It Is Cold!, 26º F! 17-23 November

We were on early shift this week.  For the most part the temple was busy but there were some down times.  The Masih's were here for the week and we enjoyed seeing them.  Also workers from Wales, the two Jones couples.  They always add a bright spirit to our days.  Brother Arnold Jones leads music and when he does that in preparation meeting the whole room is filled with song.

Many prayers were offered in behalf of all those affected by the terrorist attack in Paris.  I was especially impressed with President Irwin's thought in early preparation meeting on Tuesday.  This is what he said:

         “In lieu of the tragic events that have taken place in Paris with the terrorist attack, I have reflected on the families and friends who struggle with the loss of loved ones.  I wonder what the last words they spoke to each other before the attack were.  They had no idea this would be the last time they would see their loved ones.”

         “Relationships are so important, yet in our daily lives we tend to get complacent or caught up in all we do and overlook the moments that may make a difference to someone else, or even to us.”

         “When I was studying at BYU, it was during a time when phone calls were very expensive and were infrequent and far between.  We did not have cell phones or email at that time.  I had written a letter home and complained about the fact my hair seemed to be falling out and that I would probably be bald when I got home.  Christmas was coming and on that day, at the arranged time, my parents called.  The first thing Mum said to me was:  “David, you need to eat more fruits and vegetables.”  That was her response to my flippant comment in the letter I had sent home.”

         “Four days later she died unexpectedly.  She was only 50 years old.  That morning she had said to Dad that she didn’t feel well.  He told her to stay home and not go in to work.  That is what she did and during the day she had a massive heart attack that took her life.  Many times I have reflected on that last conversation I had with her and wonder that I could have done better in realizing how important our relationship was.”

         “Another experience I had involved a fellow colleague at the school I was at.  He was not a member of the church but we worked together and on occasion we had conversations.  One Friday he asked if he could talk with me.  I said that would be great but could we do it on Monday.  I didn’t know him very well and I thought I was too busy or I didn’t see the need to have the conversation before then.  He said okay.  Monday came along and I learned that he had committed suicide on Sunday.  He and his wife had been going through marital problems and he needed someone to talk to.  I didn’t know he was struggling and I didn’t take the time when I should have to listen.”

         “I often think about these two times in my life when I could have been more attentive to others and my relationship with them.  We never know what the future holds and how what we say will affect others.”

Elder Paul V Johnson and wife were here for the week doing a temple review.  He is a counselor in the European Area Presidency.  They live in Germany.  It was a joy to have them in the temple.  She went on several sessions and participated in other areas while he was busy with tours, meetings, interviews, etc.  Elder Johnson spoke in our ward on Sunday and then the two of them were speakers at the Temple Ordinance Worker Meeting held Sunday evening.  They both have a great love for the temple and the eternal blessings therein.

Elder Paul V Johnson & Sister Jill Johnson

At the TOW meeting, a women's sextet sang beautifully the words to, "Thy Holy House."  Those who sang were Sister Smith, Sister Rayton, Sister Rogers, Sister Call, Sister Jeeves, and Sister Carlson.

Thy Holy House, by Janice Kapp Parry

Lord, as I look upon they holy house, I know I stand on hallowed ground.

My soul is lifted up to higher thoughts with nature's beauty all around.

And as I contemplate thy wondrous plan unfolded here within these walls,

I speak a prayer of thanks within my heart, and tears of gratitude now fall.

Lord, as I look upon the holy house, with heaven's blessing held in store,

I joy in every sacred ordinance performed for those who've gone before.

And as I ponder solemn covenants made there within this house of peace,

I long with worthy saints to enter in this house where earth and heaven meet.

Lord, as I look upon thy holy house, whose spires ascend to heaven above,

I sense the vastness of eternity,  I feel the greatness of thy love.

And when I think of earthly families sealed here for all eternity,

I feel assurance then of lasting joy, and endless happiness with thee.

These words sum up all that was shared and spoken in the meeting.

Our week was the standard routine of temple, shopping, music rehearsals, doctors, cleaning, and errands.  We did go to Natalie's for dinner on Thursday.  Since Dad's birthday was the next day, she had a cake and a candle for him.  We had seen her in the temple on Tuesday with a man.  It was a surprise to us.  He is the father of the sister who plays the organ in our ward.  He is from South Africa and had come to his daughter's wedding.  They had met while preparing food for the reception, etc, and hit it off big time!  Brian came to dinner and it was a delight to meet him and see them together.  What a couple they make!

Friday, we took Bob & Brenda Crowther shopping.  They are new missionaries from Logan, Utah.  We had a lovely time visiting, shopping, explaining what they may need and what they can't find here.  We then stopped at Toby Carvery for a meal to end the outing and celebrate Dad's birthday.

