Week ending December 2 1012

It has been a wonderful week. We have accomplished much in the office and had fun also. 
 
We went to the pantomime Cinderella on Thursday night with the Sisters and three other couples.  We met for dinner before the show at Wagamamas ( a Japanese Restaurant) that was very good. We then went to the show.  Pantomimes usually involve audience participation like our melodramas at home and are at Christmas time as a show for the family.  We found this one very different than the one last year of Beauty and the Beast.  This was one more like a musical.  It is very different than the story we are used to.  The evil mom was very evil.  The step sisters were very "modern" in their dress and language, and Prince Charming was more in love with himself than anyone else


But the moral of the story was love wins over evil.  The sspecial effects were very good and it was very well orchestrated.  It was a fun evening.

 Friday night we attend the annual Edinburgh Stake Ceilidh, which is like a great big square dance, or country dance.  It was amazing to watch the people dance all of these dance steps.  Apparently they are taught them in primary or grade school, so they've had time to learn them.  They do provide instruction for us beginners, but it can still be pretty intimidating with a room full of people moving around a dance floor. Here's a picture of Sister Vance on the left and Sister Price on the right.

 

Saturday, we (Meaning Edinburgh Ward and Mission) were invited to sing in the outdoor Christmas festival being held by St. Mary’s Cathedral.  We had quite a good turnout and we sang for about an hour all the songs of Christmas we are familiar with and ended with “I Am a Child of God.”  We had a number stop and listen to us and hopefully they enjoyed it.  Then we handed out Joy to the World DVD’s afterward.

 

We have our tree up and our home decorated for Christmas and it looks like Christmas.  It is a wonderful time of the year.  We love working with the missionaries.  We have quite a few in on Monday and Tuesdays with it being their P-day and then District Meeting on Tuesday.

 It was wonderful hearing your Thanksgiving stories.  It sounds like all had a wonderful time where ever you were.  It sounds like tree hunting was not hard with little snow to contend with.  It was a great holiday shared with family for all of you.  We do have so much to be thankful for, being members of the Church and knowing our Savior Jesus Christ and what He has done for us so we can return to Him and our Heavenly Parents and be an Eternal Family being the greatest blessing.

May you all have a wonderful week.  We love you so much and pray for you daily.

Love,

Julia and Bill

Week ending November 18 2012

I can’t believe it is the week of Thanksgiving.  Being this early makes it seem like it arrived very quickly.  We are having our dinner on Saturday with all the couples in Scotland.  We will all bring part of the dinner and so it is just a fun time together.  I have the turkey this year.  Yes, we can find turkey and like last year I will probably go for a butterfly turkey breast and give up my dark meat because the whole turkey is small and expensive.  The breast is actually larger, less expensive, and has no bones and so is easier to carve.

 It is arrival and departure week with our smallest group yet.  We have one going home and three coming in.  Still busy though because we have lots of transfers. 

 We had mutual Tuesday night but were home the rest of the week.  We had the sisters and the Hambelton’s for dinner Friday night and played games. 

 

Then on Saturday the sisters wanted to stay in town and so the Hambelton’s and us went to Glasgow to see the huge, oldest remaining  Catholic Cathedral in Scotland. During the reformation most Catholic Church's were desecrated or destroyed.  This one was defended by the merchants of the city and so remained.

 

The inside is huge and there are many wonderful stained glass windows.

 

 

 

 

Then we went to the School Museum to learn about school through the ages.  That was fun too and brought about memories of our growing up days.  How glad I am that I did not have to practice gas mask drill and evacuation every day at school.

 

Grandpa got in trouble at school so he had to wear the dunce cap for a while.

 

 We will be thinking of you all this week:  Happy Birthday Bruce and Amy;  Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.  May you find the most beautiful trees and have a wonderful dinner and time together with whomever you are spending the holiday with.  Next year I will be part of it again.

 Can you believe that we actually got to watch Max in action live playing basketball yesterday in Alaska.  He scored the first points.  We watched one quarter and then talked with him at the end of the game.  Isn’t technology wonderful.  Thanks John for including us in the event.  We hope the swim and skiing meets were as successful as Max’s team won all their games in the tournament.  Now he is on to swimming come Monday.

 Amy we hope that your trip to Canada has gone well, and that your dinner last night was wonderful  and the rest of the week goes well.

 Brittanie I am glad you got to go to the temple dedication.  What an experience!  One that I have never had.

