FEBRUARY 2023

Six Walks in February….don't miss #6

One of the first things we noticed when we arrived in the UK, particularly in Wales, is that people are really passionate about walking. They follow ‘footpaths’ or just leave the main road and begin walking through a pasture, up a mountain or along a sea coast.  It is not uncommon for their walks to take several hours.  Some stroll, some wander, others hike, but they travel on foot to experience fresh air and beauty AND they do this year-round, rain or shine (including freezing winter temperatures and a little less freezing summer temperatures)  So we ‘layered up’  and joined the throngs of walkers.

WALK #1 - February didn't disappoint with beautiful walks along the seashores, rivers, little villages all boasting the promise of spring with flowering snowdrops, daffodils, and pastures of newborn baby lambs.  I treasure frequent morning walks with just myself, quiet lanes, and conversations with Heavenly Father unmatched. 

Studying the New Testament this year in ‘Come Follow Me’, I feel a deeper understanding and connection with Christ’s parables among pastures of sheep, high mountains, seas and storms, villages of people trying to find joy and purpose in their  ‘walks’ of life. Perhaps my own ‘walks’ have become more meaningful in serving Him these past several months.

My walking lane 

 WALK #2 - I ‘walk’ further and am more adventurous with Michael at my side! We talk and walk as we soak in the beauty of our Creator. 

Outside our back bedroom window

WALK #3 We loved a visit from Hannah Dudley who is currently in London with the BYU semester abroad program.  We took her on several ‘walks’, many of which turned into hikes and climbs, and we even found our own PARC DUDLEY!

WALK #4

A simple walk (run) with the primary children to and from the bishop’s office, creating love notes to ‘heart attack’ their bishop on Valentines Day.

WALK #5

President and Sister Tunnicliffe invited Michael and me to ‘walk’ with them in teaching at all three zone conferences.  We prepared, and then prepared, and then prepared some more for our assigned topics on that ‘walk’.  It was a privilege to teach and share our testimonies.

WALK #6  (saving the best for last)

…walking Damien to baptism and on the covenant path for future ordinances in the temple with Denise.

On Saturday, February 11, Damien Halligan was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  There have been so many others ‘walking’ with Damien over many years including several missionaries, young and old, friends, bishops, ward members.   First and foremost has been his wonderful wife, Denise.  She joined the Church and has been faithful regardless of decisions made by her family to step away.  After a few years of being a single mom, she met Damien and they were married.  They are a wonderful couple.  Damien has been attending church with her for the past 17 years.  She has taught him the gospel through her constant and steady example. Her commitment to gospel living has to be the most powerful sermon she could have ever ‘preached’- through some words, but always through her everyday actions.  

We met the Halligans the first Sunday we attended church in Gaerwen Ward.  That day a new bishop was sustained, Bishop Brian Quilter, and Mike was called to be the first counselor.  Bishop Quilter invited any and all who desired to partake of the sacrament, to do so.  For the first time in those 17 years, Damien began to partake of the sacrament and Denise could sense a softening of his spirit as a result.

We began a comfortable genuine friendship with walks, hikes, dinners, etc. We hoped that Damien would desire to be taught the gospel…again.  We invited, he accepted and we began weekly Monday night discussions of the gospel.  Our first invitation for baptism received a stony face and countenance.  But he let us keep coming, and slowly some of his concerns and barriers were addressed and he began accepting the whispering of the spirit.  In these past eight months, our Monday nights in their home have become sacred moments together.  Denise was almost too scared to hope for a miracle, and as missionaries, we watched that miracle unfold in the Lord’s time and through the power of the Holy Ghost.  Michael baptized Damien.  He has had a perpetual smile on his face ever since.  Denise was one of the witnesses. Special friends and bishops from a previous ward traveled to participate.  One of Denise’s daughters came, and wept throughout the service. This past Sunday, Damien helped pass the sacrament for the first time.  Kev Cooney was the other priesthood holder who also helped pass.  That is a vision imprinted on my mind forever.  These are two men whom we love, have had the privilege to teach, and who are firmly on the path to exaltation.  Surely this is what FULLNESS OF JOY feels like.

We will continue our Monday night discussions with the Halligans…only with a bit of a twist.  Damien now leads the discussions, and teaches us as we study the Book of Mormon together. We look forward to returning next year to be in the temple with them when they are sealed together forever.