Monday was our day off and we were off to breakfast with Rex and Nora Jensen, TOW's from Wales and friends.  They are here for the week to work in the temple and we had to catch up on all that has happened since their last time here.  We also made a stop at the craft store while the men were at the auto store for car lights.

That evening we attended the Bye for Brother Atkins, Temple Recorder, and Brother Adams, Assistant Recorder.  It was a grand affair with the dining room filled clear to the back of the room.  President Irwin wrote a song for each and sang them.  They were choice.  Brother Doughty, the new Temple Recorder, showed slides of pictures of the two of them throughout their lives, then each one said a few words.  There were light refreshments to follow.

Brother Atkins in the middle.  Brother Beer (head of security to the left and Brother Anker (engineer) to the right.

Brother Adams in the middle, Sister Miller on the left, and Sister Brook on the right.  The sisters work in reception.

Brother Doughty, the new Temple Recorder.

So, the two A's, Brother Atkins and Brother Adams are replaced with the two D's, Brother Doughty and Brother Doggett.  The two A's are medium height and the two D's are well over six foot tall.

Another Week, 10 -16 November 2015

We began this temple week working the late shift.  Patrons came and we were busy in every area.  We also had a good supply of workers which is very helpful.    When not in the temple we were busy with the usual tasks of shopping, music, doctors, and birthdays.  We sang happy birthday to Jack and to Collins.

Collins, coming in at 1 year old!

Jack is official at age 21!

I must write about Barbora.  Barbora is from Sovakia and she and her fiancé, Samuel, and his mother, Jeanetta, were at the temple on Friday and Saturday.  Barbora came for her first time and then attended other sessions during those two days.  They are from where President and Sister Irwin previously served as mission presidents.  President Irwin asked if we would take them to church with us on Sunday as they were off to a stake conference.  Jeannetta and her friend Evetta came several months ago and we took them to church.  Sunday was just as special as before.  We had a great time visiting and getting to know one another.  Samuel is the oldest of Jeanetta's six children and is writing his bachelor's thesis in mechanical engineering and is serving as District President in their country.  Barbora is one of two children and she is studying for a degree in English.  She speaks English very well, even if she says her accent has slipped some.  She does a lot of translating and that keeps her from speaking the language as much as she would like.  She and Samuel are planning a June/July 2016 wedding.  We enjoyed learning about their country and life there.  So many things are the same, yet so many are different.

Monday found us on a road trip with Doug and Beverly Jensen.  He is learning to drive here and they wanted to go places.  Dad sat shotgun and we girls were in the back where we could talk easier.  Doug was getting used to his car and between that him new at driving in England, well let's say it was a good thing Dad was in the front seat!  He kept us alive a couple of times!

Dad, Me, & Beverly in front of the chapel in Hayward's Heath.  Several missionaries and ordinance workers are from this area and attend meetings in this building.  As you can see it was another normal wet, rainy, cold day in England.

We journeyed on south to the English Channel and arrived at Brighton.  Doug and Beverly had not been there before so they were excited to see the pier, ride the ferris wheel, and walk the streets.  We stopped at Harry Ramsden's for fish and chips and a cup of delicious hot chocolate topped with a huge clump of cream.

Big Ben and My Bucket List, 9 November 2015

When we first got here, an insert from a newspaper came to our flat and I took the time to peruse through it and see what I could learn about England and where we were living.  One page  was titled: "Fifty Things To Do In England."  I took a look at it and as I read down the list some of the places and events seemed interesting and I wanted to remember to do them.  Thus, the creation of my list.
Needless to say, some things have been marked off for various reasons and some have been added as I learned more about this great country teeming with history.  And, we have undoubtedly gone and done way more than is on my list!

Things I Want To Do In England  (June 2014)

 Stand on the White Cliffs of Dover.  

Visit the Lake District.

Visit Harry Potter Studios.

See changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace.

Visit Downton Abbey (Highclere Castle).

Visit Isle of Wight.

Go to the House of Commons.

See the stones at Stonehenge.

Visit Chatsworth House (Pimberly in Pride & Prejudice).

Tour Windsor Castle.

Go to Wales.

Go to Ireland.

Tour 221b Baker Street (Sherlock Holmes).

Climb the Big Ben Tower.

We headed off to London on the train, took the subway, and then walked out and around the corner to Portcullis House to begin the adventure.

The events of today completed my list as we climbed the Elizabeth Tower, stood behind the clock dials, toured the clock room to see how it operates, and stepped onto the 334th step into the belfry of the tower!  We were in the presence of greatness with Big Ben hanging proud and stout in the middle with the four quarter bells hanging from each corner.

We stood here in this walkway behind the dial.

 We stood in front of the clock in the clock room.  The wheel to the right operates the quarter bells.  The one in the middle is the clock and the one to the left operates Big Ben.

