Letters From London: July 2014

There has been a quote that keeps coming to my mind lately. I recorded it in one of my “quote” books, which I keep close by. It goes like this:

“Of the gospel, she said, ‘It has been my very breath, my mantle of protection against temptation, my consolation in sorrow, my joy and glory throughout all my days, and my hope of eternal life.’”

Ruth May Fox, who wrote the hymn “Carry On”

I hope that all who may read this will find out just how true it is, and may it be sooner than later.

This last Monday took us on a delightful trip to a place that is one of my very favorites in all the world. The Cotswolds. We almost didn’t go, but decided to make it into a one day trip. I know that it was a difficult thing for Niel, driving around the countryside, shifting gears, squeezing by cars, trucks and huge tractors on skinny, almost two lane roads, but am I glad we did it. The weather totally cooperated. We even put the top down on the car for a while until the sun got the better of us and we needed a little A/C.

Oh, the comforts of the 20^th and 21^st centuries. Looking through the pictures, I don’t think we took enough. Really, I could never get enough of the Cotswolds. Let me give you a little background.

“The Cotswold Hills, a 25-by-90 mile chunk of Gloucestershire, are dotted with enchanting villages. As with many fairy-tale regions of Europe, the present-day beauty of the Cotswolds’ was the result of an economic disaster. Wool was a huge industry in medieval England, and Cotswold sheep grew the best wool. Wool money built fine towns and houses. Local “wool” churches are called “cathedrals” for their scale and wealth. With the rise of cotton and the Industrial Revolution, the woolen industry collapsed. Ba-a-ad news.

The sheep are long gone

The wealthy Cotswold towns fell into a depressed time warp. Cotswold could come from the Saxon phrase meaning “hills of sheep’s cotes (shelter for sheep). Or it could mean shelter (cot-like cottage) on the open upland (wold).”

So, this wonderful area was pretty much abandoned and left alone for a couple of hundred years and, because no one came in and leveled everything and developed the land, it has stayed in almost pristine condition. Thankfully.

We travelled through many of the towns, but not all of them. Sadly, we found out that one of the hamlets, called Stanway, has a fine Jacobean house, and with mason work done by a fellow whose name was Timothy Strong. He also worked with Sir Christopher Wren on St. Paul’s Cathedral. Sorry we missed it. Names of the towns are indeed intriguing: Stow-on-the-Wold, Moreton-in-Marsh, Chipping Campden (our favorite), Snowshill, Bourton-on-the-Water, and Bibury (pronounced: ByBree). You ought to see my spell check, it is going crazy.

Bibury

Bibury Bridge

Bibury Fishery

Bibury Weavers Cottages

Chipping Campden

Cotswold Hills in Chipping Campden

Thatched roof in Chipping Campden

Quaint Hamlet

Grandpa in Stow on the wold

Interesting doors!

Beautiful laces in Stow on the wold

Mom looking for laces in Stow on the wold. If it's there, she'll find it!

Sister missionaries among the hydrangeas and hollyhocks

Mom at Stow on the Wold

Coming back to the temple was an adventure too because for some reason our “sat nav” or TomTom decided to take us on every back road in the south of England. And all along we were paralleling the big motor ways. (M4, M25 etc.) We were rewarded with beautiful scenery on our journey home.

Fields of lavender in the country side

Beautiful countryside

This week at the temple, we are training a wonderful couple to be coordinators in a part of the temple where they were very desirous to serve. We were surprised they asked for the assignment. They are very quiet people, she is almost shy, but she said she was willing to do this and it would make their temple mission complete. They are originally from India, Punjab. She has over-come a lot of trials to come on this mission and has worked extremely hard to learn everything. She had to quit school at 14 to be wed in an arranged marriage, so, her schooling wasn’t great. Overcoming simple things in their culture like women always looking down while they speak with others, or a women never turning her back on a man are some of the cultural changes they have dealt with, especially Purkosho. Somewhere along the way, they were introduced to the gospel which rang a bell with Yaqub because he was familiar with a similar Christian culture in India. (I think we have mentioned them in our blog previously, with a picture.) Their names are Yaqub and Purkasho Masih (pronounced Jacob & Purkasho Massey). We were a bit apprehensive at first, but it looks like they are going to do a fine job. Happy day!