 Glad to hear about gymnastics for Hallie and Brynn and Teigen is enjoying soccer.  Nathan also loves soccer and Brittanie just had her piano recital.  Peyton is golfing, Ethan is playing basketball, and Caleb is trying out lots of sports.  It is hard to remember when one season ends and others begin.  You are all growing up so fast.  Do you think we will know you when we get home?  I hope so.  Until next week.

Week ending 11 November 2012

It has been a good week. I have had work to do but it has not been overwhelming.  President and Sister Brown were there the first three days and then left for Ireland for the next four.  I have finished opening two flats and closed two flats this week and have others that I am just expecting the security deposit or utilities deposit back on and then they will be closed.  I am still looking for one or two flats at the moment. 

In Young Women’s we worked on filling out a family group sheet on Tuesday night and it made me realize how much I need to work on my own.  I have tried to figure if I can take a couple of hours off in Tuesday or Wednesday to go over to the church and work on it during the day.

Thursday evening we had Barbara and Stewart over for dinner from the Falkirk Branch and had a wonderful evening with them. 

Friday we had the sisters over for dinner and games and shopping.  It was fun as usual. 

 

We went to Stirling and Campbell Castle on Saturday. 

 

 

Flat Stanley arrived on Thursday and so we had to take Stanley to the Castle that we think might be the family castle from relatives so long ago.  We had never been there before and Saturday was a great day to go.  We got there just as members of the wedding party we starting to arrive to set up for a wedding and so we got to see the castle being prepared for the wedding.  They had hired a man to play the bagpipes and so we got to hear him play and even got in our request for the Scottish song with the tune of Praise to the Man.  Stanley loved all of it. 

 

 

 

Stirling Castle is always one we love to go to and the sisters have not been yet and so that was our next stop.  Stanley loved seeing it again also. 

 

 

Today is Remembrance Day as it is known over here, in the US we call it Veteran’s Day.  We all wear red poppies to church.  Then all the speakers spoke on some part of that.  We also had two minutes of silence at 11:00.  Afterward they take a red poppy wreath and place on the statue commemorating those who have given their lives for their country.  Stanley took part in that also.  I am so glad we live in the land of the free and for family member and other who have been in the armed services for our country.

 

We haven’t heard from many this last week.  We haven’t found many on line when we have been on Skype.  We hope to hear from more of you this week.  We are well and happy.  We think of you, pray for you, and miss you.  Have a great week.

 

Love,

Grandma and Grandpa

Week ending 4 November 2012

Another week has flown by and I have worked on two more leases.  One is finished and the other could be finished by tomorrow or sometime this week I hope.  I have closed one flat and am in the middle of closing two others.  I may be looking for one other flat this week. 

We have not sent anyone home with a broken bone since the 30 of October.

Tuesday we had a Halloween party for the missionaries serving here in the area.  That was 20 of us and some had never carved a pumpkin and so it was lots of fun.  We also served them lunch of potato soup and chilli, rolls, and pies.  I made seven pies.  We had pumpkin, banana cream, coconut cream, chocolate, apple, and pecan.  My oven wanted to burn them and so some of them were on the dark side but they still ate them.

Tuesday night we had our Halloween Party at the branch and Elder Rasmussen and I were in charge of the pumpkin carving there also and also judging the jack o lanterns.  It was a fun night but also a late one.

Thursday we had a couple stay with us.  Elder Hick’s mother died and they were going home to the funeral on Friday morning.  They are from Springville.  They volunteered to take a box back with them and Julie picked it up at the airport.  It means one less box to bring home when we come.  Thanks Julie for the late night to pick it up for us. Elder Rasmussen took them to the airport early Friday morning.  

 We also took part in a conference call for the leaders in our stake working with the youth in Sunday School, Young Men/Women regarding the new program.  Elder Rasmussen and I are working with the ones in our branch for four Sundays to learn about how the new program will work.  I should actually say Elder Rasmussen is as I mostly sit and learn also.

Friday night we went to the Hambeltons for dinner.  We also shared with them what we do in the office to see if that is what they would like to try for in there next mission.  And we played a game of Rummikub.  It was a fun evening.

