With Elder and Sister Boden in Scotland

It looks like we're just partying, but we actually had a Career Workshop taught to us by Elder and Sister Boden on Sunday while we were up in Scotland! Whew! We're exhausted...haha

Anstruther Fish Bar near St. Andrews

Sister Jolley and Elder Richard Boden inside the Fish Bar

Elder Richard and Sister Carolyn Boden

Small Village of Pitlochry - Shopping for Heather Gems

This small shop and factory are where heather gems are made. The heather stems are collected, dried, dyed and formed into slabs of multicolored material that is used to form various shapes and sizes of gems used to create lovely jewelry.

The Old Course at St. Andrews, where golf was born.

Cold and windy day at St. Andrews on the ocean.

Notice the beach in the background: Chariots of Fire running on the beach scene was filmed here.

Golfers with Old Clubhouse in background.

Last Day in Scotland. We flew back to England on Flybe. Photos below were taken from the plane.

Lunch at Angels With Bagpipes
Yummy!

Home Teaching & Missionaries in Sheldon Ward

We enjoy visiting with the Maloneys since they have children at home. Their oldest son, Chris just graduated from two year college and started his first job. Chris is not active in church. The Bishop is hoping we can make a connection with him, but Sheldon ward is a difficult one as there are very few young men his age. Jake comes to church. He and the Bishop's son are about the same age. They're usually the ones who bless the sacrament. There's one deacon who passes the sacrament each week along with a couple of the elders or some of the mature members of the priesthood. Last Sunday, August 24th, when many members were on holiday, Elder Jones helped pass the sacrament.

Steve does IT work for one of the automobile companies. He has been in the same company for 25 years while it changed owners several times. He's one of the fortunate Brummies who has stable employment. His wife Nikki knows sign language and works with deaf students in the local schools.

The Maloney Family: Jake, 16; Steve, Christopher, 18; Nikki and Nicholas, 11

Below: Marguerite and Patrick Carroll with their 'ward' Timmy. Timmy was orphaned so Marguerite and Patrick took him in since they had known his family.  Patrick is paid by the government to be Timmy's caretaker. Timmy is in his 50s but he's in Primary. Before sacrament meeting each Sunday, Tim goes up to the microphone and breathes heavily 3 times. (He thinks he's saying the opening prayer.) After church, he helps the pianist play the postlude music by plunking on a few piano keys. This ritual makes him feel that he is contributing to the meetings.

Patrick and Marguerite are sweet people. Whatever Patrick says, he always looks to her and asks, "Idn't that rawght, Mawguerite?" She always agrees that it's 'rawght'.

Marguerite and Patrick Carroll with Timmy

Ian Hadley is the 1st counselor in the Bishopric. Debbie arranges the missionary dinners. They have been married 10 years. Ian was a confirmed bachelor until Debbie came along. She had a previous marriage and has 4 children - 2 boys and 2 girls. The girls have remained active in the church, but the boys have not. The Hadleys said they can't leave on holiday like most of the country does in August, because they have 6 cats. They very kindly keep them outside when we come H.T. :-)

Ian and Debbie Hadley

Tell those H.T. to get out of MY house!

L-R: Elder Velasco from the Phillipines, Elder Ruka, Elder Martin, Elder Leal (Idaho)

Elder Velasco & Elder Martin

Last month, all the missionaries were asked to sing Called to Serve in one of the sacrament meetings. The plan was for one of the young elders, Elder Leal, to sing a solo on the first verse. But Sister Jolley hadn't practiced with them so she forgot the plan. She thought she was the only one who sang a duet with him, but later Elder Jones, who was standing on the opposite side of Elder Leal, admitted that he forgot the plan too, and he was belting out the first verse along with Elder Leal while elbowing Elder Martin to remind him to sing. We're not sure if Elder Martin gave in or resisted the prod. Sister Jones was playing the piano and she was sure there was a solo in there somewhere so she continued to play after we had all finished singing. She ended abruptly when she noticed the silence from the choir. We all became hysterical later when the whole story was told.

We promised Elder Leal he could sing a REAL solo next time. He's sure we're all senile, so he won't hold his breath!

