Our Good Works Bless Others

July 28, 2013

Today, for the first time, in terms of my church callings, I was blessed to team teach the Primary CTR 7-8 class with Carolee. We had five children attend. Matheo, Ella, Jack, Leah, Emanuel. The parents of the last two may not have been baptized yet. They were beautiful little children. I love to hear their accents as they talk. Sometimes they spill the beans on what recently happened at home.

 I told them the Book of Mormon story of King Lamoni’s conversion and acceptance of the Savior’s teachings and consequently the conversion of some of his subjects (who took on the name The Anti-Nephi-Lehites as they no longer wanted to be called Lamanites). As the story goes, these converts to the teachings of the Savior (and former blood shedding Lamanites) buried their weapons of destruction, swords, spears and bows and made a promise to never take them up again, even at the peril of their lives. They were tested to be “Accountable” to the promises they made as new converts to Christianity, and they passed with flying colors. Carolee handed them each something to be accountable for. Leah was given an egg and boy did it get extra loving care. She understood the consequences of her not being accountable (she didn’t know it was hard boiled).

This teaching experience was a reminder to me of the importance of being accountable to the covenants we make as church members, baptism being the first. Again, this week, we saw many come to the House of the Lord, both young and old, to demonstrate their accountability. I must say, I have been impressed. Saturday we had nine young men and women endowed prior to missionary service or marriage. I really enjoy watching and helping them in this experience. 

It was a challenging week for us because they are thrusting new responsibilities on us, from “fluffing pillows” in special gathering areas to being perfectly organized in important duties, thus allowing temple patrons to have a memorable experience.  Another reason is that MANY of the local full time temple workers will be going home for good at the end of August. Their years of experience will be sorely missed. Hope the new comers are ready to fill their shoes when the temple re-opens in November.

The temple president’s wife, Sister Lowry, has returned to their home in the Manor House after having major surgery due to cancer. Her return is truly a blessing. The Lowry’s are a special couple. Their loving nature and kindness permeates the temple and will be missed when they finish their term in November. They have been a wonderful example of dedication to their calling.

This week a brother traveled from Italy, only to discover upon his arrival that his temple recommend had expired six months prior. The temple presidency was able to work things out so he could enter the temple. The French continue to patronize this temple more than I would have ever imagined. They are counting the days until their temple will be built in the outskirts of Paris.

During a lunch break conversation, a Brother Manuel, a temple sealer, asked us if we knew David Fox, son of Merlin and Joan Fox. We told him we certainly did. Elder Fox baptized Bro Manuel’s wife many years ago. And then he asked if we knew John and Carma Hafen. They served with the Hafen's in Frankfurt, Germany, the Hafen’s being Humanitarian Missionaries. The Hafen’s certainly left a deep impression on Bro and Sister Manuel. John, he also remembered you as a Two Star General. And Carma, they knew you were the quiet spiritual giant standing with your husband.

My friend and classmate, Lee Taylor, continues to keep us up to date on various issues at home. One not so happy event was the passing of Don Eldredge (husband to Kaye Tucker) due to cancer. One happy event was the fifty-year reunion of the SHS class of 1963. This is the class our friends, we refer to as the “dirty dozen”, graduated in. Rick and Rebecca, Rulon and Marylou, Mike and Karma, Dave and Lucille, David and Adriene, Alan and Carol. We are happy they adopted us into the group. My SHS Class of 1964 will be having a fifty-year reunion next summer. Unfortunately we will miss it. Fifty years! Unbelievable!

I am feeling much better physically. However, my knee has been in a holding pattern in terms of improvement. It will happen I’m confident. Other than that, we are both fine and enjoying this wonderful opportunity of serving in the London Temple.

I didn’t realize it would be possible to live without a television and other luxuries. It is almost as if we are in a cocoon. We miss you all very much. We pray for your safety and welfare. We also feel your prayers in our behalf.

Love to you all,

Elder and Sister Strong

Hello again from the UK!   In thinking about what would be good for me to write about and also, good for you all to read, I’ve decided to do a little comparing. I have found that there are a few things I really miss by being over here in the UK, like my grandkids. I hope you all know that there will be a LONG group hug when I get home and it may not stop for quite a while. The second thing (and don’t put this in the same category as grandkids) is PICKLES. Every time we go to the store I buy another jar of pickles, hoping that what I am buying will be good, sour, salty and dilly tasting.  To date, I’ve thrown away every bottle. What I wouldn’t give for a jar of Klausen’s Dills. I would just eat one right after the other, really. They wouldn’t even have to be Klausen’s, just Vlasic or anything else. However, we have a wonderful selection of cheeses and yogurts to choose from. The milk here is also excellent. I managed to find my favorite soda on our last Monday off. Yes, they have Coke Cherry Zero!  Halleluiah! There is a market here called ASDA, which is supposed to be the Walmart of the UK. It’s pretty close. The fruits and veggies are simply wonderful too.

On our day off, we went to see an estate called, Chartwell, which is very near to us. Wow, what a beautiful estate. It is the home that Winston Churchill retired to after he served in public office. We’ve included some pictures. We didn’t get to see all of it. Maybe we can take someone there to see the rest.  There is even a bomb crater from WWII on his property. Black swans and kitchen gardens and lots of his and other famous artists’ paintings. A lot of WWII memorabilia too. Lady Churchill had a gorgeous rose garden that Grandma Jane would have loved to see.

Churchhill Rose

The restaurant and shop at the entrance

Amazing Plants, and empty pool in background due to a leak

Rose Gardens

Mrs. Churchhill's Rose Garden

Wall in Rose Garden

Chartwell Manor, Rear View

Manor Side View

How would you like this to be the entrance to your front steps?
Carolee with the Littlefields

Part of the Back Yard. There is a bomb crater off to the left.
Churchhill build the wall in the background himself.

Granny and a Pine Tree

Chartwell Landscape

School of Hold Fish

Carolee's favorite wall in the Rose Garden

More rose garden

Chartwell Front Entrance

Lilly pads for our little Lillicans

There are all kinds of beautiful and interesting Evergreens here

Can't get over these plants!

Adam and Eve could make an entire wardrobe out of these leaves (haha!)

Beautiful landscape

Our FAVORITE Fish and chips in East Grindstead. We can taste them now! 

Temple work takes up most of our time and has been a truly wonderful experience. I’ve learned so much. The other workers have been a blessing to get to know.  We hear all kinds of accents, Welsh, Yorkshire, Scottish, and Irish to name a few.  Today, I helped people from France and Korea in the temple. Great experience! When I showed the Korean card (words) to one of the other workers, he said it looked like double-Dutch to him. I bet Will would have understood it though. 

Hey, everybody, send us pictures from your phones, we love them. Thanks Julie for your pictures.  

We love you all so much.  

MOM