We arrived Sunday morning at the Preston MTC to see Mom and Dad! They gave us a tour of the building, there are so many inspiring and unique things all around.
Mom showed the kids what she does at her desk and they loved following her around. They just love to feel her love for them.
Dad took me and Jim plus John on a tour of the gardens around the MTC and temple. These aren't gardens, they are Gardens. Professionally, immaculately, beautifully planned and kept up. It was heavenly.
We talked, admired the variety and beauty of the gardens and enjoyed a lovely time together. It was Father's Day and I felt on top of the world to be with my Dad and Jim.
John wanted a pictured with him "showing" you the beauty of the pond.
There are steps up to a more formal area of the gardens. It was all so beautiful.
We got there for the last few days of a set of missionaries going through the MTC. On Monday, they did a tour of where the first missionaries came when they arrived in England. This hotel was where they first stayed.
And he was where they first preached. On July 19, 1837, seven missionaries dispatched by the Prophet Joseph Smith, including apostles Heber C. Kimball and Orson Hyde, landed at Prince’s Dock in Liverpool. They soon made their way to Preston, where they arrived in the Market Place on a busy Saturday, July 22. It was the middle of a general election, called following the ascension of the young Victoria to the throne of Great Britain. As the missionaries descended the coach a political banner was unfurled from a window above them. “Truth Shall Prevail,” it proclaimed. The missionaries thought it a provident sign and with resounding “Amens” they immediately adopted it as the motto of their mission to England.
There is a whole Japanese garden dedicated to the first members of the Church in the area.
Missionaries read excerpts from Heber C. Kimball's journal to better understand what the first missionaries' lives were like when they left for England. We were blessed to see the River Ribble where the first persons baptized overseas were baptized. We heard the story of how two men were so eager for baptism that they raced each other to the river!
We also saw where President Hinckley got the letter from his father telling him to forget himself and get to work in response to a letter he had written about the hardships he was having.
We then traveled to Downham, a picturesque town with a special history. The entire village converted to the Church.
There is still an amazing spirit there. The town has been preserved just as it was when Heber C. Kimball was there preaching and received such an overwhelming reception. The acoustics add such a beautiful spirit to music.
Ice cream at the bottom of the hill with all of the locals was the perfect relaxing way to end the afternoon.
My parents would love to buy this home with the orchard in front and live in this beautiful town
We were privileged to spend time with these missionaries from all over the globe, learning so many different languages and extending themselves out of their comfort zone because they love God. Their faith and testimonies were all at different levels, but their eye was single to improving and learning and serving. We were also privileged to hear my Dad speak about the Atonement and my Mom speak about Perfectionism and to hear their testimonies and teachings in these final days the missionaries have before they enter the mission field. What a gift!
One last devotional was about pearls. They form beauty from the grit of adversity. Each missionary (and me, Nicole and Michael after them) got to cut open an oyster to reveal our own unique pearl. I loved the symbolism of how we can, over time, turn hardships into precious treasures that gleam from our efforts and the changes we make.
It was a sacred experience to have that final "family" prayer with all of the missionaries and hear my Dad pray for them as many emotions were near the surface for these devoted missionaries. My heart was really touched by the experience, and I know Nicole and Michael were as well. We waved farewell as their bus took them away the next morning, and even though our time with them was short, it was so special. John still has a CTR ring that an elder from Spain gave him. They formed a sweet friendship, and the elder's kindness gave John all the joy in the world. He can't wait to be a missionary too.
Mom took us to an incredible castle park that morning before we left.
Awesome swings and toys that we've never seen anywhere else. So fun!
The rail strike had made our travel plans impossible, so thankfully we were able to get a taxi to Windermere in the Lake District. It was just under an hour drive and Mom got the kids some fun little toys that they enjoyed a lot!
We stowed our bags in storage and walked down the winding streets to the lakefront.
Quick lunch of sandwiches and pasties!
They had electric boats (no motors allowed on the lake) and we got one for an hour. The kids took turns driving the boat- it was super slow, but gave them a good chance to practice boating skills and feeling how it worked.
Then we got a little more adventurous and rented row boats. For some reason, the electric boats were popular but not these row boats. They asked if we'd done it before and I said I'd done canoeing and kayaking and could figure it out. Well, apparently you row backwards! They helped me figure this out pretty fast before I got out of the cove and then we were all good. But if they had simply said, for some non-smart reason you row backwards, it would have made the start much easier!
We raced and splashed around the lake, taking turns rowing.
Jim's boat was loudly shouting for him to row faster and beat me back to shore. We were loud and hilarious. The next morning, a couple came up and shared how much fun it had been to watch us. We had no idea anyone could see or hear us!
We rowed around this little island.
Diana didn't think she could, but she did! I was amazed to see her healed broken arm right work- you can even see here it wasn't fully stretched out, but it actually did as she kept going.
We needed ice cream after all that hard work!
Diana got a double headed cone
And then we fed the swans and other birds
They were so used to people, even the swans
A huge bomber flew by as well as some jets going faster than the speed of sound. They flew low and fast and it was awesome.
Windermere Lake was beautiful! There is so much more to explore in the Lake District!
After all that excitement, we checked into our hotel that was built in 1847. Old, winding hallways and a delicious buffet breakfast.
Being silly at the Chinese restaurant for dinner with these weird puff things that the waiter couldn't believe we didn't also get at Chinese restaurants in America. The kids bit holes in them and were getting having fun waiting for our food.
We took a hike right behind our hotel called Orrest Head.
There was a log studded with coins
Sheep walls in endless meadows
So much to explore out there!
Views in every direction that were so beautiful, hard to capture with a camera how enormous the view was.
We caught a train, and got some lunch while waiting for our next train. The whole rail travel thing worked pretty well, considering the strike they had going on. But we were glad to be done with it after this last leg...to Edinburgh!
No comments:
Post a Comment