You've Got Mail!

 One of the things I will truly miss is that feeling of excitement when we hear the familiar clink of the mailbox slot being opened and then a thud as a small package or letters hit the floor. Sometimes it is a race to see which of us will get there first to claim the treasure. Often we go days without mail, which is never the case in Gilbert. But Brits are more serious about saving the planet and don't engage in so many flyers and other junk mail.

Today, there was a little package - a brightly wrapped little cube with my name neatly printed in Lia's distinctive writing. I have received sweet treasures from all of you, and I know your writing. It is a distinctly beautiful thing, to have a package find you from across the world, to know that someone thought about you and spent a lot of time readying it, addressing it, mailing it, and spending way too much money in the process. It does make one feel loved.

As it turned out, the little box contained a great t-shirt that both of us will wear with pride, since the message is one we can both say with conviction.

This is the inside of the door, and you would be amazed at what the mail carrier can squeeze through that slot!

SK kindly donned the shirt so that I could show you what we both wish.

We strolled a block to "The Jam Factory" - a little restaurant nearby that we have passed a hundred times as we walk around the city, and had lunch. It was so fun. We have been saying for months that we wanted to try it. Today was the day. We stepped outside into 63 degree weather and wondered if we ought to go back in for jackets, but toughed it out.

This evening's Tuesday mission Zoom gathering was The Reverend Andrew Teal. President Thompson put the senior missionaries in charge of the Tuesday night calls because he has been so very busy with a million other things. So we were given this evening to do something with. The office couple suggested that I might arrange to have Reverend Teal speak.

I was loathe to even ask. He is leaving for 19 weeks to study, teach and research with the LDS scholars at the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Studies in Provo. But I asked, and with a graciousness that I can't even describe, he agreed, adding that he will be leaving early morning on the 18th (tomorrow)! That was a couple of weeks ago.

Tonight, the technical goblins were at work, and he was unable to share his screen with a powerpoint, and so he just talked. It was absolutely incredible. I tried to take notes and then gave up. I just wanted to listen and soak up the beauty of his message.

He spoke of the goodbyes he has been saying these past couple of weeks. Two of them were authorities of other Christian churches who are dear friends, one a Catholic and one I believe was the Church of England. One of them is very ill with cancer, and the other is not well either. They said goodbye - almost with the understanding that at some future day they will see each other again - on the other side.

He spoke to the young missionaries, telling them he thought it was extraordinary that they would be willing to put their lives on hold to come to his homeland, simply to try to help people live fuller and richer lives and to be closer to Jesus Christ. He quoted from the Pearl of Great Price - Abraham. 

I believe he knows our scriptures better than most members. He quoted Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. One of his missions is to bring all religions to the table, and to have a unity of understanding. He has been saddened, not only by the persecution the early saints endured, but by subtle ways members of our church still experience opposition. He gave a couple of examples.

A man, an avowed atheist, one who was even aggressive about it, was a member of one of the most prestigious choirs in England at the Windsor Castle. He met and married a member of our church and subsequently was baptized. He was summarily booted out of the choir. Reverend Teal found it particularly sad that he was accepted as an aggressive atheist, but not a member of a Church who testify of Christ.

He spoke for about a half hour. It was truly inspiring, and I am so grateful for the blessing we have had of knowing him. I was asked to say the closing prayer....always a hard thing to do at the spur of the moment. My heart was full.

I think I need to send Reverend Teal a letter of thanks in Provo.