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On New Year’s Eve in 2018 we joined our children and grandchildren at a cabin get-away before we left on our mission. While there, Butch challenged each of us to choose a characteristic that we would like to work on during the coming year – a virtue that would stretch and refine us. I chose patience, because I like to get projects moving and have a hard time wondering why others don’t feel the same way. He had us write the name of the characteristic on a rock to remind us to keep working our goals.

Being the ‘maximiser’ that I am, when the topic of personal growth came up a second time at the Mission Training Centre, I decided to again choose patience as the virtue I would work on for the next two years. Butch selected charity as the Christ-like attribute he would increase in his life.

Little did we know at the time that mission life, in addition to pandemic self-quarantines, stay at home orders and lockdowns, would provide ample opportunity to practice patience and charity; sometimes with myself and mostly with each other.  We were blessed and even challenged; spiritually, physically, emotionally and mentally. When we set out, we felt prepared, but quickly found that there would be a lot of learning to do and adapting to the circumstances we found ourselves in. All in all, the mission experience was a time of growth on a personal level and as a couple and we will never be the same.

Looking back on our mission experiences has helped us recognise God’s hand our lives and focus on our blessings. Here are a few things we learned and loved.

What we learned:

This is God’s work and His work continues even through imperfect people like us and many times in ways that we don’t understand. It was amazing to see how time and distance diminished while working remotely from the US. We were also strengthened to see how the skills and interests of all missionaries are put to work.

Mission work is hard. While many of our blog posts highlight exciting and fun adventures, the reality is that the majority of the work took place in the office or remotely at home; answering phones, attending meetings, writing stories, articles and scripts, emailing and following up with others, researching and even cleaning the Church building and bathrooms where the office was housed. As missionaries, it was about adapting and doing whatever it takes to get the job done.

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The United Kingdom is full of faithful Latter-day Saints. As a people they are thoughtful, courteous and kind. They look after and care for the missionaries who are far from home. It wasn’t unusual to find a box of chocolates at the office left from a new friend or receive an invitation to dinner or the theatre or to have your birthday remembered in kind ways.  One of our wedding anniversary, we were busy supporting a media event north of Manchester when our friends Kevin and Barbara Fletcher slipped us a note and picture along with some A&W root beer, which is hard to find in England. 

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History runs deep in Great Britain. Everything has historical meaning. If you were to compare the UK to Mesa, the UK would be the great-grandparent and Mesa would be a pre-teen. History is everywhere and we embraced it. In fact, Butch being the storyteller that he is, took many of our visitors on a walking tour of Warwick, which included a stop at Saint Mary’s, a beautiful church built by the Earl of Warwick in 1123. On one of these tours we were with our daughter Kelli and her husband Bert and noticed a lady following us. She finally approached Butch and told him that all ‘tour guides’ were required to sign in at the desk. He explained that we lived in Warwick as volunteers serving a two-year mission for our church and enjoyed brining our friends to Saint Mary’s. When she learned this, she asked him if he would be a volunteer at Saint Mary’s too; as a tour guide. He politely declined, but what a compliment to be asked.

Our children and grandchildren are amazing! They were such a great support to us and made a special point to video chat often. We loved those calls! Our family rallied around us when we unexpectedly returned home March and filled our homesick hearts. They supported us once again preparing our home for our arrival when we returned home for good in February.

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It takes nerves of steel to drive a car in England, and even more when someone else is driving and you are in the front passenger seat. While we were both able to get UK driver’s licences, we definitely have a whole new appreciation for anyone who can drive on the left side of the road and navigate narrow roads and roundabouts.

I was also reminded of how well-loved and resilient my husband is. He especially enjoyed kidding around with the young missionaries and helping them keep other members in the loop of missionary work taking place within the congregation we attended. When we would experience obstacles in our work, he was usually the first one to keep going and come up with a plan B, C or D.

During lockdown, you can be dressed comfortably for online meetings. Butch’s favourite trousers for all of our virtual meetings were in reality pyjamas (yes, this is the correct spelling in Britsh English) and I wore slippers to work every day.

What we loved:

British food favourites: a full English breakfast, crumpets, fish and chips, bangers and mash, scones, clotted cream, Yorkshire pudding, rashers, meat pies, sticky toffee pudding, toad in the hole, and Bird’s custard.  

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We also loved castles, cobblestone streets, old churches in every village, swans on the River Avon, green rolling hills and sheep and lambs all over the countryside and learning about the royals.

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We never tired of listening to people the UK talk and hearing their different dialects such as; Scottish, Welsh, geordie, and brummie to name a few. We did much better understanding what they were saying when we were face to face. In addition, we have adopted a few words and phrases into our vocabulary such as; squirty cream, massive, brolly, rubbish, XOXO, loads, sorting out, straight away and crack on.

Spending time in the London and Preston temples was choice. Each time we were able to go, we were strengthened spiritually and it refocused our perspective. We pray that the time will come soon for temples to fully reopen in England and all over the world.

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One high point for Butch was returning to parts of England where he served as a young man from 1973 – 1975. God knows your heart and his reunion with a former companion and friends who joined the Church during that time was a tender and treasured time.  It was also humbling for him to return to his roots and for us to train the entire Manchester Mission missionaries during their zone conferences and led them in discussions surrounding the best way to answer questions about the Book of Mormon Musical. It brought back nostalgic memories and hopefully left an impact on the younger elders and sisters about how important their work is. No words can express . . .

