It has been nearly a month since I have updated our blog - I didn't think it had been that long.
Shortly after the last entry we had mission transfers. These occur nearly every six weeks...I've never seen senior couples transferred yet. I'm not sure that happens. We have several new missionaries in our district. Our Zone Leader, Elder McKay, was transferred to the way north of England. He had been working with the Slovakian group for a year.
He and Dad really enjoyed each other so that was hard for Dad to see him go. Our new zone leader is from Logandale, Nevada--Elder Taylor. Elder Pearse, the other zone leader is still here. He is from West Virginia and returns home the end of July. He plans to visit the DC temple upon his return. I've told him to watch for President and Sister Bryan and President and Sister Pratt. Elder Gee is another transfer to our district. He is from Ogden, Utah and works with us in Don Valley. His companion is Elder Juran and works very well with him. We enjoy having those missionaries in our district for dinner once a week. Our zone leaders transferred from Don Valley to Sheffield 3 ward, but we still have our district leaders Elder Balderee from Portland Oregon and Elder Cumming from Scotland.
Our little Slovakian group continues to move forward with baby steps. It was somewhat discouraging to have one or two families who have been baptized (one quite recently and one about two years ago) leave the group (one to return to the Hallejujah Church and the other I'm not sure) It became apparent they joined the Church in order to receive welfare money and when it wasn't as much or as forthcoming as they thought it should be they left. It's sad to think that perhaps was the reason they joined the Church in the first place...but their motives do finally come to the surface.
Some of our youth (teenagers) struggle with peer pressure from friends and family. Our young missionaries do a good job keeping them under their wings. It would help to have more help from the ward/stake (but they have a lot on their plates too) More teaching materials in their language would also be helpful - Some of the teenagers speak English fairly well; others not so much. We find the young children doing the best learning English. We have the For Strength of Youth Pamphlets in English here and one copy of the Personal Progress program and one of the Duty to God program. I am slowly beginning to translate them into Slovakian--thanks to Google Translate!!
Transportation is another issue - Not a whole lot of ward members have cars; those that do struggle with petrol prices in this down economy--Slovakian members have neither cars nor money for public transportation. Anyway, the members do their best to get the members to activities that are at the stake center and other ward buildings. Missionaries are not allowed to drive members in mission-owned cars because of insurance purposes as you can understand. It's hard for us when it would be so easy to pick people up...but we understand why we cannot.
Those are some of our challenges...but all in all things are good and as I said, we move forward in baby steps!! One new family joined the church about a month ago--mom, dad and four children. I teach two of the children in Primary...they do pretty well with English since they are in school. They love to learn and chastize others who are disturbing the class. Their family lives in a hostel for the time being...they are hoping for a place to live in the Darnall (Don Valley) area to be closer to Church. They walk about 30 minutes to get to Church. It is interesting to see the government at work here...finding them homes, basic living supplies, hostel facilities, etc. Of course, immigrants are grateful for all the help they get...
Several teenagers from other families have joined. Their parents have not, as yet, but the missionaries are teaching them. Two of the boys are now passing the Sacrament. It is so good to see them grow step by step. One of the boys is just turning 13 - just a little older than Ben, Ethan and Morgan. He loves all the Church activities and wants to participate in all of them.
Many of the members are related to each other which I believe I have told you. The young missionaries find a big teaching pool just finding out about other members of the group's family--mostly all from a city in Slovakia--Spisska Nova Nes--Trying to figure out their family tree is a complete nightmare :) The ward mission leader would love for them to find some name on their family tree to take to the temple. Many are nearing their one-year membership (some nearly two) and he thinks they are ready to receive their endowments.
We still teach English to several families and plan to add more as their time and ours permit. They have to go to English classes to receive their government benefits. I believe many understand what is being said pretty much, but they are very hesitant to speak. That's what we are trying to get them to do and not be afraid if they make mistakes.
We are taking some children to the local library to get their library cards. They are very excited to go, but get very shy when they are there. They really don't venture far from their homes and their neighborhood. It is a real experience for them.
