the weekly call. It is very inspiring and unifying.
President Checketts talked about the Giving Machine which will officially open in London on December 3. What a tremendous opportunity to do something significant and worthwhile at Christmas. "The Light the World" program has begun and we have pass-along cards to hand out to help people find meaningful ways to serve at Christmas. It is marvelous. We will fast as a mission (and as a church) tomorrow, but our mission's focus will be for heavenly help to share the good news of the gospel and to be a part of gathering people into the fold of God.
Before closing, they updated our calendar. There is seldom a dull moment in this mission, and that will continue into the new year if not indefinitely. The are lots of great things ahead to look forward to. But for right now - as my father used would say, "Just Think!....Christmas is just around the corner - only 25 days away."
We dressed and walked just around the corner to the temple from temple housing. We weren't sure that the YSAs would make it at the time they agreed to be in that beautiful place. They would have to be up early enough to get ready and walk to the meeting place for a ride to the temple. That meant walking in the dark and the cold.
We entered the temple and went to change. As I came out of the dressing room, there was a line at the clothing rental....our YSAs! Looking a little tired and quiet, they were yet so happy to be there. They divided up and each went to do different ordinances. We met up again around 11 a.m. Everyone was glowing. We trooped outside where it was still very cold, but also still so gorgeous. We walked around the temple grounds, took a picture and then all got in the cars and we came home (With one stop at a service center - which is like a rest stop on steroids. It had about 10 or 12 restaurants surrounding a huge dining center...basically a food court. It had KFC, McDonalds, Krispy Kreme Donuts, and a variety of other fast food places. We once again all scattered to get our own favorite food, and sat together to eat.)
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| There's our whole group! |
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| Look at how green this grass is - despite the cold weather! It is soft and plush....oh....and very wet. |
SK and I got home in time to clean up and little and then go out to dinner with Dave, Deb and their guest Tom Christofferson. Brother Christofferson had spoken in London and then thought Dave and Deb ought to see Blenheim Palace. They made the long trip up here, but were not able to get in because as Dave put it, "Everyone in England decided to go to Blenheim Palace today." But luck was with them. The Christmas Market Place was open on the grounds, and so they shopped. (SK and I will be going next week to see the palace and the Christmas Market Place - something I've been anticipating.)
They came here with one hour left before they had to be on the road to London. We walked to a nearby restaurant where we had a delicious Lebanese meal.
On Saturday evenings, the entire mission calls in to the mission office where we receive training and schedule updates from President and Sister Checketts. As a mission, we are reading The Book of Mormon and are all in 3 Nephi 3 today. It is really a great thing to participate with every other missionary in the England London Mission in reading, and in the weekly call. It is very inspiring and unifying.
President Checketts talked about the Giving Machine which will officially open in London on December 3. What a tremendous opportunity to do something significant and worthwhile at Christmas. "The Light the World" program has begun and we have pass-along cards to hand out to help people find meaningful ways to serve at Christmas. It is marvelous. We will fast as a mission (and as a church) tomorrow, but our mission's focus will be for heavenly help to share the good news of the gospel and to be a part of gathering people into the fold of God.
Before closing, they updated our calendar. There is seldom a dull moment in this mission, and that will continue into the new year if not indefinitely. The are lots of great things ahead to look forward to. But for right now - as my father used would say, "Just Think!....Christmas is just around the corner - only 25 days away."
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