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While we were aware of the work of early missionaries and converts who shared and embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ, we came to have a deeper appreciation and love for those who went before us. Many of our ancestors are numbered among the early pioneers who left their homes and livelihoods in England and immigrated to the United States. They crossed the plains, some under great hardship and joined with other members of the church in Utah and then Arizona. Any sacrifice or offering that we may have made doesn’t come close to what they did. It was humbling to serve in their home country and hope that we have honoured their legacy in a small way.

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Lastly, we loved serving together. We always planned on serving and in fact when things were going well and even when life was a struggle, we would often turn to each other and say, “We’re living the dream. . . ” How many times in your life do you have the opportunity to consecrate two full years of your life to the work of the Saviour? We can tell you that we will never be the same and hope to carry a measure of that consecrated effort throughout the rest of our lives.

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This is the final post for BodinesOnAMission. We hope you’ve enjoyed our blog and will consider taking some time to talk with missionaries who you may come in contact with. Thank you for joining us on our journey.

It can be hard to leave your family and friends for two years and move to another country. All of a sudden, your support network is basically reduced to one person . . . your companion. While your companion is pretty amazing and you can video chat with family at home, let’s face it, you need a few other people in your life. This post is dedicated to our friends in Warwick across the United Kingdom and the Europe Area who through their kindness made us feel at home and became family.

In our office

We had the pleasure of working under the direction of a proper Englishman, Malcolm Adcock. His thoughtful approach and British humour made the office a great place to be. It wasn’t unusual for him to inquire about our family and our well-being. We learned about culture, traditions, titles and the nuances of British life from him and consider him and his family our life-long friends.

In the mission

There is something special about serving alongside other senior missionary couples in a foreign country. While our responsibilities in the office differed, we were all learning the ropes of living in a foreign country and enjoyed companionship at work and even on the weekends.

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In our work

In our work we also got to know members of national communication councils, Church employees, videographers and others whose support and contributions helped us get our work done. We learned from them and became friends through the process.

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In our congregation

Our friends at church became family as we worshiped and served together. Our humble Warwick Branch was diverse and comprised of young and old, new members and longtime members from England, Scotland, France, Brazil, Mexico and the United States. Together we experienced joy as several new babies were born and also loss when two members of our congregation passed away. We shared meals together and also united our faith in behalf of one of our own who was diagnosed with cancer.

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There is also a unique bond between women in the Church. I am so grateful to these and other women in our congregation for being there when I needed a friend and are still looking after me today.

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In our town

You get to know a lot of people when you are a part of a community. We went to most of the events in Town Centre and became familiar with the town crier and members of the Town Council. We also became friends with ‘Uncle Jay’ at the post office who made sure that all was in order so our packages would make it home to our family in the US in time for Christmas.

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The fishmonger on Smith Street who was the chef at ‘The Pickled Crab’ recognised us on the phone when we called our weekly taco order in and even threw in a few extra shrimp.  In the evenings and especially during lockdown I needed something to do, so I picked up a ukulele from the proprietor of the Guitar shop down the street from our flat. I promised that I would come by and play him a song when I learned one, but lockdowns during Covid prevented that.

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As part of a local interfaith council, Jim Coleman arranged a tour of a Gurdwara Sahib (Sikh temple) close to Warwick. We learned a lot from our gracious host and even enjoyed a hot lunch that anyone can eat there every day.

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The ladies at ‘Royal Fabrics’ got to know me quite well when I was sewing our costumes for the ‘Regency Ball.’ It was fun to go back later and show them photos of the final product.

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The big question most women have when you move to a new area is; “Who will do your hair?” Sean of Hair Art did a great job with highlights and my straight hair. I only wish I could have seen her in our last 4 ½ months of our mission. 

When you are trying to immerse yourself in the culture, what better way than to join a local choral group? I found a ‘Rock Choir’ who met on Wednesday nights at a nearby primary school. Joann and I joined for several months and even got to record at Abbey Road Studios on its’ 50^th anniversary weekend and cross the street in the famous Zebra crossing. We sang songs like Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing” and “This is Me” from The Greatest Showman. It was really fun to get to know people from our community through a love of music.

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Renewed friendships

What a wonderful opportunity it was for Butch to return to England where he served as a young man more than 45 years ago. It was a tearful reunion when he reconnected with Nigel Reece, a former missionary companion and Margaret and Gerry Bell, who joined the Church during his time as a missionary in Northern England. We love these dear friends who continue to strengthen us through their faithful examples and reminds us of another cherished reunion of missionaries found in Alma 17:2 in The Book of Mormon.

What do you do in the middle of a pandemic when you can’t leave your flat and you’ve got time on your hands? Launch a podcast! Lol, isn’t that what most people do? Seriously, last summer our director Malcolm was thinking of ways to use new communication channels to better connect with people ages 20-40, so creating a new podcast for the UK was a great idea. Plus, it was an appropriate project to work on because it could take place online during the ever-changing restrictions of Covid 19.

I had listened to a few podcasts in the past. Mostly, referrals from our daughter Kasey and daughter-in-law Stephanie. I really enjoyed listening to them while taking morning walks. Butch had even less experience with podcasts. (He is a YouTube aficionado) So, more or less we were starting from scratch, learning as much as we could about the process, format, content and our prospective audience.

