JUNE 6 - JULY 3

‘GOODBYES’ TO PRESIDENT AND SISTER JOHNSON…

‘HELLOS’ TO PRESIDENT AND SISTER TUNNICLIFFE…

Where did this past month go?  Driving and then driving some more attending a lot of ‘lasts’ with the Johnsons before they return home- Sunday night zoom mission devotional,  zone conferences, in-person mission devotional, mission temple day, senior couple dinner, mission zoom call with Elder and Sister Bednar.

We have had a spirit-filled past few weeks as the England Manchester Mission.  President and Sister Johnson have filled our hearts and souls with priceless, selfless and lasting gifts.  ‘There is power in ordinances and covenants as we bind ourselves to Christ’ has been their constant teaching and testimony. Let me share a few:

Zoom call with Elder and Sister Bednar

Long ago, President Johnson had desired and arranged for the Bednars to spend a beautiful hour with our mission via zoom.  It was filled full of wise counsel, encouragement, and love.

A few highlights include:

-There is a balance between urgency and hastening HIS work.  What is urgency?  It is not to be fast or speedy, it is to do your best today and then a little better the next day.  That is urgency in the work.

-JUST BE GOOD AND GO. Trust in the Lord. The Sacrament covenants promise the spirit to always be with us. We need to recognize when the spirit leaves - not when it comes. JUST BE GOOD AND GO.

Zone Conferences

Typically 2-3 zones are combined every six weeks for zone conference, however the Johnsons desired the final ones with them as single zone conferences so each could feel more personal.  I prepared the lunch for 25 in our zone, which doesn’t seem so daunting, except they all eat (including sisters!) like they have been fasting 40 days and 40 nights.  I chopped and cooked for a few days with love in my heart and hands.  After beautiful instruction, there was time for a question and answer session.  I am always so amazed at the thoughtful, sincere questions these young missionaries are thinking about…most centered around ordinances and covenants and binding themselves and others to Christ.

Preston Temple

We had an unforgettable day in the Preston Temple baptistry. Each missionary was invited to bring five family names for baptism.  President Johnson personally and tirelessly baptized every single elder and sister for their family members - over 600 names, which took several hours. Sister Johnson assisted in witnessing.  Senior couples helped navigate the details and it is difficult to find words to express feelings felt there.  More than a sermon…a beautiful act of love performing this ordinance.

Sunday night devotional 

Last Sunday evening, we all met at the stake center near the Preston Temple. It requires train rides, senior couples picking up young missionaries, buses, walks from stations, sometimes Ubers.  And then the same to return home - and worth every single effort.  It was a devotional full of LOVE - stirring testimonies of the mission presidency, particularly the Johnsons, beautiful music including a rendition of their favorite primary songs - which made it emotionally difficult to sing as we watched tears running down their cheeks as they listened to us and were intently memorizing our faces. The highlight was receiving the sacrament together as a mission from the hands of President Johnson and a few elders. 

Goodbye Johnsons.  We love you and look forward to benefiting from your continued ministry as a General Authority Seventy.

HELLO to President and Sister Tunnicliffe! (Funny with a ‘t’)!

They are both born and raised Brits.  He has been serving as an Area Seventy and our mission has been part of his assignment, so they are very familiar with places, people and are prepared/ready to serve.

And can I just say how captivating it is to hear the gospel preached in a British accent!! 

They took individual photos with every single missionary, chatted and hugged each one…including us. We look forward to serving with them.  

On our way home, we took the two sisters we were driving home on a little ‘detour’!  Off the dual carriageway, down some windy narrow roads, passing huge farm tractors, at the edge of a dairy farm, we arrived at the ‘milk shack’ - a small little shed with 2 vending machines inside…one to buy a chilled glass bottle and the other to buy fresh whole milk with 4 flavors to choose from: Mike/strawberry, me/Oreo, Sister Sacher/chocolate, Sister Howe/purple bubblegum. We went outside and drank it by some cows and a tractor…no calories right?

Home Sweet Home on Anglesey

Does walking around beautiful places count as missionary work?  Yes…yes it does as we continue our friendship 

with Damian and Denise Halligan!  We met them one day at their home and proceeded to walk along the coastline, up and down craggy rocks and cliffs, through cow pastures, and finally arrived back at their home almost 9 miles and 5 hours later (a few blisters).  A few days ago we ventured to the nearby city of Chester with them and walked the entire city atop the Roman Walls.  We love these walks with them…and hope to help Damian ultimately  ‘walk’ to baptism .

City of Chester