15 - 21 December 2015

I woke up Tuesday feeling much better.  Plenty of rest and staying in seemed to help it all pass.  We are on the early shift this week in the temple.  We had a missionary session of 81 on Tuesday and it was great to have so many in the temple at one time.

We did the usual for the week of shopping, doctors, cleaning, laundry, and errands.  We finished up Christmas cards, made phone calls home to family and friends, and took Natalie to dinner.  We had a delicious meal at T.G.I. Friday's, and enjoyed one another's company.  She and Brian continue with their wedding plans and him immigrating to England.  We had extra duty with preparing rotas as Sister Jeeves, the temple secretary who prints them up, will be in America for ten days.  We had to have two weeks ready for her to print by Friday.  It took time as we worked with the coordinator's on the other shift to make sure we were covered.

We were sad to hear of the passing of Clinton Gibbs, Jerry & Kathleen Gibbs' son.  He was 36 and left a wife and two daughters.

The Tyler Brown family was in Salt Lake for snow and Temple Square.  Wonderful children in front of the place to be!  Emily, Jashar, Carson, and Marissa.

We received a fun email from the Parkinson's.  I cracked up when I read it, it is so perfect for this country.  They had gone on a trip and here is what she wrote:

 "I forgot one point about our trip. It was 265 miles one way, and here are the directions from the sat nav: Go 48 miles and stay right.   Go 153 miles and stay right. Go 60 miles, turn right. 4 miles to destination on right.   Not one round about "

We enjoyed Sunday dinner with Doug and Beverly Jensen and then attended the "A Christmas Evening with Savannah Stevenson" fireside at the Visitors' Centre.  She is the star in Wicked in London and was married in the temple here this summer.  We saw her on her wedding day and have seen her and her husband since in the temple.  She began by saying:

"It is a joy to be here with you.  I would suggest you manage your expectations.  If you do that we will be okay tonight.  I am a professional actor and perform in front of 2,000 people each night, but I am by no means a public speaker!  Just manage your expectations."  

The disclaimer didn't seem to matter as she was brilliant to watch and to hear.  Her presentation was centered on her time in filming the Bible videos and the experience of portraying Mary and holding the baby.  She and her husband, Nate also sang a Christmas carol of Oh, Holy Night, and Silent Night.  It was beautiful and invited the spirit.  Her message is that Heavenly Father's timing is perfect and the challenges, heartaches, and disappointments we may go through all refine us to be what He wants us to be.  Jesus Christ holds each one of us and gives us the peace and comfort we need to make it through.  

Facts she shared with us about the making of the Bible Videos:

1.  Kate Dowd was the casting director.  She also was casting director for Pirates of the Carribean, Mulon Rouge, and Born Identity.  As she said:  "The church was serious about these videos."

2.  When they found the land suitable for their purpose which included a ravine running through it, they began trying to find out who owned it.  They discovered the church already owned it!  They had purchased it with plans to farm it at some point.

3.  Fifty thousand actors auditioned for the videos from countries all over the world.  

The birthday of the week was Jeremiah.  He turned 12 and we enjoyed talking with him.  He was ordained a deacon by Jack, and then on Saturday did baptisms in the Las Vegas temple.  He is on the right track.

Monday evening, we joined in with other missionaries in the van for a trip to see Christmas lights in London.  Brother Beer, head of security on the temple site was our driver.  He is a retired London policemen and very well versed in the streets of London and how to get around in the town.  Those in the group were Bob & Brenda Crowther, Doug & Beverly Jensen, Deirdre Clark, and us.  We began with a briefing about safety and if we were to get separated and then left at 4:30 p.m. 

 Crossing the Thames going into the city.

Heading up to Hyde Park Chapel.

Our first stop was Hyde Park Chapel to see the live nativity outside and venture in to see what was happening.  

We were delighted to walk into an evening of Christmas fun.  We dressed up and created our own nativity scene, after which we enjoyed a piece of Christmas cake.  Stations were set up throughout the hall where different activities were taking place by visitors as well as missionaries.

We walked down the street from the chapel to the ice rink and watched the skaters.  You can see the carousel in the background.

 

The famous Harrod's in all its glitter.

We took a drive down Oxford Street, known as the busiest street in Europe and marveled at the lights and shop windows.  The decorations include 445 gold baubles and sliver lights, falling snowflakes, and snowball-like decorations.

 Selfridges' was all aglow.

The Winter Wonderland, similar to a state fair.

 We turned and then headed down Regent Street, all decked out with some of the most breathtaking lights during the Christmas season.

 The buildings themselves are stunning at night with lights.  The architecture is amazing.

  Note the hanging round discs.  Follow the sequence and you will see how they change design.

There are toy soldiers in the window and they rotate around.

 Leicester Square 

 The Douglas Fir donated from Norway at Trafalgar Square.

 Santa going home after a hard day at work.

 The War Memorial in the middle of the street.

 Buckingham Palace

Big Ben

It was a fun night with good people and an amazing tour guide.  We saw so many places we have been and even felt like we knew where we were!  We saw many other sites that we didn't take pictures of or the ones we took were too blurry for recognition.