Saturday we went with the Sisters and the McKenzies to the Royal Mile.  We got to see the parade they were having with the soldiers that were just returning home from Afghanistan .  Then we went and saw Holyrood Palace which is where the Royal Family stay when they come to Edinburgh.  The queen usually comes the last of June-1^st part of July for a week.  We ate lunch at a Mexican restaurant and it was good.  We found a nativity set just a few doors up from there that looks kind of Celtic and so we will be bringing home one more nativity to add to our collection.  It is already up for Christmas in our flat.

Sunday we had our meetings in Falkirk of which Sunday School and Young Men/Women time was spent with the leaders discussing the new program.  Then we had six over for Family Home Evening, dinner, activity, and visiting.  So I am writing the letter today at work while waiting for my lease to get back to me.

We are healthy, happy, and busy.  What more would you ask for.  Hope you all had a great week also.  We love you so much. We love hearing from you and enjoy the pictures. Have a great week.

Week ending October 29, 2012

Today is the end of day light savings and so we moved back an hour in time.  That means we will now have to find a new best time to try and find you on skype.  Of course I think you change back the next week or so.  Instead of getting my extra hour of sleep I am up finishing preparations on my talk for today.  This will be the third one since we started at Falkirk.  Today’s topic is righteous traditions.  I wish I had thought of it sooner and got your ideas of what righteous traditions we have in our family that you can think of.  I thought of all the holiday ones we do first and then moved on to those associated with the word righteous.  Hopefully you remember our always attending our meetings on Sunday.  It was never a question of are we going to church today even on vacations.  Bill and I always attended the temple each month and did not miss until we came on our mission.  Date night was also a tradition whether just the two of us or with some or all of the family.  Another tradition was never saying no to callings.  I wish we could say it was always having family prayer and scripture study.  Bill and I did that as we went to bed but it was not as consistent with the whole family as you grew up.  It has been an interesting talk to prepare for knowing I only have ten minutes.  We will see how it goes.  I am trying to do the outline thing and not writing out the whole talk word by word to give.

We have had another full week.  Monday one of our missionaries slid down a hill and broke his ankle on a p-day activity with ward members and his companion.  He heard it crack and knew immediately that it was broken and probably in two to three places.  His accident changed our week.  I had set up appointments to again go flat hunting in Stirling on Tuesday.   Early Tuesday morning President asked Elder Rasmussen to be the companion of the Elder who was in the hospital.  Plans were changed and we didn’t go to Stirling but spent the day with the "companion".  Bill went with him to Livingston to get needed clothing and supplies for spending more time in Edinburgh.  He also took him to the hospital to spend time with his companion.  His companion had broken his ankle in three places but it was not as big of an emergency as many others and so he waited until Wednesday night to have surgery. 

Wednesday we went to the hospital from 2:30 until 5:00 when they made us leave because they were serving dinner.  We stayed that long because he was bored, anxious about what might be happening and where he would recuperate.  He had been told it would be 8-12 weeks with no weight on his foot and then rehab after that.  He was hoping he wouldn’t be sent home because he wanted to finish his mission and knew how hard it would be to come back out.  He is from Washington and his father is an orthopedic surgeon.  He had one physical therapy session yesterday to teach him how to get around on crutches with no weight on his foot.  I think he will probably be going home and hope he will be able to then finish his mission after he recuperates.

 

Friday night eight of us senior missionaries went out to dinner and then to St. Giles Cathedral for a concert.  Two choirs sang, one from Edinburgh and the other called the Tapestry Choir made up of members from lots of choirs of some churches all across the States.  It was wonderful to hear them in the huge cathedral and the acoustics of that building.  I would love to hear the Tabernacle Choir sing there.

Saturday we went with the Sisters to see two more National Trust sites that are closing for the season the end of October.  The first one was Kellie Castle and Garden.  They had a Halloween tour and activities the night before and so the grounds were all decorated for Halloween.  We arrive about two hours before the castle opened and so we explored the garden and had hot chocolate and a biscuit in the tea shop. 

 

We also bought a souvenir for our Christmas tree from Scotland.  They are Mr. and Mrs. Claus dressed in Scottish plaid.  It was worth waiting for to see the castle. 

 

Then we traveled about 20 minutes down the road to see Hill of Tarvit Mansion house and garden and that also was wonderful to see. 

 

 

With the late start though we had to hurry to get back to the baptism at 5:00 in Edinburgh.  Oug  ( a Mongolian) was taught by two Sisters in our Stake.  It was the first baptism for one of them and they were so excited.

