Third Week

Each day and each week bring new adventures in England. We needed to make a Costco Run and, being on the late shift this week, we determined that Tuesday morning we would make the attempt, on our own, with the assistance of our GPS or SatNav as the British call it (satellite navigator). We did make it and although it was a bit daunting, it was a real relief to at last to walk into the familiarity of a Costco. Several hundred dollars later we exited, packed our little car to the brim with needed supplies and made it home before shift time, proving to ourselves that we can do it!

We worked the late shifts this week and although we did other things in the Temple each day, our specific training for the week was on how to run the baptistery on our own. The first night was a little challenging as we had numerous drop-ins and each time we thought we were finished and had cleaned up all the towels, bath mats and necessary equipment, another group appeared. We cleaned the baptistery up three times that night and it almost became comical. We have really enjoyed the Sharlands who are our trainers. They come from New Zealand and will be going home next month. They are patient and fun. They are “white badge” missionaries because they are English citizens. Our baptistery capabilities improved as the week went on and by Saturday, when we were dealing with large wards and yes, more drop-ins, we were feeling more comfortable.

After our Thursday preparation meeting, President Irwin asked the “black badge” missionaries to remain behind and he announced first, that our badges had finally arrived from Salt Lake and secondly, that Salt Lake has decided that extensive travel outside the UK during Temple closures will no longer be approved for senior missionaries. They feel we need to stay closer to our mission Temple and areas and that exotic trips could take place at the ends of our missions. We are approved to travel anywhere in the UK, even beyond our Temple district. Then he asked that the Walkers remain and our coordinators. He told us that President Nelson had sent a lettering saying that Tom could serve as a Sealer in the London Temple and that he would not require being set apart as a sealer again but could immediately start to function. We were surprised, thrilled and very touched. Tom had hoped he could serve as a sealer but was uncertain if they would want or need him and he had not said anything to President Irwin. This will influence the way they use both of us in the Temple as Sealers and their wives do not normally serve as trainers and coordinators in this Temple. It would difficult, if not impossible to do so.

By Saturday evening we are all exhausted from a busy Temple week and what do Temple missionaries do? Temple missionaries watch a movie and eat popcorn and treats. It was fun and we all enjoyed watching “The Other Side of Heaven II”.

Back to Tunbridge Wells ward on Sunday with the Muellers in the car guiding us. Our ward is small -   about 60 regulars in attendance but they are a very capable  and friendly group. Tom helped Brother Mueller teach a young man the first Temple Prep lesson and Tom said he felt this young man was very prepared for the Temple and mission and that he could probably be fast tracked thru the rest of the Temple lessons.

We signed up for the Temple Van trip to Windsor Castle and so Monday morning we met with about 18 other missionaries and piled into the two Temple Vans and set out for the Castle. Chris Fitzner, from Edmonton was our driver. He is a former fireman and handles the van and these busy roads well. We had a lovely day exploring Windsor, which is one of the Queen’s residences. She considers Windsor home and spends most weekends there. Many state and private functions are regularly held there and we were able to walk thru some of the rooms which host such events. Harry and Meghan had their wedding in St. George’s Chapel  at Windsor and then had their reception in the castle. The Queen’s parents and sister are buried in the chapel, as are Henry the VIII and his wife Jane Seymour plus many others. The art collections, the china collections and the architecture of the castle and the chapel are remarkable and almost overwhelming in their grandeur. Much of the Castle was destroyed in a fire in 1992 and it has been lovingly and painstakingly restored.  We were unable to take interior pictures but got a few outside ones. We had a delicious late lunch at an Italian restaurant, a quick look around the cute town outside the Castle grounds and then back to our beautiful Castle - The Temple.

Windsor Palace

Windsor Palace

We are are weary but ready to start another Temple week.

Second Week - January 13th to the 20th 2020

This was our second week serving in the London Temple and we worked the morning shift everyday. We have continued our training but for the most part basic training is over and we are on our own. They will now start training us to coordinate different areas of  the Temple. We will do baptistery all next week.

We spent Monday getting more driving experience by going to register at the “surgery” or doctor’s office in Lingfield and then for groceries in East Grinstead. We had a fun Family Home Evening with members of our shift in the common room across the hall from us.

We left the Temple early on Tuesday, literally in hurricane like conditions, to take our car for a required inspection called an MOT. We made it there to find that they had cancelled our appointment because we had not prepaid online. Out into the darkness and storm again and a very kindly gentleman in a very run down MOT garage agreed to fit us in. He returned with the sad news that our left front tire did not pass inspection and needed to be replaced. Out into the storm once again to locate a tire shop before closing. Found one shop that would do it and once done, we then raced back to our little fellow to pass our MOT inspection and  be given our certificate. Exhausted and just happy to get home safely that night. The Temple grounds had branches down and part of one big tree down the next day as a result of the storm.

After our adventure on Tuesday evening we were given a lovely dinner, hosted by the Brother and Sister Day, who live across the hall from us and are white badge missionaries. They also invited Brother and Sister MacFarlane and Sister Beck. They served us a feast produced in one of our tiny kitchens - a miracle beyond our current abilities. The white badge missionaries are remarkable and work extremely hard. The Days return home on the weekends to care for her aging mother and serve in their callings as Stake Relief Society president and Stake Executive secretary. We are continually impressed by the dedication of these English members and impressed with their devotion to the gospel.

On Sunday, we ventured to drive to our assigned ward, Tumbridge Wells, with the Muellers in the car directing us. It is about a 45 minute drive and we even drove on the Motorway or Freeway, as we would say. The ward and the chapel are both very small but again we were impressed with the members and their devotion to the gospel. We stayed, afterward,  for the baptism of Elise Hogg, a little girl in the ward. The baptismal service was very nice and they served everyone a lovely lunch afterward.

