Dec/Jan Blog Post

Dec/Jan Blog:

We hope all of you had a wonderful Holiday season J

 As I begin a new entry for 2013, many thoughts emerge—the year we will be coming home, wanting to finish the last 1/3 of our mission doing all we were meant to do here, realizing that many of the experiences we have had and things we have done have become pretty routine to us – but, as my brother reminds me, it is not routine to those of you out there, so still write of daily occurences he says…so here goes for 2013J

Ready for some more British vocabulary?

Rutabaga  =  Swede

Smashing =  Great; wonderful

Cheers; Hello Luv – Men and women greet each other all the time this way (doesn’t matter if you’re a man or woman )  Cheers I’ve noticed is also used by men to say goodbye or thank you

Dr’s Office = Surgery

Drug Store/Pharmacy  =  Chemist

RevelAtory – CONtribute – Way they pronounce these words with the emphasis on the capital letter

Abnormal load =  Wide load (Passing a big truck on the motorway)

Packets =  Sachets -  For cooking, a packet of Koolaid; etc. would be a sachet of Koolaid (which they don’t have here)

Baubles=  Ornaments – as in Christmas tree ornaments – always called baubles I recently discovered

Pop over – Drop in; visit,  etc.

Murgatroyd -  as in “heavens to murgatroyd – Don’t know if you have ever heard that saying in America, but I found doing some genealogy that it is a real last name here.

Well, I’ll talk about missionary work for a bit!!

 I think we’ve had two transfers since I last wrote – From our Don Valley unit, Sister Harrop left after being here six months and Sister Bendsten was here for just three weeks (there was a mid-transfer at Christmas time so several missionaries could be home for Christmas) – That resulted in a few areas having missionaries for only three weeks.  From our zone Elder Barnett (our missionary that Angie’s parents know) and our zone leader Elder Taylor (from Logandale Nevada) were transferred.

In our most recent transfer our Don Valley Unit stayed put but Sister McKay who was in our zone a few transfers ago became part of a threesome with Sisters Melander and Brown here in Don Valley – The sisters love the threesome because if helps them with all the contacts they have to make and in teaching lessons (it becomes quite stressful they say to try to communicate in their Slovakian attempts and fill in with English)  Having three to share the load makes it easier – I must say, however, some of our English missionaries have really picked up Czech/Slovakian quite rapidly!!

Another six new missionaries were transferred into our zone, but we don’t see them too often in our district meetings and so don’t get to know them that well – but we will be visiting their flats during January for another inspection which came around quickly since last October

Our fairly recent housing/vehicle coordinator has the missionaries really stepping up in keeping things clean and orderly – I think he is tired of getting calls from landlords about problems that occurJ

Two Elders in our zone had a great experience that certainly doesn’t happen I’m sure that often – The district was at a Sheffield Chapel for P-Day playing basketball, etc. and a man and woman walked into the Church -  They were asking if anyone could teach them about the Church because they were pretty sure they wanted to be baptized.  Elders Barnett and Brewerton lived in the area where this couple lived so they got the chance to teach them – Apparently the couple have been very dissatisfied with the Churches they had been attending but knew they wanted religion in their lives – They found out about the Church on the Internet and had spent a lot of time researching it – Happy with what they were reading, they went in search of a Church building—hence their meeting the missionaries on P-Day when the building was open – not a happenstance I’m sure.  They recently were baptized along with a friend who joined the discussions – Elder Barnett was transferred right before the baptism.  I’m sure he would have wanted to be there – but such is mission life!!

There have been several baptisms in the Don Valley unit the last few months – Nearly every Saturday it seems – The missionaries really work hard finding and teaching.  Many of the recent converts are family members or friends of members which makes it easier for them – We are seeing a lot of teenagers interested or joining the Church recently.  A big influx are coming to Church, going to ward/stake activities, and joining with the missionaries one night a week for a “youth night” where the missionaries teach a gospel lesson and then play games, have refreshments, etc. They are really enjoying doing that – the Slovakians are up for any party, get together, or whatever brings them together – They are quite a social bunch!!

The Hallejujah Church has been at it again – They found a very old You-Tube video put out  by ex or anti Mormons about our temple ceremonies – It was about  30-years old;  very disturbing to them because it was so false and dark and vicious.  Our Bishop had to meet with several investigators and members to put them at ease and teach the truth to them.  We loved one scenario that happened – One of our teenage members who has been pretty inactive recently but had gone to do baptisms for the dead commented to the families about it .  He said that isn’t what it looks like in the temple; that’s not what happens there; I’ve been there.  He was defending the Church regardless of his activity at the moment.

Our holidays were quite eventful even though it’s hard not to be home with family and in America. 