We then did our usual shopping trip with the sisters and took them home and then went back to the Church for an activity with the youth.  Elder and Sister Hambelton were doing an activity with them about  some of the factors in choosing a career that was fun and then encouraging them to stay in school and do their very best. Thank you to all of you for finishing school and doing your best and for the importance of education in your lives.

We came home to popcorn and working some on my talk and lessons for today.  It has been a good week.  I can’t believe it is the end of October.  Time really is flying by.  We love the work, the country and the people.  Winter is arriving.  It is colder and snow was even predicted to be here today.  We will see if we get it.  Hope you all have a great week and we get to visit with a lot of you later today.

Love you so much,

Mom and Bill, Grandma and Grandpa

Week ending September 9, 2012

It has been a good week and I have got many assignments done that take place after moves week.  I am finished with all of them that I know of unless President Brown decides he does want to send out letters to Home Ward and Stake Bishops and Presidents about new leadership positions.

I am still in the middle to two new leases and chasing deposits on a number of others though.

We were out late every night but Saturday.  Monday we went bunkbed shopping at IKEA with the Assistance and didn’t get home until around nine.  That meant I didn’t need to cook as we had dinner at IKEA.  Tuesday was mutual in Falkirk and a 9:45 night.  Wednesday we did YSA treats after their Institute class and so that was a 10:00 P.M. night. Thursday we went to the hospital to see Brother Irvine (a Falkirk member) who had collapsed on the field playing maybe their version of football and has bleeding on the brain.  He is recovering though and may get to go home on Monday.

Friday we had dinner at the sisters’ flat and played fruit basket and canasta.

Saturday the McKenzies, Sisters Price and Vance and us and Flat Stanley went to Gilmerton Cove, Craigmillar Castle, IKEA, Costcos, and Sainsbury Grocery Store , and Steadings for lunch.  All are right here around Edinburgh and so we arrived home around five. Bill will insert pictures of our adventures on our blog.

We had been to Gilmerton Cove once before.  The cove, or cave is of unknown origin.  Local stories say it was a place for the Covenanters--a group in favor of "maintaining the Presbyterian doctrine and policy as the sole from of religion in Scotland." Because they were in opposition to the government they were forced underground.  Others attribue the location to as witches coven.   And then there are stories of Masons holding meetings and ceremonies in this location.  It really is a mystery.  This is a picture of me and Sister Price in our hardhats, and Flat Stanley in his protective rain gear.

"Craigmillar is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Scotland. The central tower house, or keep, is surrounded by a 15th-century courtyard wall with "particularly fine" defensive features. Within this are additional ranges, and the whole is enclosed by an outer courtyard wall containing a chapel and a doocot.

Craigmillar Castle is best known for its association with Mary, Queen of Scots. Following an illness after the birth of her son, the future James I of England, Mary arrived at Craigmillar on 20 November 1566 to convalesce. Before she left on 7 December 1566, a pact known as the "Craigmillar Bond" was made, with or without her knowledge, to dispose of her husband Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley."

 

We can't forget our Flat Stanley picture at the Castle.  This time it was taken from the top of the wall looking out towards Edinburgh.  In the distance you can see Edinburgh Castle, and Arthur's seat.

It was an interesting visit.  The Castle was one of several in the area.  I wondered how there could be so many close together since it took a lot of land to produce the food to keep a castle going.  This one also had a dungeon in the basement where they found a skelton when the excavated in 1800's.

One of the unique things we found inside the Castle was a nesting pair of young birds.  I found them purely by accident.  I was using my flashlight to look into an open area in the wall, and there they were.

 

We got to speak to many of you yesterday and hope to catch up with more today.  Bill is speaking today on the importance of attending Stake Conference and listening to General Conference.  We hope you all are doing that.  If not Bill can encourage you also.  We have Stake Conference next weekend.

I hope you are all well, happy, and busy.  School is now in session for all.  It doesn’t seem like it should be but when I look out our living room window the signs are there that fall is here.

 

Week Ending September 2, 2012

One year ago tomorrow we entered the MTC.  A year ago today we were in Wayan.  I bore my testimony of that today.  I said that we were not promised that it would be easy but that it would be worth it and it has.  I have missed a lot of family things but my testimony continues to  grow. 

