Family Home Evening with Our YSA Family
On the first Monday of the month, we have Family Home Evening at the Bishop's home. It is not quite a mile away, through the busiest streets of Oxford. We walk past the beautiful Ashmolean Museum, musty old used-book stores, an iconic hotel that must have been glorious in its day,and The Eagle and Child Pub (where C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkein and friends used to hang out to talk about their writing). We pass a large department store that must have been the place to shop several decades ago, and "The Flying Tiger" from Denmark which is full of mostly useless yet fun things.
We pass by the bus depot, the site of the open market (only open during daylight hours), Italian restaurants and pizza joints.
It's a pleasant walk. We enter their home through a small gate, just a few stops off the main sidewalk to the front door. We are greeted by Amy the Bishop's wife and Bunny - their tiny little white dog. We throw our coats on the coat rack with a couple dozen others, deposit our shoes at the front door and head upstairs with everyone else. There is laughter and chatter about all kinds of things.
A prayer is said, and an orderly dash to the kitchen where a crockpot full of pulled beef waits to be made into burritos. All the toppings are there, as well as tortillas and rice. Something for everyone. Gluten intolerant, vegetarian and nut allergies....all can find their perfect Mexican dinner.
Some sit at the table downstairs - crowding 8 around the table, and the rest troop up the stairs to the living room. We sit together on couches and chairs, eating and laughing and talking. After a half hour, with everyone pleasantly full, our bishop's wife shares with everyone how inspiring last night's fireside was, emphasizing how beautifully our own Leticia and Veer did at giving their talks. She wrapped it all up by telling that what she took away from it was that our missionaries are changing lives with the gospel, and that Heavenly Father is aware of each of us. A game was announced, everyone participated and everyone seemed to have a good time.
We left early enough so that we could walk home with the elders and sisters, who each have to be in their apartments at 9. The elders wanted to stop over at our place to pick up some Crisco. It is expensive and hard to come by, and I told them to use what I have instead of buying some. Elder Hathaway wants to make Oreos for our district meeting. He has everything else he needs.
I walk slower than they do, but they stayed with SK and me. As we neared our apartment, Elder Hathaway said, "Sister Madsen, it is 8:57 and we need to get back to our flat, so we'll drop by for the Crisco tomorrow." And away they hurried.
I enjoy these young people more than I can express.
A side note: We started out the day at Costco and IKEA getting things we needed for the flat, as well as food preparation for the next couple of weeks. It was busier than usual, and I noted that nearly every cart had toilet paper and water. People are getting a little nervous about the corona virus...and they are trying to get prepared. Our missionaries were all given extra funds this month and a list of things to have on hand in their flats just in case at any point they may be told to stay in for a few days. So today I purchased a large bag of toilet tissue, water, peanut butter, rice, pasta, tomato sauce and a few frivolous items - treats - to have on hand when Derek and Heather come next week.
We pass by the bus depot, the site of the open market (only open during daylight hours), Italian restaurants and pizza joints.
It's a pleasant walk. We enter their home through a small gate, just a few stops off the main sidewalk to the front door. We are greeted by Amy the Bishop's wife and Bunny - their tiny little white dog. We throw our coats on the coat rack with a couple dozen others, deposit our shoes at the front door and head upstairs with everyone else. There is laughter and chatter about all kinds of things.
A prayer is said, and an orderly dash to the kitchen where a crockpot full of pulled beef waits to be made into burritos. All the toppings are there, as well as tortillas and rice. Something for everyone. Gluten intolerant, vegetarian and nut allergies....all can find their perfect Mexican dinner.
Some sit at the table downstairs - crowding 8 around the table, and the rest troop up the stairs to the living room. We sit together on couches and chairs, eating and laughing and talking. After a half hour, with everyone pleasantly full, our bishop's wife shares with everyone how inspiring last night's fireside was, emphasizing how beautifully our own Leticia and Veer did at giving their talks. She wrapped it all up by telling that what she took away from it was that our missionaries are changing lives with the gospel, and that Heavenly Father is aware of each of us. A game was announced, everyone participated and everyone seemed to have a good time.
We left early enough so that we could walk home with the elders and sisters, who each have to be in their apartments at 9. The elders wanted to stop over at our place to pick up some Crisco. It is expensive and hard to come by, and I told them to use what I have instead of buying some. Elder Hathaway wants to make Oreos for our district meeting. He has everything else he needs.
I walk slower than they do, but they stayed with SK and me. As we neared our apartment, Elder Hathaway said, "Sister Madsen, it is 8:57 and we need to get back to our flat, so we'll drop by for the Crisco tomorrow." And away they hurried.
I enjoy these young people more than I can express.
A side note: We started out the day at Costco and IKEA getting things we needed for the flat, as well as food preparation for the next couple of weeks. It was busier than usual, and I noted that nearly every cart had toilet paper and water. People are getting a little nervous about the corona virus...and they are trying to get prepared. Our missionaries were all given extra funds this month and a list of things to have on hand in their flats just in case at any point they may be told to stay in for a few days. So today I purchased a large bag of toilet tissue, water, peanut butter, rice, pasta, tomato sauce and a few frivolous items - treats - to have on hand when Derek and Heather come next week.
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