You can see the end of the hammer to the right of Big Ben.  We had ear defenders in when it struck 12 times!  It was an exciting experience to be in the belfry and see and hear the workings of the bells.

The Great Clock's pendulum swings every two seconds.  Weights, including some pre-decimal pennies, sit on a small tray attached to the pendulum rod allowing  fine adjustments to be made.  Adding one old penny causes the clock to gain two-fifths of a second in 24 hours.  We were able to see the tray laden with pennies.  It is an impressive thought that a small penny keeps this massive clock accurate.

Bob, Barbara, Carolyn & Jackie Orton

 The dials of the clock are cleaned once every five years.  Window cleaners are suspended for the cleaning and it takes them about a week to clean all for dials.

We were getting ready for the picture we got a Bobby to take for us.  We are standing in the courtyard of Parliament.

After our tour, we were hungry and caught the subway to Five Guys.  Mr. Hall was sitting at this, the only empty table when we arrived and Dad asked if we could join him.  He politely agreed, we got our orders, and settled in.  Conversation began with where are you from, why are you here, what do you do, etc.  It was the perfect way to enjoy a delicious meal.  We got to know him and he got to know us.  When all was said and done and he had to get back to work, he asked if he could get a picture with us because, "No one will believe me when I tell them why I am late for work.  I want proof!"

We learned that Mr Hall has been to Temple Square and the Visitor's Center in Salt Lake but has not seen the London Temple.  He is in the TV industry and we got into discussing TV series, actors, shows, plays, and more.  In the end I gave him a pass along card with my name and email on it and he gave me his email.  On an off chance he may be important, I did a google search.  See what I found at
http://www.edmundhall.com/Companies.html

 Our next stop was the Imperial War Museum and Churchill War Rooms, the underground headquarters that sheltered Churchill and his wartime government during the Blitz. the place where Winston Churchill and his crew  managed the war.  The rooms buzzed with stories and displays of strategies and secrets.   We enjoyed our tour and our stop at the gift shop.  More magnets for the frig!

The day was coming to an end and we were tired so we headed to the train station to make our way home.  We found four young missionaries on our way and had a brief chat.  Sister Quinn is from Chandler, AZ, and was happy to find fellow Arizonans.  While waiting for the train in the station, Sister Stewart and Sister Cannon appeared.  They are from the mission home and had been out Christmas shopping.  We had a great time talking, sharing our day's adventures, and riding home together.  You see, this was the perfect day to be away as the electricity on the temple grounds was off from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. for maintenance. 

3 - 8 November 2015

Paris saints where here in the temple this week.  The two temples in Germany, Frankfurt and Freiburg, are closed for renovation.  We were kept busy each day with their attendance and it was nice to have so many periodic workers on hand to take care of them.  By Friday, though, they were beginning to return home and the temple grew quiet.

The week was filled with the regular tasks of cleaning, laundry, doctor appointments, and shopping.  We through in hair cuts and I was busy with music each day as events approach.

We called Danny for his birthday and they were on their way to the San Diego temple for their day of service.  We had a great conversation.  They are doing well and stay busy.

Friday, the 6th, was a memorial service for those who died in war.  It was held at the Visitors' Centre, and like last year, was well done.

The event was filled with music, poetry, and stories as we listened to solos sung of "Danny Boy," and "The Lord's Prayer," and "In Flanders Fields," recited with feeling and emotion by an aged man.  As a congregation we sang "Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory," a favorite hymn of Winston Churchill and it was sung at his funeral.

A most impressive story told was that of the four chaplains.

On 23 January 1943, the SS Dorchester, laden with troops and crew of 900, left New York, headed to Greenland and then on to Europe to join in the war.  The journey was proceeding well in spite of going through what was known as torpedo alley, where German U-boats were monitoring sea lanes.  The captain had the crew on high alert and to sleep in their clothes and to keep their life jacket on at all times.  Some of the crew did not heed the warning because the life jackets made them too hot for sleeping or were uncomfortable.

On 3 February 1943, a submarine was detected and the ship was hit with a torpedo, sinking the ship.  As it was going down crew scrambled to the top deck in an effort to get into one of the life boats.  Four chaplains were on board the SS Dorchester, George L Fox, Methodist Minister; Rabbi Alexander D Goode; Clark V Poling, Reformed Church in America;  and Catholic church priest John P Washington.  As the panicked crew frantically made their way to safety, the chaplains gathered on the top deck and began calming the crew and helping each one get a life jacket on and then load into a life boat.  They continued to help the crew until the life jackets ran out.  They removed their own life jackets and put them on soldiers.  As the ship continued to sink and the few life boats drift away that made it, the passengers saw the four chaplains standing united on the bow as the ship sunk below the water.  One survivor recounted:

"As I swam away from the ship, I looked back. The flares had lighted everything. The bow came up high and she slid under. The last thing I saw, the Four Chaplains were up there praying for the safety of the men. They had done everything they could. I did not see them again. They themselves did not have a chance without their life jackets."  Grady Clark

We had a Hi & Bye on Sunday.  We said hello to:

 The Jensen's from Utah,

The Kirk's from Australia,

 And the Matthew's from England.