I am so glad that I am a member of the Church and know the gospel plan.  The church is there to help me live the gospel so I can return to live with my Heavenly parents if I but live worthily and endure to the end.  I cannot believe what Christ did for me.  I can’t believe that He was willing to take on all of my sins and pay for them so I can be forgiven of them if I but repent.  Sometimes that is the hard part; having the desire to want to give them up and ask for forgiveness. 

I love the Book of Mormon more every time I read it.  I love having a Prophet on the earth right now that I know is receiving revelation from God and sharing it with us.  I am so looking forward to conference this October.  We are studying the conference talks in our morning devotionals last week and this week.  Mine last week was on the gospel and the church as you might have guessed from my sentences above.

Transfer week again and we had 12 go home and 14 arrive.  It is an exciting and busy week.  To see the ones that are going home with such mixed feelings and the ones arriving so enthusiastic.  Corryne  I am excited for you.  What an experience a mission is!

Elder Kerr (BYU Jacket), Sister Beck

Yesterday we went north to the Braemar Royal Highland Games. We were in the company of some Royal people.  Elder Kerr our General Authority from Scotland serving now arrived the same time we did and brought with him his wife, Julie Beck and daughter, and Elder and Sister Clarke serving here in Scotland also.   Julie Beck was released as Relief Society President last conference. 

The games were fun to watch. We were sitting in front of the tug of war event. They had many events going on at the same time. They had running relays, Highland dancing, long jumping, caper throwing, 16 pound hammer throwing, throwing a heavy weight over a pole that they kept raising until one was left. I believe that was 16 feet + high. They had a race up a mountain and then straight down that was completed in 28 minutes. We had pipe and drum band contests and also individual bagpipe contests.

The Braemar Games are the ones the Queen of England attends. They have a special covered stand for her to sit in. That was directly across the field from where we were sitting.

 

 

 She arrived about 3:30-3:45 for the ending of the games.  The crowd was anxious to see if Prince Philip would be in attendance.  He'd been in the hospital for a couple of weeks and they were wondering if he had recovered.  That's him on the right, the Queen in the middle, and Prince Charles on the right 

On her arrival the mass pipe band marched around the stadium.  It was quite a sight.

 

 

 

We didn't stay long after her arrival.  When we arrived in the morning the road in was a one lane road and since they were expecting about 16,000 people we decided we wanted to go early to beat the traffic.  So the Queen arrived, we saw the pipe and drum band  go around the field and the audience sang  “God Save the Queen”.  Then we got up and left.  Many others also had the same idea and so many when down the road together.

 There were six of us that went over in the mission van, Bill and I, the office sisters Price and Vance, and the Hambeltons.  It was a wonderful day!  The countryside was beautiful with the mountains covered with heather in bloom.  We also saw lots of coos (cows) like you have Kevan.  What is it you call yours?  Here they are the highland coos.  We also saw other cows and sheep.

Today we went teaching with the Elders from Falkirk after our meetings.  They are teaching a lady named Mary.  Sometimes her husband John joins them but today he was out working in the flower beds and yard in the sunshine.  It will be interesting to see if she joins the Church.  She has lots of questions but I am not sure that she has caught the vision of the Gospel yet.  At least she is willing to have them back and promises to read some in the Book of Mormon.  She finds reading and understanding hard. I hope she will come to understand what the gospel and do for her.

It has been a good week over all with only one day that I felt overwhelmed and Bill came to my rescue.  I hope all of you had a wonderful week.  I love you so much.

Week ending August 26 2012

I am having a hard time getting started today.  I have been reading my email and all the comments about the Grays Lake Reunion and am feeling homesick.  Then talked with Julie yesterday and told her Braydon’s grandparents are leaving for home the 5^th of Sept. and are already to go.  She asked if I was ready and I told her I better not be or it would be a long year to go.  I definitely miss everyone and all the things that are going on.  I would like to be there for them.  I am busy enough though that for the majority of the time I don’t think about it.

We had a catch up week last week finishing jobs that you don’t have time for all the time. Now this week will be departing, arriving, transfer week and we will put in some long days again.  It is fun to see those going home greet long time no see friends from the mission field that have served in different areas.  Then some parents come and it is fun to see their reunion with their son or daughter.  We will have more this time since we have several from England going home.

We had a fun time with the sisters Friday night after the mirror collision on our way home.  Elder Rasmussen had walked home and so we let Sister Vance drive the car since she wants to drive and they don’t have a car and I prefer not driving.  She has only driven a couple of times before and she still likes to hug the left hand side.  She almost hit a mirror before, but this time she did.  It was sure scary.  I am jumpy now riding in the car again.  We are all ok and the owner of the other car was real nice.  He didn’t want to call the police or get insurance involved as the cost would increase.