Learning, logistics and tech specs

Butch is a man of many questions and this attribute came in quite handy when Malcolm asked us to oversee the podcast creation and launch in just three months’ time. His questions drove the research to find the best hosting platforms and strategies to gain loyal listeners. He also created a project timeline to try and keep everyone on schedule. His research was invaluable in making sure we were following best practices and getting the podcasts posted on major apps like Apple, Google Play, Spotify and others. He also purchased equipment and music tracks for branding and transitions.

Early on, Malcolm drew upon his background of being a former BBC producer and his contacts in the field (Phil Gott and Jed W.) to host a technical test to check the viability of remote audio capture. Part of the test included a mock interview with Malcolm as the host interviewing me and the Neiswenders.  Malcolm was a great host and it was fun being a guest on a hypothetical show. Following this test, it was determined that professional microphones would be sent to each guest to improve sound quality.

We also learned from Dan Mason and David Geens, both experts in the field who graciously gave of their time and expertise to share their knowledge and advice for a podcast start-up like ours.

Surveys and feedback

I was tasked with creating and sending out surveys to identify listener preferences and to find a programme name that would resonate with our audience. While ‘Hope Helps’ was selected, other contenders were; Brilliant Thoughts for Ordinary People, Brolly Up, The Better Choice, Sorting out Life, Everyday People and Life Balance. Conversations with key stakeholders and focus groups were especially insightful and helped guide programme topics. It also helped us realise how important authentic and vulnerable conversations, and a bit of humour, would be for the success of the show.

Choosing a logo

Butch worked with a design company to create a logo that would brand the show. In the end, Jason, a member of the national communication council and lead of the digital team came up with the perfect design.

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Finding the perfect host

Podcasts are intended to be conversational. Like siting with a friend at your kitchen table, catching up over a cup of hot cocoa. I first met our host Charly Burridge-Jones while looking for people to feature in possible civil discourse videos. Even though our video chat centred on her personal experiences, her empathy and ability to connect with others made me feel like I was equally important to our conversation. In a follow-up ‘aha!’ moment with Malcolm, we both felt that she would be the perfect host for Hope Helps. Charly has a way about her that puts Hope Helps’ guests at ease and has a gift for facilitating thoughtful conversations.  

Guests for the show

It was also my responsibility to find people with interesting stories that would inspire listeners. I asked around, followed leads and gathered names and topics from all over the United Kingdom. A young woman who oversees women’s groups in congregations in the London area was a ‘rock star’ in providing name after name of prospective guests. She was incredible and I felt indebted to her for connecting me with so many amazing people. Experiences of the guests also drove the creation of the editorial calendar which identifies episode topics/guests months in advance and also follows the 2021 Church communication schedule.

After identifying a prospective guest for a show, I would reach out, find out more about them and if the screening interview was promising, book the individual for the show. I’d review the strong points of their stories with them and share a few tips about being on a podcast. At that point Butch would mail out mics to the guests and I would write up a script with supporting content and potential questions for Charly to adapt and make the script her own for the recording session.

Making the sausage

We met every two weeks to determine ways to refine and streamline processes, discuss upcoming episodes and review the editorial calendar. On recording day, Phil, a former BBC audio engineer, would reach out to guests and run a tech check on their computer systems. Charly would call each guest and find out more about them. Just prior to recording time, we met with the team and guests for the show to answer any last minute questions and have a quick prayer.

Once the conversation had been recorded, Phil would go back to his editing bay to trim the content and insert music and programme identifiers. He would then send it out for final edits and turn it back around for review and posting by the national digital team. During this time, I was writing an episode description, article for Newsroom and a post for social media. Hope Helps publishes every two weeks, and because of that we were always working on an upcoming episode while recording another.

Hope Helps episodes

Our first show published in mid-December and featured a well-known West End London actress who played Mary, the mother of Jesus in New Testament videos for the Church. Her story was moving and she provided a unique perspective of that first Christmas night. Other guests on this inaugural show were John and Candice, leaders from young single adult congregations in Manchester and London respectively. They shared experiences of how they and their friends were reaching out to others to lessen the impact of loneliness during Christmas and Covid.

Other episodes covered topics about New Year’s goals, building relationships, finding your life’s work and managing during Covid. When we last checked more than 70 percent of listeners came from the UK, with 20 percent from North America and the rest from all over the world.  

Here are episodes we produced with the Hope Helps team:

New podcast Hope Helps aims to encourage and inspire (trailer)

Hope Helps’ first podcast focuses on Christmas and Covid

New Hope Helps episode reviews the pros and cons of New Year’s goals

Hope Helps episode explores tips for building meaningful relationships

Hope Helps explores tips for discovering your life’s work

The COVID Conundrum: Hope Helps’ holistic approach to the pandemic

Shout out to the Hope Helps team

It was an honour to be a part of this work and we learned so much with each episode. The entire team was flexible, gracious and a joy to work with.

Malcolm is the consummate executive producer with a vision of what is possible and trusting others to get the job done. Phil’s patience and thoughtful interactions helped everyone relax during the recording sessions. Charly’s ability to draw out the best in others, ask important follow up questions and summarise conversations are unmatched.

As we prepared to leave our responsibilities in the hands of others, it was exciting to see Richard Auger (in-country guest organiser), Doug and Kelly McGuire (the couple who replaced us) and Ellie and Imogen, two new BYU interns embrace the purpose and work of Hope Helps.