Sunday evening we had a “Hi/Bye” meeting with all the missionaries where new missionaries tell about themselves and missionaries that are returning home say goodbye. It was a very special meeting and you could feel the spirit and power of both these fifty some odd missionaries and the Temple presidency.

Sellars, Sandy Beck, Kerry Farr, Karen Larson, Us, Carol and Clive Sharland

Today we took the train into London with the Davenports, our coordinators, and had a lovely day exploring that wonderful city. The architecture and the history so beautifully cared for are remarkable. We visited Hyde Park Chapel, Hyde Park, Kensington Palace, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. What a wonderful day spent with wonderful guides.

London Telephone Booth

Gates of Kensington Palace

Each day provides us with something new to learn, experience and see. We feel very blessed.

First Full Week

The Manor House

The London England Temple is in Newchapel Surrey. The property was originally owned by the “Pear” soap family and the family home, called the “Manor House”, still  remains and houses the Temple President and his wife and the single sister missionaries, each with their own apartments. The Pear family’s “Gate House” also contains suites for missionaries. The church added housing for patrons visiting the Temple called the “Accommodation Center” and our complex called “The Lodge”, for missionary couples. Couples serving missions have a one bedroom apartment complete with living/dining room, kitchen, small laundry room, with a freezer in it, a bathroom, bedroom and very large storage room. It is quite comfortable and our windows face west looking out onto a forest. The Temple is about a 30 second walk across the parking lot.

There are about fifty Temple missionaries serving, including singles and couples. We have one single brother serving and the rest are single women. There are two categories of missionaries - white badge missionaries and black badge missionaries. The white badge missionaries come from England and have volunteered to serve a mission in the Temple. The black badge missionaries are called thru the Church’s Missionary Department and are from countries other than England. We have missionaries from the USA, New Zealand, Australia and two couples, counting us, from Canada. There are three former Temple Presidents and their wives serving right now. One couple served in a South American Temple, one in Australia and then us in Vancouver. The Temple missionaries are really the core base for manning the Temple. A few local people come weekly but most come periodically, every few weeks and stay in the Accommodation Center while they serve. There are two shifts serving each day, the morning shift and afternoon shift. We alternate each week. We are on the “B” shift. It is a well organized machine. They train you as you arrive and you are expected to welcome train and assist those coming after you.

We worked a full five days this week and worked about seven hours a day. We were being trained this week with the London Temple’s procedures. Ordinances are the same in every Temple,  just the procedures differ. This is a big Temple, with a complex layout and we are moving thru it with ease now. The missionaries seem to do all the coordinating of shifts and training, so you are expected to learn quickly as those leading shifts at this time will be going home soon and others need to take over. Here in our Lodge and always in the Temple there is a lovely spirit of kindness and love. Everyone is doing their best to see that you are well taken care of.

We have now started driving our little purple car and are still getting the hang of narrow lanes and fast speeds all while driving on the wrong side. Yikes! We have been out twice. Hopefully we will feel confident enough to offer others rides soon. We have taken the Temple van the last two Sundays and attended two different wards but now we can drive, President Irwin has assigned us to a third ward which we have yet attended. We have been impressed with the wards and the members.

We have seen two people we know in the Temple this week - Giga Swan, Mike’s daughter and Ray, from Bellingham, who worked in our Temple office. She lives in Ireland now with her husband. Giga lives in South Africa. It was fun to see them. We hope to see many more familiar faces.

We are enjoying our walks around the beautiful Temple grounds, serving in the Temple and are feeling privileged to serve along side such loving, generous people. Just like it always is in the Temple.

The London England Temple

We Are On Our Way

Jean, Charmaine and Cheyenne 

The Hardy Family

We are officially on our way to the London England Temple mission after months of preparations.
It has been difficult to say good-bye to our family and dear friends. Their love and support means so much to us.

We left early Thursday morning and after hours of travel we arrived at the Gatwick airport literally into the arms of the Temple Matron Sister Irwin. We were ushered into a van and off to the Temple only a few miles away where we were signed in and helped into our "flat" by other Temple workers. We are in The Lodge unit #16. Everyone is here just to love, serve and help one another. We have many Temple missionaries from all over the world serving. Some single sisters, many couples and the Temple Presidency all live on the Temple site. The Fitzners are the only other Canadians and they are from Edmonton. She is a Gibb, so related to Tom.

Four other new missionaries arrived on the same day that we did - the Sellars, Sister Beck and Sister Farr and we were all taken into town by the Davenports to get groceries later that afternoon. The Davenports were so patient showing us the ropes and how to navigate a British grocery store - Sainsburys. We were exhausted by then but we did go for a walk around the beautiful grounds and found the little purple ford fiesta we are purchasing from the Muellers in the parking lot. Our grandson Zach suggested we call it "Barney" and we have.

The new missionaries all met in the Temple the next day for a tour of the Temple given by a beautiful African couple, the Anatsuis, who are in the Temple presidency. We all went on a session and were later taken back into town to go to "Poundland" - the Dollar store equivalent, to pick up things we needed. The Davenports suggested we visit the "best" fish and chips place so we did and it was.

We were taken by van, on Sunday, to a local ward with numerous other missionaries. Wonderful ward and we were very impressed. We will go to another ward when we have Barney insured and going. They try to spread the missionaries out so we don't overwhelm the wards.

We had a "break the fast" meal, a potluck, with the other missionaries, to which I took my mother's yummy oatmeal cookies. I fought with this English oven to bake them and felt they were overdone but people seemed to love them and want the recipe.

We  have been treated so kindly, everyone going out of their way to assist and accommodate us. The Temple is a place and those that serve there are a people - filled with love. How blessed we are to be privileged to serve in such a place, with such people.