After we arrived home, they helped me cook a Mexican dinner and then we ate and played Canasta. 

We went touring with them on Saturday to the North.  Our first stop was Dumferline to visit the Charity shops.  Both Sisters were anxious to buy a kilt to make a scrapbook.  They were both successful.  While we were there they were having a festival, so we'll share with you part of the "parade".

 

 Our next stop was the House of Dun which is in the northeast corner of Scotland.  The home was very nice.  On the outside were some trees that were over a hundred years old and very stately.  They reminded us of the redwoods in California.

 

 

The House itself was very nice, a "small" country home.

 

We really enjoyed the gardens.  We were especially impressed with the fruit trees that grew on the side of the wall.

 

On Sunday we enjoyed at Falkrik and then after dinner today we went to the National Botanical Gardens to walk around and enjoy the beauty and relax.

 

Glad to hear of the mission call to Albania Corryne.  We are excited for you.

Glad we have our internet service and have Skype.  We have been able to catch a few of you on line.

Have a great weekend next week.  Say hello to everyone for me at the reunion and they have to plan another one after I get home to go.

Glad to hear another school year has or is starting for you and hope it is a great one.

We love you.

Elder and Sister Rasmussen

Week ending August 4 2012

Wow a week of August is almost over.  Time is going by fast.

The main events of this week were: Ross’s baptism, saying goodbye to the Grahams, handling the office without them, and going to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the Fringe Festival.

President and Sister Brown, the Grahams, Sisters Price and Vance, and Bill and I went out to dinner on Monday night at the Carvery for their farewell dinner since they couldn’t be there on Saturday.

Tuesday morning Bill and I went over to the Grahams apartment and helped them carry down their boxes  to load in the car.  It makes me wonder how we are ever going to get home in only two suitcases. 

Then they came in and we worked on last minute things they wanted finished.  It was also a day to prepare the taco soup lunch for Zone and District leaders training.  The Grahams left at noon as goodbyes and tears were shared.  We really love and admire this couple and are glad that our lives have touched.

Friday was the first day of Tattoo.  Elder and Sister Hambelton, the Sisters and Bill and I all went to dinner together and then went to downtown Edinburgh to walk around some of the Fringe activities.    We picked up a booklet 374 pages long of activities taking place in the city during August. There is everything you can think of.  We watched a little of some dancing, a knife juggling act with the man balanced on containers maybe 5 feet off the ground, story tellers, and many more that we walked by as we only had 45 minutes.  There were all kinds of things being sold, and booths like at our state fairs. The cab driver told us that the population of Edinburgh is about 700,000 until August when it swells to 1 million.  Many residents go on holiday and rent out their home.  There are streets blocked off and activities and performers all up and down the streets and in lots of churches and buildings. 

Then the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo takes place for three weeks.  It has a cast of about a thousand people.  They put up seating for seven to eight thousand people to view it and expect over 200,000 thousand people to attend during that time.  It is truly an amazing experience.  As you can tell from this picture we were in the nose bleed section, yet it worked out to be an ideal location because we could see everything and we could actually stand to take pictures.

Just to give you a taste of the music, here's a wee clip:

And our favorite group was the Top Secret Drum Corps from Basel Switzerland

Saturday we went and helped Hambelton’s move to their new flat, took the sisters out to see  the Newhailes home and garden that we had been to before.  Then we took them shopping and came home to paint a wall and pack some more boxes in preparation for our own move on Tuesday.

Last Sunday Ross was baptized.  We hurried back from Falkirk so we could attend the Baptizm.  What a wonderful experience to  see the room packed with people there to witness it.  Elder Graham gave a wonderful talk and then baptized him.  What a way to end your mission.  Now Ross will be confirmed this Sunday.  We will not be able to attend that as we will be in our own meetings in Falkirk.

We hope you are having a wonderful Sabbeth Day doing what our Heavenly Father and Jesus would want you to be doing.  We are attending our meetings, having a Presidency meeting for YW, going to Sister McFeat’s home for dinner and then out on a teaching visit with the Elders in Falkirk.  Hope to catch some of you at least on Skype after that.  We will only have Skype at the office after we move out of here until it is installed in our new flat on the 23^rd of August, so look for us in the early mornings your time  if you need to talk to us.