Happy last day of August 2014!

Genealogy and History in Scotland

Elder Richard and Sister Carolyn Boden with Sister Jolley in the cemetery at Dunfermline Abbey

When we came to Scotland in September of 2013, we didn't realize we would be back less than a year later! We had seen where Robert the Bruce' heart was buried at Melrose Abbey, but had too little time to go on to Dunfermline to see the burial place for the 'rest of him'. Robert the Bruce, one of the most famous kings in Scottish lore, is a distant relative on Sister Jolley's side of the family. We're so proud they laid our cousin out in style!

King Robert's ornate resting place

The Pulpit with Robert the Bruce below

Robert I, commonly known as Robert the Bruce was King of Scots from 1306 until his death in 1329. Robert was one of the most famous warriors of his generation, eventually leading Scotland during the Wars of Scottish Independence against England. He fought successfully during his reign to regain Scotland's place as an independent nation, and is kindly remembered in Scotland as a national hero.

(Now some in Scotland are battling again for independence, but so far the "nays" are ahead.)

If you look up Robert the Bruce online at Wikipedia, you can see a Victorian depiction of Bruce...he appears to be one mean, cross-eyed and ugly hombre! If you see any family resemblance, don't tell us! Read on in Wikipedia to find out how and why Robert and his heart parted ways!






                                                             

The Jones' Home Sweet Home

If you sign up for 3 years you get a nice home near the mission office...this is where the mission president and his wife live, President and Sister Rasmussen from Idaho.  Picture below

Mission President Craig and Sister Julie Rasmussen's home in Sutton Coldfield.

But the Jones, who live in Solihull were called to serve for 18 months and they have a very nice pad. That's due in large part to a previous couple who decided to furnish the flat to a very high standard.

Seriously, we're very happy for the Rasmussens (3 years?!!!) After serving here just a few months, we know that mission presidents deserve the best! And the Jones, who are the PR people for all of the UK, busy people! are so generous and have invited us peons over for Sunday dinner many times. They share their BBC movie series with us - for instance, Pride and Prejudice, which we are watching in segments since it has 6 parts. When we complete them, we'll visit Hawthorne House in Derbyshire. Much of P&P was filmed there.

No matter how "posh" your flat may be, there are some surprises over here. Elder and Sister Jones have the "toilet that keeps on giving". Their bathrooms back up on each other and sometimes the one toilet literally backs up into the other! (Oh hello there! You're back - tootsie roll!)
The first 5 photos below were taken at the Jones' flat in Solihull.

Tut Tut, it looks like rain!

Come and find me...I'm hiding in the bushes!

Beautiful flowers grow in Solihull

Sister Joyce Jones "This is our amazing shrubbery!"

Such an honor to stand next to the shrubbery!

We celebrated Elder Jones big 65h on the 4th of July at Miller&Carter

Stop it! I don't feel a day over 60!

Downham

When we went up to Preston/Chorley in July, we visited a quaint little town called Downham. We traveled over this 'cowpath' to get there. It kept getting smaller and smaller. Fortunately we only met one vehicle, a big truck, at a wide place in the road where we could squeak past each other.

"Country Road, take me home"...very reminiscent of Tennessee backroads and foliage!

The Road to Downham

When the apostles first came to England, they had great success in finding converts in the small towns of Downham and Chatburn. Heber C. Kimball had some amazing success as well as a tussle with the devil while in that area. Go to lds.org and search for 'church history in Downham'. The second article about the Apostasy Years - scroll down to the England Mission. Fascinating reading!

The Pub food was delicious!

Note the Coat of Arms over the door

This village is perfect for filming medieval scenes since there are no lines on the roads.

Our table had a nice view of the town...

We have enjoyed many sunny days in England!

Sister Jolley visiting with the couple who sat next to us in the pub.

Before or After lunch? Definitely AFTER! We were skinny before...

Church surrounded by rock wall - if you look closely you can see the ancient tombstones on the left side.


Unfortunately our camera battery went dead so we missed out on lots of great scenery in Downham. We may have to go back next time we're in Preston! We need photos inside the cemetery! There's also a bench next to the stream with a plaque in memory of the missionaries who served and the people who joined the church in that area. 

