""TO MEET AND TO PART IS THE WAY OF LIFE"

 SK had a few opportunities today to share what is perhaps my favorite of his many Danish sayings: "To meet and to part is the way of life." You saw this one coming Erin. I wanted one last time with our young Oxford missionaries. They are all young - young in the mission. I think none of them have been out for more than six months, and in many ways they are young innocents.

Discretion is the better part of valor as another saying goes. and rather than taking the time to go shopping and preparing a meal, we met them at a small restaurant "The Slug and Lettuce" where we had lunch together. It was our treat for them. They were all a little giddy to be going out.

We spent about an hour and a half with them. We talked about all kinds of things. They asked us to share some of our favorite memories of Oxford, we asked them the same. We all had interesting answers, and they will probably be more interesting down the road a few years.

We are all Americans! Four of us had Fish and Chips. It was actually very good....but then, as someone told us when we first arrived: "It's difficult to blow fish and chips." They always come with a side of peas, and the true British way is mashed peas, sometimes known as "Smashed Peas." No one at our table wanted them smashed!

I think SK must have been in the middle of a good story.

We really enjoy those young people.

They walked us home, and we then had about an hour to work on organizing and getting ready to go into London. I cannot figure out why this is difficult. It is 700 square feet! There are a lot of things from senior missionaries past, and I feel like I have to go through every file, every drawer, every cupboard and get them all organized. I'm throwing things out, shredding other items, giving away some objects and trying to pack everything else. What a challenge!

We managed to get away a little after 3, and fortunately we arrived at the mission president's flat two minutes to five - two minutes early!

We visited - the twenty one of us "returning home" missionaries and then we sat down to a marvelous roast beef dinner. We sat enjoying the meal and the company for what seemed like a long time. Afterwards, we stood and stated our purpose, a relatively long mission statement. Everyone has it memorized, including us! Then we sang Jerusalem. The majority of missionaries, including SK were openly weeping while we sang. The song and the statement are cherished and it was a tender moment, as we said those words that we will never state in quite the same way.

I am certain everyone is acutely aware that we are all coming to the end of a unique experience - a mission in the England London Mission during a time of COVID and lockdowns. They expressed such heartfelt appreciation for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Some told stories.

Elder Ferguson did. When he was set apart as a missionary, his stake president said in the blessing that Elder Ferguson and his family would be blessed by his service. He took that to mean that his mother would get baptized, and his sister would become active in the church once again. When he got here, he worked hard, waiting and praying for that miracle.

It never happened. He finally forgot about it. A week ago, his mother called to tell him she is getting baptized the week after he returns home. And his sister has come back into full activity. He is humbled and grateful.

One elder stood and said, "I have not got even one calorie left to burn." A couple other elders echoed that thought. They said they have given everything they had to give and have loved it, but are spent. As we approach the finish line, I am feeling somewhat spent too.

President and Sister Thompson each spoke for a couple of minutes and were encouraging, loving and challenging in their wish for each that they will stay on the covenant path. It is difficult to imagine any of these young people falling away. They are all firmly rooted in their testimony of the Savior and His Atoning Sacrifice....He is mighty to save. 

After that, there was a period of nearly half an hour when we all hugged - all wished each other well - all expressed a desire to attend any and all missionary reunions for the England London Mission, and then we each went our separate ways. One of the men who are half of a senior couple working in the office drove a van full of elders to the airport where they will stay the night in a hotel nearby - departing for home in the morning.

Others walked to apartments in the surrounding area where they will spend their last night in England. We of course left to come back to Oxford. As we pulled out on to a major thoroughfare - about 8 blocks from the mission president's home, we passed two young elders who had been at the dinner. It was dark, and they were talking back and forth solemnly. One is from Congo, and one from Nigeria. I wonder what lies ahead for them?

Others in the group are from Wales, Northern England, Ivory Coast, Ukraine, Iraq, Fiji and then several from the States.

We are acutely aware that there are some we may never see again in this life. But we are so grateful that we had this opportunity to serve with them here in this great land and this very peculiar time in history.