We love you all so much.  Love, Elder and Sister Rasmussen

What a week it has been again.  We have had ups and downs.  The two sisters are learning their positions and I am still learning mine.  The Grahams come in tomorrow, and then leave Tuesday morning.  Then we are on our own. 

On Friday, about  10:00, President Brown called us all in to tell us that he had received a phone call about 11:30 the night before telling him that one of our missionaries family had been in a very bad wreck.  Mom, three daughters, and a son were on their way to Salt Lake City to pick up another daughter who was finishing her mission in Salt Lake.  The car in front of them had a tire that burst and mom swerved to avoid it and lost control of the car and I think the back of the car hit a pole.  One daughter died at the scene, another died at the hospital, and the third is in critical condition.  Father was in Pennsylvania with work.  So they lost two daughters and have another in critical condition on a day that was supposed to be a happy one welcoming a daughter home from her mission.  President then had to let their son who is serving his mission in Ireland know.  He and Sister Brown missed the party to go up and be with him and support him in the decision of whether to go home or stay here.  We have no update on the sister or his decision at this time.  This is when working in the office is not so fun.

Yesterday we had a farewell party for the Grahams.  We had a wonderful meal of lots of appetizers, while we mingled and waited for people to come.  The main course was grilled turkey like we do at home and have now introduced them to it.  We had funeral potatoes, spinach/strawberry salad, and vegies.  We served lemon water for the main drink.

For the program Elder Hambelton had taken some of Elder Graham’s emails and poetry and sent them in to a writer/poetry group and he received back a Certificate from them honoring Elder Graham as a writer and poet.  His emails are priceless and I will share one with you. 

 

Dear Everybody,

 

Cars, again . . . .

Over the last few weeks I have noticed that there have been a lot of tyres replaced on cars which had the same tyre swapped out just three or four months ago. This is a sign of bad driving, bad cornering and hitting the kerb, high speeds and heavy braking, and incorrect tyre pressures. New tyres should be good for at least fifteen thousand miles and, hopefully, a bit more.

 On the same subject, lots of the cars were inspected at the recent Zone Conferences and copies of the report were given to the drivers. Have all the items marked up as “Fix It” been taken care of yet?

 Most of the faults involved tyres being under the recommended pressure and one in particular being above 50 pounds pressure (the gauge went off the scale) when the tyre’s limit is 60 pounds. We had to spend a few minutes letting air out and getting it down to the proper level.   There were a few with low oil levels and low radiator coolant levels. Have they been checked and filled up yet ?  Please don’t let the next inspection show the same faults.

I’m attaching the already issued Weekly Car Check report.  Add it to your daily planner; it will take all of five minutes to do what it asks and may save you some grief.

Always remember :  If you get stopped by the police, or have to run through a census point, no water in the screen wash or worn tyres or bulbs burned out, can get you into trouble and in some cases fined.  And that is your problem, not the Mission’s.

 

You have been warned !   (Again. . . .)

I hope you appreciate his sense of humor, and the way they spell tyre (tire). 

Then Elder Hambelton took a poem from the poet they had compared him to and changed some of the words to fit Elder Graham.  This was followed by opening the gifts we gave them—the place mats.  We had all sent in our favorite picture and had them made into placemats of scenes and people from the mission. 

 I had also made them a scrapbook that looked like a kilt and some of the elders and sisters and couples had written a letter to the Grahams to go in the scrapbook.

 This was followed by a dessert bar and more visiting.  It was a fun day.

 On Sunday Elder Graham is going to baptize Ross the person that walked into the office about a couple of months ago wanting to speak to a priest or minister.  Elder Graham spoke with him at least a couple of hours that night and then he and the other Elders taught him another time before Elder Graham turned him over to the Elders to teach.  Ross has given up marijuana and smoking for the most part.  I think he is down to one a week.  His countenance has totally changed.  It has been fun to see the change that has come over him from that first visit.  We are going to leave from Falkirk immediately to make it back for the baptism.

 Well that is the highlights from this week.  Next week will be interesting as well as we say goodbye to the Grahams, try to run the office with four novices, go to one of Edinburghs’ big social events—the military Tattoo, and all the normal things that make up our week.

Have a wonderful week.  We love you and pray for you several times a day.

Love,

Mom and Bill