April 11-May 1
Michael and I are beginning a new pattern of alternating weeks of journal entries that we share. It will probably still have some repetition, but will help our time, and probably all who read!
We are logging some serious miles in our bright red transport!. We have assignments given to us by the Manchester Mission (EMM) every six weeks which includes driving new elders and sisters during the week of transfers, flat inspections, and zone conferences. When we observe our mission in these six week segments, the time seems to be flying by. Transfers already? Another zone conference? More flat inspections?
Weekly we enjoy Sunday night devotionals, mid-week video calls, district meetings, and sometimes a full p-day! There are several more events that always seem to come up, and we love it all. This is the ‘mission’ part of our service.
Paired with the England Manchester Mission is our beloved Gaerwan Ward responsibilities as MLS (member leader support) missionaries. Michael spends many hours serving in the bishopric, I teach Young Adult Sunday School, play the organ/piano as needed, and will now be serving in the Relief Society.
Weekly we teach institute at Bangor University, feed the young adults after church at our flat, attend youth activities, and have been cleaning the church! We are spending a great deal of time driving to find members from our outdated ward list. It is very different here in the UK. There are some stringent rules about privacy and the members have to ‘opt in’ to share their information, and most do not like to share it. We have ‘found a few’ to invite back, two this week that had passed away in the last few years...and it will continue! We have attended a funeral for a member, a baptism for child of record twins, attended stake conference, enjoyed attending the temple with our mission district.
We continue to teach Phillipa, and her friend, Brian, weekly. Last week we (I) invited them to be baptized. I was scared to death, but it felt good and right, even though their answer is ‘not yet’!
We live and serve in a beautiful place. When we post pictures, it may look like we spend a lot of time ‘sightseeing’, but the reality is that our drives to and from our responsibilities look like we live in a postcard!
Highlights:
-Kev and Alicia Cooney both received callings to serve in the youth program! They are so so happy to serve and be a ‘part.
-‘Why I Believe’ - This is a special mission devotional held usually four times a year. It’s purpose is for invited new members to share their testimony and journey to baptism and onward. Last week the ‘tech elders and sisters’ came here and filmed Kev and Alicia. The Cooneys were incredible. This past Sunday night the devotional aired. I am going to send a link if you would like to watch it.
-Sightseeing:
-Celebrated Mike’s birthday, with all the other senior missionaries, at the Lyme Estate/House in Disley, England. This is the place where the movie ‘Pride and Prejudice’ was filmed.
-Beaumaris Castle - while there are multiple castles to visit, this castle is the only one with a moat. We had fun climbing up and down all the tower’s steep stairs on a beautiful day.
Capri baby blessing - We are so grateful for technology as we ‘attended’ sacrament meeting,via zoom, to witness the beautiful priesthood blessing given by Rob to Capri and the priesthood circle full of Capri’s uncles, and grandpa. We are grateful for the many photos shared with us of the Dudley family gathering at the Washington DC temple open house the same weekend. We love our family. We are so happy we are here, and that Hermana Emma is serving a mission in Anaheim, California, but we miss all our Dudley family.
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