We are Hope Helps number one fans in Arizona and can’t wait to hear future episodes! BTW- if you haven’t had a chance to listen to Hope Helps, we invite you to do so. You can find it and subscribe on your favourite podcast app. We’re pretty sure you’ll be uplifted and inspired!

There is a special bond with others who have left home and set aside their personal lives to dedicate 18 months to two years of missionary service. Missionaries enter the field with a desire to serve and leave hoping they have made a difference. When we left in January 2019, there were about 67,000 missionaries serving in nearly 400 missions across the world, most under the age of 25. Typically, these young missionaries are assigned to teach the gospel and serve others in the communities where they live.

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As we left for England, our nephew Todd Kerr, who oversees five to six congregations in Arizona, gave us two points of advice; 1) have fun and 2) look after the young sisters and elders (men). Watching out for the younger missionaries has been a highlight for us and we pay tribute to these selfless men and women who have sacrificed so much to carry the work of Jesus Christ forward across the world. It has been a privilege to watch them in action, particularly during Covid when face to face meetings became non-existent and they had to find creative ways to do their work.

We enjoyed our interactions with these young missionaries. They brought an energy and a bright spot into our lives. Here are just a few stories that made us smile, and sometimes laugh out loud.

Around the dinner table

When arriving in Warwick we found a set of sisters (women) and a set of elders (men) assigned to the small branch (congregation) we attended. We quickly invited both companionships to dinner about once a week, usually separately and rotating them for Taco Tuesdays. Together we experienced British foods like Yorkshire pudding, rashers, bangers, Bird’s custard, marmite and our favourite, crumpets, all while I learned how to navigate cooking in Celsius, grams and a fan oven. Seriously, who knew that butter doesn’t come in one-quarter pound sticks?

The rule was that the food had to be gone at the end of the meal, or they would have to take it home with them. Often, I would try to prepare something that they were familiar with and would enjoy like Texas sheet cake, Jello, funeral potatoes or Pork roast with Spaetzle for Sister Peters. It didn’t turn out that great, but she was gracious. Of course, there was always a lot of stealing food off elders’ plates by Butch and others, just to keep things interesting.

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Over and under

Every time we saw Elder Bluth his shoes were untied. Butch was pretty sure it was a safety issue so over the next few weeks he gave Elder Bluth and his companions Elder Allen and Elder Poole shoe tying tips. I even learned a few things about the nuances of keeping your shoes tied.

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Mouldy tortillas

One morning, we were in the office and an elder who will remain nameless and his companion Elder Hoole, came in extremely concerned. He said he had this hypothetical ‘friend’ who ate a flour tortilla that had mould on it. What was even worse was that his companion knew the whole time he was eating it. In all seriousness, he wanted to know if his ‘friend’ would be getting sick, how bad it would be and should he call the doctor or Sister Hughes, the mission president’s wife. With a straight face, Butch told him that he should be very concerned and that it was all over for him. . . .three of us busted out laughing and Butch told him to give it a couple of hours and he would most likely be okay.

Clotted cream

Over dinner one night, Butch shared his new found love of scones and clotted cream; primary ingredients for high tea. Unfortunately, we didn’t have any and so the elders were on their own to find some. Thankfully we found a recipe on YouTube on how to make it when we return to the States.

Train station

One afternoon Butch got a random message asking if he could help the sister missionaries with their luggage during a transfer. He said we would be happy to help, but what were the details? The reply was to ‘be on standby for the next hour and a half’ that the sister he was to pick up was currently in Birmingham. Not knowing when he would get the call, and thinking that they would be hungry, I quickly made some vegetable soup and rolls and packed them up. Many hours later he finally got a call asking him to pick up one sister missionary at the Stratford train station, and then her companion at the Warwick train station, which is right around the corner from our flat. We went to the Warwick station first and felt badly because her companion had been stranded for hours in the cold and we were less than a block away. What we didn’t know is that she ran into a woman who had attended church that previous Sunday and wanted to learn more about the Church! He loaded her luggage and we went straight away to Stratford where we found her companion sitting alone with her luggage waiting patiently to be picked up.

I don’t know how he did it, but he was able to put four large suitcases (one he couldn’t lift), two carry-ons, other bags, a ukulele, the sisters and us all in our small compact vehicle. We were so glad to drop them off at their new flat with dinner hoping that others have done the same for our sons when they served.

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Lucas-look-a-like

Perhaps I was just a bit homesick, but when we met Elder Stigsson he reminded so much of our youngest son Lucas. He even had a thoughtful, gentle disposition about him, like Lucas.  I couldn’t help but mention this to him nearly every time I saw him.

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Swedish Meatballs and Au Gratin potatoes

One Friday night the sisters and elders sponsored an evening for the Branch highlighting foods from where Elder Stigsson (Sweden) and Sister Favre (Switzerland) were from. They gave me a grocery list of ingredients and I picked them up. That afternoon, I got a frantic call from the sisters whose bus had been delayed and they were going to be late. They asked me to get the potatoes started so they would be ready in time. So, I got going straight away. Because I was in the kitchen when the Swedish meatballs were being made, I also got to learn how to make this delicious dish, complete with Lingonberry jam! We made this at home this past summer and it was a hit with Trellany and Lucas. Probably because Elder Stiggson is Lucas’ doppelganger.