We said Bye to Brad and Marie Parkinson.  They came with us when we arrived here at the temple.  All of these couples are on the other shift so we do not have a lot of interaction with them, other than van trips and various other missionary activities.

20 October - 2 November 2015

Tuesday and Wednesday found Kendal and family off to Harry Potter Studio and Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.  We were on the early shift so we were all together at the flat for dinner and evening fun which included games of Pinochle.  Sister Hyde, who works in the office at the temple had sent round a stack of puzzles, games, and coloring books, etc. for the children and they enjoyed using them when at the flat.

Wednesday night we packed up two empty suitcases with our stuff for them to take home for us.  It was amazing how well we got everything in.  We even included a box of Christmas Crackers, only for them not to be allowed to go on the plane because of the firecracker inside.  The children took them apart in the airport and enjoyed the prizes and the sweets.

Thursday morning was busy with breakfast and last minute stuff before they headed off to the airport and we headed into the temple.  

We finished up the week with meeting the new missionary couple, the Jensen's from America, shopping and out to dinner.  They also joined us for dinner in the flat Saturday evening.  We answered lots of questions and helped them learn more about being here, etc.  I helped Sister Basten with family history, went to choir rehearsal, and attended a fireside.

We called and sang happy birthday to Isabel on the 22nd, and Bobby on the 23rd.  Isabel was at lunch at school and enjoyed our singing.  Bobby was unable to answer but shared our singing message with his friends.  We caught up with him the next day and got to sing in person to him.

Sweet Sixteen!  And, she drives!

Bobby and Mariah.

In sacrament meeting on Sunday, the Adrian Smith family were the speakers.  He is on the High Council and brought his family along with him from Eastbourne.  Nine year old Oscar spoke first on the importance of keeping the Sabbath Day holy.  He reminded us we are not to work on the Sabbath and since brushing his teeth is work, he has decided not to brush them on Sunday!  He quickly decided that would not be a good idea after all.  Eleven year old Billy referred to Elder D. Todd Christopherson’s talk in the latest general conference entitled, “Why The Church.”  “In the church we not only learn divine doctrine; we also experience its application.”  Gathering in church on the Sabbath “offers a respite and renewal, a time and place to leave the world behind.  It is a time to experience the spiritual healing that comes with the sacrament, and to receive the renewed promise of His Spirit to be with us.”

Sister Smith quoted Isaiah 58:13-14  – “If thou turn away they foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, not finding thine own pleasure; nor speaking thine own words:  Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord;”  She ended with this phrase:  "The Sabbath anciently was called The Holy Sabbath.  Later it became just The Sabbath.  That was modified to Sunday, and now it is just the weekend."  Maybe it is time to get back to honoring an old fashioned Sabbath.

Brother Smith concluded with the English calendar has Sunday as the last day of the week.  He likes to think of it as the first day of the week, the day that sets the tone for the rest of the week.  And, Sunday is the whole day, not just three hours in church.  Thinking ahead of this day and planning how you will find delight in it will make a difference. He referred to Spencer W Kimball saying that the Sabbath calls for constructive thoughts.  It does take effort to find the delight, but if your heart is willing it will come.  And then this one from Harold B Lee:  “It is okay to pull a cow out of the mud on Sunday, providing you didn’t push him in on Saturday night.”

The next week was busy with  our shift at the temple, doctor appointments, housekeeping, shopping, and other such errands.  I could not find my piano glasses on Sunday and began a search to find them.  We moved furniture, checked every drawer in the flat, scoured the Primary and Relief Society rooms at the church, checked the lost and found area, and came up empty handed.  I talked with various members of the ward and no one had seen them.  It was a mystery for the week and even the next Sunday we searched the building again and did not find them.  Where could they be?  I ended up ordering a new pair. 

The week wound up with Natalie going to the temple for her first time.  I was her escort and Sister Irwin her guide.  It was a wonderful time and Natalie relished in all she participated in.  It was a joy to be there with her.  There were several sisters from the ward who joined our group.  Some of us gathered in the canteen afterward for a meal and conversation.  None of us really wanted it to end, but the daily schedule set in and we had to go our separate ways.  Natalie left beaming and filled with joy.

After shift on Saturday, we went out for a meal at Smith & Western.  The servers and staff were dressed in Holloween fashion in honor of the day.  The holiday atmosphere was fun.  When we got home, our neighbors were dressed up with their grandchildren and bringing treats to everyone.  We had lollies for the children and it was fun to see their excitement.

Our spooky Halloween!!