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.