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Unexpected departure

Last March when we got word from President Hughes that we would be returning home within 48 hours because of circumstances surrounding COVID, it was unsettling to say the least. What a comfort it was to see other senior missionaries who we love, and also Elder Poulsen and Elder Trappett at the mission home at 4:30 am to help us all get on the coaches to get to the Manchester airport on time. It was quickly determined that there were too many bags to fit on the coach, so they quickly loaded the mission van and followed the coach to the airport. Somewhere along the way, the coach and van got separated. Elder Poulsen reached out on Facebook and had me drop a pin. Thankfully we all arrived together at the airport. This is just one example of their quick thinking and resourcefulness to get the job done.

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It was an emotional day for everyone. It was a humbling sight as missionaries from several missions filled the Manchester airport. We connected with Sister Tuttle who was going home because of a pre-existing condition. We also travelled all the way home to Phoenix with Elder Rogers who is from Queen Creek. He was able to return to England about the time we came back and we were able to have him, Elder McFarlane (from Tucson, Arizona) and Elder Beckstead (honourary Arizonan) over for a Taco dinner. During the spiritual thought, Elder Rogers shared a tender moment as he expressed his love for us for watching over him that day. You just never know who needs you in their life. Elder Rogers and Elder Beckstead currently serve the Warwick Branch so we get to interact a bit. Too bad we can’t have them back over for tacos.

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Book of Mormon Musical

After working on communication strategies surrounding the Book of Mormon Musical for a year, we were happy to join missionaries from the Birmingham Mission at the hippodrome to share information with theatre goers following the play. They missionaries were well organised, engaging and enthusiastic and we were glad to see what they could do.

Double take with Elder Poulsen

We knew that Elder Poulsen was a twin, but it didn’t register when Butch saw him at the London Temple. So as usual he struck up a conversation Elder Poulsen. Elder Poulsen had a puzzled look and told him he was Elder Poulsen’s twin brother serving in the London Mission. I wasn’t in the room at the time, and repeated the same conversation with Elder Poulsen V2 when I walked in. We all got quite a laugh out of it and I couldn’t help but send his brother a picture of all of us together. They are both such fine men.

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Baptisms

The best part about seeing missionaries in action is when a person accepts the invitation to be baptised. We were there as Sister Peters, Sister McGreer, Elder Trappett and Elder Poulsen supported Penny as she joined the Church and continued learning about Jesus Christ. They also were there to support Paul as he baptised Penny, and made sure it was done properly.

It was also wonderful to see Sister Christensen and Sister Grisel help Kimberly when she was baptised. Because she was baptised during Covid, there were government restrictions on how it could be done. It was a special hounor for me to be one of the witnesses with Sister Christensen at the baptism. We were both grateful that she was totally immersed, although her foot popped up afterward.

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American Thanksgiving

The first Thanksgiving we were in England, Elder and Sister Rabe got permission from President Hughes to organise a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for all the missionaries in the surrounding area. We even invited our director Malcolm to lunch. It was quite the fete, especially with small British ovens. Elder Rabe covered the turkey with bacon, brought a ham and pies and Joann and I filled in with mashed potatoes, a version of green bean casserole and other items. Such a great day!

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Mission Presidents

Missionaries couldn’t do their work without the leadership of mission presidents and their wives. These remarkable men and women lead the five missions in the United Kingdom. It has been an honour to provide support to each of them through missionary training, media orientation or news articles for the UK Newsroom. We are amazed at their dedication, leadership, and spiritual insight.

We were especially happy that the Book of Mormon Musical was showing in Bristol and Birmingham this past year and that President and Sister Hughes invited us to train the missionaries of the Birmingham mission. Because we report to the Europe Area Communication Department, we don’t interact much with the mission we are assigned to, and it was great to see missionaries at district meetings at the chapel and happy that they would remember us.

Missionaries from days gone by

Butch served a mission in England from 1973-1975. Just by chance he reconnected with a former companion, Nigel Reese while attending church with Margaret and Gerry Bell in Stanley. Brother Reese came up to Butch and asked him if he remembered him. It took about 10 seconds and Butch said with an embrace, Elder Reese!

Butch also had the opportunity to connect with others from his mission Elder Bates who with his wife served young single adults in the Birmingham Mission and Elder Dave Perry who serves as a mental health specialist in Frankfurt.

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Our friends and colleagues

We would be remiss not to mention the wonderful couples who we served with in our office, the Frankfurt office, and the mission office. We have shared meals with them, laughed with them, cried with them, travelled with them, played games with them and the miracle is that all of us managed to use our unique gifts and talents to serve God in England. Their friendship and encouragement supported us in our work, and we love them!

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As we conclude our mission and leave soon for home, we are grateful for all of the missionaries who we have served beside, who have come and gone, and wish the very best to those who follow.

This was our second Christmas in England. As set apart missionaries our charge is to share hope in Christ, so this time of year is especially meaningful for us. It also takes on greater significance thinking about our family at home and a feeling a greater appreciation for the love you share with each other. The current pandemic and knowing that we will be returning home the first of February has also created a heightened awareness of our purpose here with tender feelings about the Christmas season.

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It was once said that there are three essentials for a happy life. Something meaningful to do, someone to love and something to look forward to. I’d like to frame a few Christmas highlights into those buckets, but in reverse order.

Something to look forward to – just kidding!

You would think that during a 9-month long pandemic, you would learn not to make plans. Although it seemed like such a good idea when in late November, near the end of the month-long national lockdown, the prime minister announced that three households would be permitted to get together during a five-day period over Christmas.