Lingo on the 'Island'

Y'all right? I'm fine...and you? (Customary greeting)
Lovely! Brilliant!
Play piggie in the middle. (Get in the middle of a controversy)
Bin or dust bin = trash or garbage can
Biscuits = crackers or cookies
Bloody = swear word
Bonnet = hood of a car
boot = car trunk
braces = suspenders
brolly = umbrella
car park = parking lot
cardigan = knit jacket
cash machine = ATM
central reservation = median strip on divided highway
cheeky = impudent (smart aleck)
cheerio = goodbye
chemist = drugstore
cinema = movie
cocktail sticks = toothpicks
confectioner = candy or pastry shop
cordial or squash = concentrated drink to dilute in water
cotton = thread
council houses/estates = government subsidized housing
crisps = potato chips
football = soccer
fortnight = 2 weeks
golden syrup = corn syrup
have a go at it = try it
jelly = jell-o
indicator = turn signal
loo or toilet = restroom
lorry = truck
mince = ground beef
nappies = diapers
queue = a waiting line
rasher = strip of bacon
row(rhymes with cow) = fight or argument
tea = evening meal (ok with word of wisdom :-)
windscreen = windshield
telly = television
wonky = crooked

Many words are spelled differently in America and Britain:

A few examples:
Baptize = Baptise
Center = Centre
Check = cheque
clamor = clamour
favor = favour
defense = defence
councilor = councillor
tire - tyre (for vehicle)
Savior = Saviour

Your weight is told in stones rather than pounds. Elder Jolley weighs 15 stone. Sister Jolley weighs 11 stone.  (That sounds much lighter than pounds!) We didn't figure it out so don't think you'll know our weight if you do (NawnaNawna!)...besides, we're adding a stone per month.

Normal body temperature is 98.4 in Fahrenheit and 37 in Celsius.
1/2 cup butter = 113 grams  (If you know that a cup of butter weighs 8 ounces, you can do the math.  1 ounce = 28.34 grams, so one cup weighs 227 grams.) See how easy that is? NOT!

Favorite foods:
Biscuits and Tea or scones and tea
Fish and Chips
Roast beef with Yorkshire pudding
Bangers and Mash = sausage and mashed potatoes

If you're making oatmeal cookies, you will need eggs, (they only come in brown here) 1 cup flour (136 grams), 1 cup sugar (201 grams), 1 cup packed brown sugar (220 grams) and 1 cup butter (227 grams), 2 cups oats (170 grams). Good brain exercise except your brain will feel like play dough that someone is squeezing! :-)

We're still a long way from understanding all the language so we'll glean more bits and bobs along the way...!

Coventry Council July 24, 2014

Our second trip to Coventry we met with their Stake Council. The first time we were in Coventry we met with Brother John Taroni, stake employment specialist and Mike Reynolds, the high councilor over employment. Sister Natalie Green, also a stake employment specialist arrived later.

On left, John Taroni, faithful stake employment specialist from Coventry Stake & right, Michael Reynolds, High Councilor over employment. They are very enthusiastic about the "new day" of Self-Reliance. Brother Taroni is an eligible bachelor with 3 grown children. Brother Reynolds has 8 children and 23 grandchildren. He worked for the church until the HQ moved to Solihull.

Stake President Keith Penfold

1st Councilor Jonathan Maxwell

2nd Councilor Ian Potter

President Penfold and Potter are both from Nuneaton Ward. President Maxwell from Rugby Ward.


                                            Brett Withington, seated, stake YM President

                                                    Sarah Furbank Stake YW President

                                           Toni Pywell Stake Relief Society President

                          Nice guy who worried about breaking the camera! It still works. :-)

Others who came into the meeting late: Larry Gearil H.C. Warwick; Robert Casper stake clerk; Carl Gray H.C. Nuneaton; Des Waddington H.C. Rugby & Lynne Waddington Stake Primary President, David Mills H.C. and Steve Turner H. C. Coventry.

Great people! We look forward to seeing them again in the fall!

Happy Pioneer Day!