A Green and Pleasant Land

 We were off early today to meet Darren in Farnborough, a beautiful community southeast of Oxford by about an hour and a half. We were on a mission to find a flat for two of our young sisters. Dave announced that we have thirty new missionaries coming within the next three weeks. They will need places to stay.

Last night on the mission call, both prayers mentioned Dave and Deb (not unusual), but new because the young missionaries who prayed asked for their well-being and were full of gratitude for all they have done. Today we received an email inviting us to join all the other seniors in London (there are only ten couples currently, but more will be coming) for Family Home Evening. Besides enjoying a potluck dinner together - in person! - we will "be saying good-bye to President and Sister Checketts and the Sumkos.

With barely a month left, they will be filling every day with the usual meetings, interviews, zoom calls and telephone calls, not to mention the many emails they answer. Beyond that I believe there will be many sorts of goodbyes and tributes from various and sundry sources. They have worked closely with the area authorities and twelve stake presidents, not to mention various leaders in London. Besides all the things they are planning with the missionaries, there will be so much more to fill their days.

Today is the three month mark for us. We will be released three months from today. There is no way to slow this down. Every day speeds by, so that at the end of each week as we prepare for church, I can hardly think where the preceding seven days have gone. We are both tired.

Back to Farnborough, the drive into that city was breathtaking. The road was lined on either side with tall, stately and wild trees, dense forests with much underbrush. The green assaults my senses. We love those drives. We met the real estate driver at the church/local elementary school, climbed in the back seat of his car, and saw six apartments. 

We were in the beautiful communities of Camberley and Farnborough. I could easily settle in either one. 

There was only one that I would not have recommended for two young women....too dark and dreary, and opening up on a very busy street with pubs and tattoo parlors, vaping shops and shady-looking businesses. The others were all very clean, well-lit, and well-cared for. We called in our recommendations and we will see what the senior couple decide. The market here is hot, and one of the apartments was already let before we got there.

We stopped at Costco on the way home, to get lunch makings for tomorrow with our district. I am trying more and more to make this as simple as possible, but still have it be home-made and tasty. Even then, it took a few hours this evening to prepare as much as I could, and then I will spend a couple of hours in the morning before hauling everything to the church.

They also asked us to give the training - on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. You know, just a simple little topic. It is so huge, I hardly know where to begin. SK got his down pretty quickly. I have two typewritten pages, that I must shave down to a half page. We have ten minutes each.

I can't complain. I love it when they want to hear from us, and when we have an assignment of any kind. They are opportunities for growth, and learning,, always, even when I feel like tearing my hair out with the overwhelming feelings that I am in over my head. 

So far, I am still afloat. 

Comments

melissa said…
I’m positive your talk will be the highlight!!
May 27, 2021 at 3:23 PM
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