When Bruce and Linda Wardle, the new couple in our London office, invited us and the Neiswenders to join them for a Christmas holiday it was exciting, especially after a month of not be able to go anywhere! Straight away I found a hotel five minutes near their flat, train tickets were purchased, tickets were purchased for A Christmas Carol and an open top bus Christmas Lights Tour, and times were set up to go to The National Gallery and The Wallace Collection.

Four days before we were to leave for London, the government did a ‘U-turn’ and reversed its decision; put London into tier 4, restricted household mixing and travel in and out of the area. It was disappointing for all of us and the entire country. Plans were cancelled and the ticket refund process was begun. While my heart went out to families who had hoped to spend the holiday together, I felt especially sad for the hospitality and theatre industry whose livelihoods are hurting.

Here in Warwick we were fortunate to be able to meet with one other household. So, together with Neiswenders we had a lovely breakfast (ham and egg casserole, poppy seed muffins, fruit salad) at our flat and introduced them to the tradition of British crackers. We also played a few rounds of Monopoly, British card style.

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Later that afternoon we had a traditional dinner at Steve and Linda’s. They went all out, and it was wonderful to be with them. Before dinner we held a virtual ‘White Elephant’ gift exchange with Wardles over Zoom complete with a Queen Elizabeth bobble head and Paddington Bears.

Something to do

Butch gave a lovely talk at the Christmas worship service at our Warwick Branch (congregation). He spoke about how the restored gospel of Jesus Christ helps us understand who Christ is and His personal role in our lives.

We also had the opportunity to sing carols (at a distance) for a few friends on their doorsteps. It was the first time they had had carollers and it fun to sing with Linda and Steve, who is a former member of the Tabernacle Choir! I even got to accompany our trio on the ukulele, although it was a bit sketchy, lol.

A friend in our congregation put together a ‘Carols Concert’ and asked for volunteers to share virtual talents with a Christmas theme.  So, I went to a nearby park, found some holly that needed trimming, and with Micah’s help created time-lapse video of making a holly arrangement for the chapel. It looks so quick and easy taking it from 15 minutes to just over one!

Primary Nativity

I serve in the children’s organisation (Primary) of our congregation. As a mum and grandmum, I know how the children look forward to participating in a Nativity. So, with the help my friend Richard (the man behind the curtain) to figure out the technical aspects of an online Nativity, other Primary workers and parents, we pulled it off. It was patterned after a simple and timeless script from the scriptures that my mother used years ago for my younger brother Glen’s special needs Primary with songs and pictures from the Church’s media library.

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The highlight was watching the children portray the characters they were assigned. Even on a computer screen they were beaming and the spirit of the occasion filled the room. Seven-year-old Maya ended the programme portion of the evening by singing, Picture a Christmas.

Someone to love

My favourite part of Christmas was sending gifts home to our mums, children and grandchildren. I wanted them to open up a package of love from us with something from England just for them. It took some shipping tips from Jay at the Post Office and it was not cost-effective, but I wanted them to have something tangible that they could hold and know that we were thinking of them. Because of weight limitations, it seemed to be a head, foot and neckwear themed year.

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It was lovely getting love letters, poems and small gifts from them in return. Throughout the day we spoke by video chat with all of our children and loved every minute of it!

December days in England are short, dark and cold. So, what better way to keep the winter blues at bay and move mission work forward than to have a lovely cup of hot cocoa? Butch, and a few other family members and friends, may even say that this could be just another excuse for me to have a mug of my favourite drink but the truth is I could have a cup of hot chocolate every day.

Please don’t judge me – I classify myself as a hot chocolate aficionado and not an addict because I make a daily conscious effort not to drink an excess in calories related to hot cocoa. Plus, it is a perfectly acceptable beverage for missionaries to drink.

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It has been quite lovely to experience my hobby in so many different places on our mission. As I reviewed these photos, I can recall where we were and what we were doing with each amazing cup.

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The HC travel log began on our way to England on a layover in the Amsterdam airport. It was here in a country well-known for chocolate that I was first introduced to Douwe Egberts Cacao Fantasy. The second time it was on a trip to the Netherlands to provide support to the National Communication Council there. After we returned to England, I quickly found a supplier online and ordered what I considered to be a great product, even though the minimum quantity was 100 packets.

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With our mission drawing to a close soon, and seeing that we still had a plethora of hot cocoa packets left (I had ordered twice), it seemed like a good idea to share something I love with those who we love in our congregation. I hope they enjoyed it as much as I do.

In the heart of England, a town with cobblestone streets, streetlamps and centuries old churches was ready for the Christmas season. Warwick resembled the perfect Christmas card with wreaths, lights and a larger than life Christmas tree in the centre of town. While it is best known for its castle where in years past it was frequented by queens, princes, earls, dukes, duchesses and other notables, most are not aware of a quiet miracle that took place at Christmastime not so long ago.

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In an unassuming chapel near Town Square, a faithful group of Christians from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gather each Sunday to worship together and partake of holy sacraments. These followers of Christ pattern their lives after His teachings and strive to give of themselves and serve others.

At Christmastime, tradition calls for a choir to sing and all members of the small congregation were welcome to join and prepare music to sing at this special time of year. Singing experience wasn’t required – just a willing heart and voice. Even the full-time missionaries were recruited to increase numbers and achieve a proper balance of men and women. The choir director chose a simple two-part melody with a piano accompaniment which shared a thoughtful message of the first Christmas night.