We have lost another couple who have finished their mission. Mack and Janet Christensen will be sorely missed.

However, another couple has been assigned to our shift. The Vowels. They are from Crawley (which is close-by) and will be serving for 2 years. He has been a sealer and she, an occasional worker, and they served as shift coordinators in the past so they come with a lot of experience.

The weather had been brutal. The temp isn’t too bad, but the humidity is killing us. The new “climate control” system in the temple has gone bust and we are feeling the effects of it. I wish I had brought only cotton clothing because it helps with the humidity. Also, every time I think about wearing my corduroy pants or denim jeans, I start to sweat, I mean perspire. We are looking forward to August and less humidity.

To end with, there are many things that have kept us going on this mission. The example we want to set for our children, the blessings which have come to our family because we are here, perseverance, love, and gratitude, even Do Terra oils, but the most important thing has to do with the quote above.

I testify that it is true.

Love to all,

Grumpa aka. Niel and Gran aka. Carolee

It has been very interesting to, once again, experience the 4^th of July in the country from whom we (Americans) fought and won our independence. It is a slightly touchy subject, in that, the War of Independence is never mentioned. However, the Brits are very aware that the 4^th of July is a special and important day for us. We both worked hard in the temple on that day and pretended that nothing was happening at home. Except, President Johnson (our temple president) did bring a large box of Salt Water Taffy, made in Salt Lake City to the canteen (cafeteria) for us Americans to enjoy. Thank you Pres. Johnson!

But, we did experience the fourth through facebook. We enjoyed watching the small videos and looking at all the pictures of many celebrations, picnics, swimming pools, fireworks and family gatherings. Facebook has been a lifesaver to us missionaries who are living far from home. The Lord knew He would need great armies of young and old to carry forward His work, so He had someone invent the computer, along with e-mails, and facebook, twitter, and blogs, etc.

I have found that I have to get up early in the morning to use this laptop to write my blog. Niel can be found sitting at his computer from the time we finish our temple shift to whenever he decides to go to bed, which is usually quite late.

For him, it’s almost like being home and at his office, doing what he knows best. I guess it’s a “comfort” thing for him. Therefore, I find it hard to get our blog done in a timely manner, sorry.

We did take a quick trip to a small town called, Westerham (pronounced: Westrhm). We went there to see a statue that was given to England for their aid in WWII by the country of Yugoslavia. I thought it was a very well done piece of sculpture.

We also visited the local church (Church of England), which was very old. The graveyard was the best we’ve seen.

The weather has indeed turned to summer here, which means it is warm and humid. I actually had sweat dripping off the end of my nose, as we were the coordinators in the Baptistry last week. They have no A/C in that area of the temple and for some reason the room which holds the large font is stifling and extremely humid. Sadly, humidity and I don’t mix. I remember my boys describing their humid days on their missions and how soaking wet they were most of the time. I can relate to that too. I must say that we had more than usual attendance at the Baptistry, so we kept busy and I had Niel carry around a face towel to dry off with. I had one stashed away too. It helped.

This “prep” day, we ventured back to Chartwell for one last visit. That is one place I will forever miss. It was owned by the Winston Churchill family, and is now part of the English National Trust. The gardens and surrounding fields etc. are a delight to visit. Today we wanted to see the kitchen gardens and just walk around the estate. We visited a WWII bomb crater too. The pictures we took just don’t do it justice. Glad we decided to go there and experience good old Winston’s lodgings and gardens one last time.

Sister missionaries on P-Day

Black swan

Bomb crater (missed by a mile!)

Art Studio at Chartwell

2 Beauties at Chartwell Gardens

Mrs. Churchill's flower and vegetable garden

An old field maple at the end of it's life

Standing alone in beauty

What the fox missed

Lone fisherman at Chartwell

There is Beauty All Around!

We were told to also visit the local museum and found it to be full of all kinds of things. Someone had done a good job of collecting it all. Loved it.

Mom and the Littlefield's visit the Horsham Town Museum

We are trying to put together a trip to the “Cotswolds” soon. So plan on lots of beautiful pictures. It is a pristine part of the country (right in the middle) that has been kept as it was in the 1700 and 1800’s. Something to look forward to.

Hope July is going to be a great, if not sweltering hot, month. Everyone, take care and stay as cool and possible.