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.