Many members of the choir had not sung in a choir before and were strategically placed next to a more experienced member, hopefully to better hear their part. The choir members rehearsed together for weeks in preparation for Christmas.

On the Sunday the choir was to sing, a young man named Tom Brannan was visiting the worship service with his father and happened to arrive early; the same time that choir members were holding a final run through before singing in church that day. Tom was invited to sing with them, and he willingly joined in. He had a nice voice, picked up the men’s part quickly and added a measure of support to the men’s section.

While waiting for the pianist to arrive, the men and women of the choir sang through their parts, together and separately. With just a few minutes to spare before the service was to begin, word came that the choir accompanist was unexpectedly delayed, and it was likely she would not make it in time for the performance. It would be impossible for this humble group to sing without a piano. Disappointment fill the room as the choir members soon realised they may not be singing in church that day; something they had looked forward to for some time.

As considerations were discussed, Tom came forward and said, “I don’t read music, but I play by ear and I could try to play a few chords.” In that moment, he sat down at the piano, composed an accompaniment and a miracle was born. Tom played beautifully as the piano framed the melody. The choir director led the women in first, and next the men – all while the piano carried the song forward.

Tears flowed freely as the words of the song filled the hearts and souls of those present. Tom’s unexpected offering brought a spirit of unity and strength. Imperfection was made perfect in that moment as the story of the first Christmas unfolded through music.

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The experience sunk deep. It was a reminder that when we give of ourselves, miracles can happen. That is the true gift from God, offering our best and being made whole through His son Jesus Christ.

This story is as remembered by the author that day in December 2019

We have had so many wonderful experiences, many which don’t justify an entire blog post. So, here goes, part two of Bits and Bobs.

Unexpected trip to the London Temple

Our young friend Gabriela, a member of our congregation, had been preparing to go to the holy temple in London to make additional commitments to God. Typically, those going to the temple for these reasons will invite family and friends to go with them and she had invited us to go with her in late November.

When she heard that the national lockdown would close the temple for an undetermined length of time, she quickly moved her date up to the day before lockdown was to begin. Because of coronavirus restrictions limiting temple operations we hadn’t been to the temple for more than eight months and it was an honour to attend with Gabriela and a few other close friends. The small session was very personal and a treasured memory for us.

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Great News!

Early in November we the great news from Lucas that he had passed his licensing exam for Physical Therapy. As you can imagine, these high-stakes exams are tough, and he had applied himself and studied hard for months on end. There were many of us praying and fasting that his hard work would pay off and he would be successful.

In honour of the good news, we put on our AT Still shirts to celebrate!

Jazz Dinner Cruise on the Thames

Last year three of our kids gave us a jazz dinner cruise on the Thames as a Christmas gift. We had booked to go last spring for our anniversary in May, but for obvious reasons we weren’t able go until we returned to England this fall. Even then, we felt fortunate that circumstances allowed us to go to London and spend an evening listening to live Jazz while taking in the London cityscape at night. Plus it was the last scheduled cruise of the year. We also got to add in a visit to the Tower of London, and pretty much had the place to ourselves. Thanks Lucas, Trellany and Micah, we had a great time!

While it was a lovely outing, it was also disconcerting to see how empty London was. The tube which normally would been packed was quiet and we were among a handful of visitors at the Tower of London. Such a visible reminder of the effects of Covid

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Broadway Tower

This fall we did a day trip with the Neiswenders to the Broadway Tower, a 50-acre estate in the Cotswolds with a an iconic Tower that sits high on a hill. The Tower was the concept of an 18^th century landscape designer and was completed with the help well-known architect James Wyatt and through the support of George William, Sixth Earl of Coventry. On a clear day, you can see for miles from the top. It was a fun place to visit, plus I even found a simply beautiful nativity in the gift shop, something I’ve been looking for since we came to England nearly two years ago.

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Mussels

Mussels in cream sauce with a warm crusty baguette has become a top favourite for Butch, and I quite like them too! Anytime that is an offering on the menu, that’s what we order. Makes my mouth water just writing about this delicious dish. I’m pretty sure that we won’t be ordering mussels at home in Arizona, so we’ll be sure to get our fill while we are here!

Looking out for the Elderly

It isn’t unusual to see an elderly person walking in Warwick, or anywhere in England for that matter. In fact, we see quite a few members of this enduring group out and about at the park or picking up a newspaper and groceries early in the morning at the nearby One-Stop. It’s nice to know that the local council thinks enough about them that they remind us. Oh wait, maybe we are the more senior people they are talking about, haha!

In England, ‘bits and bobs’ is a phrase similar to ‘odds and ends’ in the US. Like a random assortment; a little bit of this, a little bit of that. My button jar back home is a great example of this; full of colour, different shapes and sizes; some beautiful buttons and some plain basic ones that are just right to do the job. So here goes, a ‘bits and bobs’ update in no particular order. You choose which button in the jar these bits belong to.

Celebrations at a distance

One of the hardest parts of being on a mission is being so far away from our family. We keep in touch with each other through photos and posts on a family WhatsApp thread and it is fun to see birthday wishes or how holidays are being celebrated at home.

It’s also exciting to receive a package in the post, with pictures and messages. These really lift our spirits and we find ourselves reading the short messages over and over again and feeling loved.