A few interesting comments some have made: Ivan Pecha, 9 years, old told us his favorite DVD was The Lamb of God. Having been in his living room, I find that a positive when there are many comic-type DVD's in his house to compete with. Ricky Pecha, our 17-year old member, who is very musically oriented told the elders he wants to be like them and go on a mission and not just waste time in his life--so many people in their neighborhoods I'm not sure what they do except watch TV and walk the streets. I think he realizes there is much more to life. He also told the Bishop he won't date until he goes on his mission. I hope his dream is fulfilled.
We attended a full mission conference in York last week. We traveled by hired bus with the missionaries from the southern part of the mission--about 30+. They are so full of energy, but very well mannered. Their mission has made a big difference in their lives!! Elder Jay E Jensen of the Presidency of the Seventy was our visiting authority. It was very good to listen to him for nearly 3 hours - Time went quite fast - He told how the missionaries need to saturate their teaching in the Book of Mormon and he gave other specific advice to do missionary work. He also gave a good health tip for traveling. Elder Russell Nelson told them on long flights to stand up periodically and flex your calve muscles by rocking back and forth from toes to heels. Elder Nelson told them it is in the calve muscles where blood clots form that go directly to the heart chamber--so every so often we had to stand up and rock back and forth--kind of funny to see us all do it while he was teaching--but good advice from a heart specialist for those of you traveling, plane, car, bus, whatever.
Our next excursion is to a senior missionary dinner June 1 at the mission home in Leeds - one couple leaves right after that and a new couple is arriving. I'm not sure where they will be assigned. It's kind of nice not to be on the bottom rung of the ladder any more!! Bradford, England is about 10 miles west of Leeds. That is where our Wilkinson line orginated before some of the member joined the Church. I know some were married in the Bradford Cathedral and also the children were baptized there. I hope we can visit there and find the cemetery where family members were buried. I also have street addresses of where they lived and want to take a picture of the streets (although I know it will be different and their homes will most likely not be there) That's our next adventure!!
We've seen a few interesting things the last few weeks. One was a funeral entourage which if we hadn't been driving I would have loved to have a picture of. A very elegant hearse filled with flowers followed by a horse drawn carriage where you could see the casket inside its glass windows. Quite a sight with many cars following.
Dad saw the other day a neighbor woman out mowing her lawn and a neighbor man hanging out the laundry on their outside clothesline - not sure what to make of that :)
Two words I've heard a lot: Blimey and Brilliant!! We still have to laugh at what they call things and still have a hard time understanding what they are saying - I guess it will always be that way.
I keep this blog as a journal, so I know there is a lot here to even want to read...just pick and choose what you want :)
We have a baptism in a few hours so I need to fix dinner and get ready - until next time...
Forgot to tell you about the weather. The last week has been in the high 60's and 70's - brilliant :)
I took some pictures around the lake by our house today where people are out on boats, picnicking, walking dogs, etc. It's a nice place to get some exercise.
One lady said to enjoy it because it will only last a week or two - I already see the temperatures will be in the 50's next week. A few others say it's too hot for them - really?
One girl told us it's way too humid - she surely hasn't visited Maryland, Kansas or Alabama :)
I forgot to mention our P-day a few weeks ago - We visited a little village called Castleton in the Pennine Mountains - it is about a 15 mile drive west of Sheffield. Once out of the city the landscape becomes very pastoral. I will always love to see the sheep (so many of them) grazing in the fields and the old stone fences that surround the sheep.
Castleton is an old village (they keep everything looking old - but it still can be a little "touristy" - There is an old castle (very small) on the top of the hill in the village - it looks over all the countryside around and was used for guarding the forest from intruders - the castle is pretty much neglected but the walls, windows and stone stairwells are still in place - sometimes royalty would come with their entourage to go hunting in the forest, there are places outside the castle walls where the servants lived but it's hard to imagine how they brought their horses and carriages up as high as they did.
There are resturants, gift shops, walking trails, caves, hotels in the village and about so a nice place to spend several hours. Again the sheep are all around. One little lamb behind the castle was lost from his herd and you could hear the sheep "baaing" very loudly probably to get him to run home :)
It's nice to get out of the city for a change of scenery.