Our nice British ward member (the Nettleships) invited all the missionaries over for an American Thanksgiving dinner (no Thanksgiving holiday in EnglandJ)  She cooked a turkey with all the trimmings and even made pumpkin pies, which doesn’t exist here.  Canned pumpkin is not available so at Halloween she baked a pumpkin which they sell for the Halloween season, then scooped out the insides to make the pies.

She also had us all over on Christmas evening for a buffet – We felt very well taken care of –

On Christmas Eve our Czech elders asked us to come to one of the members homes (who is Czech) for a typical Christmas Eve dinner – Actually in the Czech Republic Christmas is celebrated on December 24 – a big dinner is had that night – the children go upstairs for a while until “Baby Jesus” delivers the presents  (no Santa Claus there) then they come down and open presents in the evening – Christmas Day they just visit and relax. 

The Christmas Eve dinner consists basically of side dishes and a big fish – Carp - - which has been resting in a bathtub for three days and then is brought out on Christmas Eve by the father of the family – killed – and then baked – The Elders couldn’t use a live carp so they bought a frozen one which they thawed and prepared.

A few missionaries didn’t think they could eat it – I did try a piece (it is filled with bones) and has to be eaten very slowly – not sure why it is such a delicacy for the CzechsJs

It was an interesting evening, but we left early to start Skyping family members!!

Christmas morning was spent with the Don Valley missionaries coming here for breakfast – The sister missionaries opened their packages from home – the Elders had already opened theirs Christmas Eve – it was great to see their excitement and enthusiasm even though they are so far from home!!  They watched The Lion King (which one Elder had never seen) and then headed out to visit Slovakian families (we had taken our Christmas gift to them the Sunday before) so we were able to enjoy a few quiet hours Skyping and calling all we could reach!!

Forgot to mention that the Elders Skyped from our home on Christmas Eve – we were able to visit with their families in the Czech Republic.  The sisters Skyped here on Christmas night – Boy were they having a great time talking to their families.

Also forgot to mention the mission Christmas Party on Dec 18 in Harrogate at a US/British Air Force Base -  It was great to see all the missionaries together for games, dinner, program, etc. which lasted all day – They need that break and time together.  We met with all the senior couples and enjoyed seeing many missionaries who had left our area over the past year.

Wow!!  Also need to mention the Slovakian Christmas Party we had – The Slovakians enjoy their food and dancing and after much preparation of cooking, buying the food, bringing it to the Don Valley Stadium, the party began.  Before the night finished the children had visited with Santa (the Bishop), received a gift from him and everyone spent the rest of the night eating and dancing – President and Sister Lindly joined us for about an hour.  A member of the Sheffield 1 ward brought his DJ equipment, sound system and all, which put the Slovakians in a very festive mood – Everyone danced to about 4 songs (all the Slovakians wanted to have played)  There were about 75-100 there – I think it was the highlight of their Christmas season.

The Slovakians celebrate Christmas pretty simply as you can imagine – I believe most homes finally put up a Christmas tree and decorate their homes very simply.

Church members had collected many toys for the children which the missionaries delivered anonymously on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  It was good for the children to be excited and enjoy their day – Most members Skype their families in Slovakian and get together for eating, etc.

So our Holidays ended well and we began a New Year!!

We are now awaiting the announcements of a Slovakian Branch in the New Year – We just hear rumors as of now, but we have heard by the end of February it will be established.  It has taken a very long time – and still may not happen – but we are anxious to see how it will transpire and what changes will take place – It would be a nice addition to our last months here.  We’ll let you know next writing what happens.

Nothing new to report in our adventures to see England – Still looking forward to the visits President Lindley has approved – There is a possibility Catherine and Russel will be visiting again in February while Russell has a business trip here – that would be great.  Karen and Clint would like to come but it may not happen until summer.  They have a Chadwick family reunion in July, but are hoping they can celebrate this summer if (and it is looking pretty good) that Clint will receive tenure at the university which they have been looking forward to for a long time!!

Sandra wanted to come perhaps with Karen, but lucky for us baby #3 will be born just before we arrive home – so no traveling for her it appears.

I read online about a school in Utah who has banned leggings as pants to wear to school.  I don’t know if that is the rage in Utah, but we have seen that since we’ve been here in England – just leggings with a top is the attire – for young and old!!

Interesting.

The barber told Dave the other day that people who had been coming in have read this winter in England is to be the worst in 100 years – We are now in the second week of January with temperatures in the 40’s and 50’s – Hope it isn’t true!!  Of course, we still have a few months to get through!!

That’s about it for now – we hope you all enjoy a blessed and happy 2013!!

Love.

Dave and Barbara