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Remembrance Day

People in Britain certainly hold a special place in their hearts for those who have served in the armed forces. Remembrance Day this year looked different and the Sunday before lockdown, I was honoured to accompany our dear friend Karl and present a wreath on behalf of the Branch on the cenotaph near Saint Mary’s. It was moving for me to remember my mother’s uncles were stationed in England, whose plane went down in the North Sea in WWII. The cenotaph is a memorial near the churchyard where local families could find the names posted of those lost their lives or were injured during WWI.

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Virtual musical number

In November, during lockdown our congregation went back to holding our worship service online. While there are advantages to online, such as sitting comfortably on the couch and not having to travel to and from church, you miss the familiar. So, together with my friends Megan, Peter and Steve, and with the help of Micah’s amazing video editing skills, we tried something new and created a virtual quartet.

I confess, it was a bit scary plugging in the headphones and recording your own voice, all alone to a soundtrack. You feel totally exposed and miss the comfort of other voices and accompaniment that hides all the blemishes. Although, once our recordings were all stitched together it turned out rather well and it was nice to be able contribute to our worship service in that way.

Thanksgiving

Last year life we met with missionaries from all over the zone and had a traditional Thanksgiving feast. It was great having a ‘taste of home’ and enjoying the company of other missionaries and our director Malcolm.

This year, because of Covid and the ‘rule of six’ we had planned to go to Linda and Steve’s for dinner and invite another set of full-time missionaries. Although with the national lockdown even that wasn’t possible. On Thanksgiving Day Neiswenders ended up having fish and chips and we had leftover lasagne with the thought that if we postponed a week, the restrictions would be lifted, and we would have a chance to get together . . . not so . . .

Next best thing – making memories with a Thanksgiving dinner door drop! Linda and I prepared our traditional dishes, including Mrs Kerr’s Cranberry Salad, and passed off items at the door. The food was delicious (Linda’s rolls were amazing!) and we were even able to share our ‘door drop’ feast with the sister missionaries in Coventry.

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Bike ride in Stratford

Who doesn’t like to ride bikes? Especially when you live just 15 minutes away from Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford upon Avon! This fall, we went with Steve and Linda Neiswender (the other couple in our office) to Strafford and spent the morning enjoying the English countryside on a twelve-mile bike ride. I never tire of the beauty of where we live. Fortunately, the weather held and rain didn’t dampen our plans. Following our ride, we enjoyed a proper Italian meal at Carluccio’s where our friend Gabriela works.

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Watch for Bits and Bobs part two. We had so many wonderful experiences, too many for one post so, you’ll have to wait for the next post to hear more!

I think it would be safe to say that Saint Nicholas Park is our very favourite park ever! It was created in the 1930’s and is everything that you picture England to be. On any given day there is a variety of wildlife; swans, herons, geese, ducks, squirrels and birds. Haha, I think I have more pictures of this park on my camera roll, than any other place.

It is a five minute walk from our flat and while we used to take our daily walks there before going into the office, we have lately found ourselves on our way there in the middle of the day as a welcomed reprieve from sitting for hours in front of a computer screen while working from home during lockdown.

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Flowers

We knew the park was special when on our first walk we saw hundreds and hundreds of tulips and daffodils in full bloom! I am not exaggerating, and the photos don’t do the park justice. The beautifully manicured flower beds are planted with new flowers every season. In fall with bulbs, in all other seasons with bedding plants. After the bulbs finish their cycle, the gardeners turn over the soil and invite people to take bulbs from the beds. We scavenged as many bulbs as we could to take home as a living memory of Saint Nicholas Park.

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River Avon

The River Avon provides a natural border on one side of the park. The first spring we were here, we saw a swan nesting and before you knew it, three baby swans hatched and were swimming behind their parents. We watched them look after their cygnets all year and looked forward to watching the babies grow up, change colour and become beautiful stately swans like their parents. Sometimes I think they know us too. When Butch walks along the riverbank they swim to him and eat stale bread right out of his hand.

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On Saturday mornings it isn’t uncommon to see people fishing from platforms on the shore or scullers rowing down the waterway in sync.

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Trees

The park is also home to a variety of trees. One tree is shaped like an umbrella and in springtime it is covered with huge white flowers. When it is in bloom, it is hard to walk by and not go stand underneath and enjoy the wonder of intermittent sunshine coming through the dense cover of leaves and flowers.

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Spinney

Like most parks in England there is an outcropping of trees called a spinney. Usually there is a short path through it and sometimes you can find a bench to sit on and enjoy the scenery. It is a place where you feel like you are in the woods, but you know that you are not. Also, if it is dark, it can be a bit scary!

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Remembrance Memorials

There is a mile-long path that circles the park. Along the walkway, which is on the opposite side of the river, an ‘avenue of trees’ memorialises local servicemen with plaques at the base of each tree – embedded through years of growth. These trees symbolise stalwart individuals who have gone before and made sacrifices to benefit the lives of others. In addition to the ‘avenue of trees’, families can purchase park benches with inscriptions to loved ones who have passed on. Often, you’ll see bouquets of flowers tenderly placed on a bench remembering those who have left this earth. These remembrances anchor the park to the community and make it a very special and personal place to be.

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For us, all other parks will pale in comparison to Saint Nicholas. It is a place of beauty and peace where renewal can be as easy as a walk through the park. Who knows, maybe we will return to England someday and buy a bench.

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