Week ending November 19, 2011

Preston England Temple

This week began with the Flynn’s coming over for dinner and Family Home Evening to discuss how to prepare a lesson the Mission President has asked us to create for the missionaries to present on  Family History.  The idea is to help the converts get excited to go to the temple to do baptisms for their own family members within the first three to six months of their own baptism.  Retention is much higher if you can get them to the temple as soon as possible.  It was a lively discussion and we came up with some great ideas.

Tuesday night we drove over and met with President Paterson of the Falkirk Branch in a "getting to know you"  interview.   We received a hint of what he has in mind but will wait to share that information when the calls are actually made and announced.  He also asked us to introduce ourselves and bear our testimonies in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. 

The youth were there having Seminary and then followed by Mutual.  They have Seminary on Tuesday/Thursday nights.  They had about 12 youth in attendance.  The young men were going swimming and so we learned there is a swimming pool in that town.  It was the first we had known if they had pools here or not.

Thursday night brought a wind storm that rattled our windows.  There was a slight amount of rain with it but nothing serious.  The temperatures this week still remain in the high forties and low fifties and no hint of snow yet.  Last year this weekend is when they received the big snow storm that started their snowiest year in a very  long time. 

Scotland/Ireland Mission Home

Friday night we joined the Flynn's at the Mission Home for dinner and to discuss our ideas for the lesson with President and Sister Griffiths.  It was a delightful evening.  We came away with a clearer understanding of what the President would like.  Now we need to finalize the presentation.  We are also having the Assistants to the President present our proposed lesson to a newly baptized member to see if the lesson outline works.

Saturday we took the Flynn's to Falkirk to see the Wheel, Callendar House, and their City Center . 

The Wheel is the world’s first and only rotating boat lift.  It was designed to connect the Union Canal with the Forth and Clyde Canal 115 feet below.  The canal is closed now for rides until Christmas season and already they are booked  for the season and so we will have to wait until next summer to experience that.  But you enter the wheel in your boat, the wheel turns lowering you the 115 feet and you come out in the next canal like our lock system.

We enjoyed out visit to Callendar House again.  We stopped by the kitchen and saw the item we showed you last week and asked you to guess what it was.  Unfortunately there were no guesses posted so we'll try this again and see if anyone posts a response this week.  What do you think this  is a picture of?

Mystery item from kitchen

In case you can't tell we enjoy the downtown area of Falkirk.  The enter city center is a pedestrian walk way with lots of shops.  We especially enjoy the "Pound" stores (dollar stores) and the thrift stores.  We'll have to take you there when you come over for a visit. (hint, hint)

Falkirk City Centre