A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Visitors' Centre Sisters with Sister Stevens

Chiswick House and Gardens on prep day

Photoshoot behind the church

Inspirational message after lunch

Preparing for Saturday singing on the front steps

One more Temple trip

Impromptu ride on the London Eye

Fiona Smith played Jane Manning in the movie "Joseph"

New friend and member, Raquel, with the Elders

Sister Julie B. Beck and her daughter visit

Grandma Betty and Grandpa Jimmie Visit

You are love
Here in my arms where you belong
And here you will stay, I’ll not let you away
I want day after day with you

You are spring
Bud of romance unfurled
You taught me to see
One truth forever true

You are love
Wonder of all the world
Where you go with me
Heaven will always be

Grandma Betty and Grandpa Jimmie, Pat’s mother and dad, came for six wonderful days to visit. They wanted to see where we live and serve and even managed to see some of London too:) They greeted us with smiles after their twelve hour flight. We learned how to use the Uber app and enjoyed conversing with drivers from all over the world. 

They visited our flat and got to know our neighborhood of Gloucester Road.

Betty and Jimmie said they like to go and find places to sit:) They found cool places in the National Gallery, Churchill War Rooms, Victoria & Albert Museum and the Science Museum.

They explored the Visitors’ Centre, saw lots of videos and displays, and met all the lovely sister missionaries and senior couples and President and Sister Stevens. We were able to arrange our shifts and our prep day so that we could spend time with Betty and Jimmie and still fulfill our missionary responsibilities. We appreciate the other senior missionary couples, the Mullens and Hulets for being flexible and supportive.

We sat on the 2nd row for the London performance of Showboat. It was awesome! The poem above is from the Showboat song, "You are Love" and we felt like it typified Betty and Jimmie's sweet relationship!

They attended church meetings and Betty shared her gratitude for the gospel with the Hyde Park 1st Ward in Testimony meeting. She said the gospel of Jesus Christ is like a beautiful jewel that adds sparkle and joy to every part of our lives. After meetings they met Brother and Sister Lkhaguasuren and their children who are from Mongolia now living in London. In 2003 while serving as a medical missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints in Mongolia, Elder Neeley performed the physical exam for Brother Lkhaguasuren prior to his own missionary service in Mongolia. It was a fun reunion and reminded us of the bonds that develop as we join with others in the service of God.

Jimmie wanted to have fish and chips. We were thrilled to have Hugh and Suzy Millar and J. Paul and Alessandra join us for a fun time with fish and chips and Gelato. They even took a  3 1/2 hour bus tour and sat on the top of a double decker bus to see he sights of London.

We learn so much from our amazing parents! Betty prays every night by name for their 7 children, 36 grandchildren and 49 great-grandchildren, and all of the spouses. Jimmie is so gentle and grateful and kind. They love each other and take such good care to help each other.

Fish got to swim, birds got to fly,

I got to love one man till I die.

Can’t help lovin’ dat man of mine. 

Showboat

We are so grateful that families can be together, not just till death, but forever, through the power and promises that God has revealed in these latter days!

Open Door Policy

The print of the painting by Carl Bloch is framed in the the doors of the Visitors' Centre as we walk in each day. We see the statue of Jesus from a distance, walking through the parking lot at Imperial College. We hope that each person who comes here will know that we believe in Jesus Christ and that He loves each one.

Summertime brings even more visitors to Exhibition Road. We have met people from Poland, Bulgaria, France, Turkey, China, and Germany in the last couple of days. Monday, Elder Neeley visited with a young woman from China who wanted to learn all about Jesus. She has been searching for a church and wanted to know everything about our faith. Others come in with heavy hearts seeking hope. Some ask if they can pray in the chapel. Visitors often say how peaceful it feels. Members often come in and say it feels like home. Sometimes people just want the free copy of the Book of Mormon and that's all. We have people who ask directions, who need water, who are homeless, who need to use the toilet. Some who were married here or baptised here or met their spouse here. Others just want to know about "the Mormons" because they see it on the buses.

On July 3, the woman whose parents and grandmother were killed on this location when it was bombed in 1944 during World War II came with her daughter and two grandchildren to bring flowers and remember her loved ones.

A Precious New Arrival

What a joy to welcome Jack James Cannon to the world on 1 July 2016! His due date was 11 July. We talked to Maria on Thursday, 30 June and she showed us their refrigerator and pantry all stocked with food as well as the freezer with meals ready to go. She was hoping that the baby would come that weekend or the next week when Rich was off work for a week. We woke up Friday morning to see a text that she was at the hospital in labor. While we were on shift that morning we received the happy news: He’s here! What joy to know that he arrived safely and is healthy and happy and thriving. We are so very grateful for this wonderful blessing in our family!

 

Saturday Singing on Exhibition Road

Preparing the balloons for the sisters to give out during our Saturday singing on Exhibition Road. Most Saturdays, just before shift change, at 3 p.m., everyone gathers on the steps to sing. The last few weeks have been sunny and pleasant with lots of people going by. Often, they look up at the name of the church, smile and walk on. One time, a family went by in a horse drawn carriage. We were singing an English song from the Children’s Songbook, “All things Bright and Beautiful.” The beautifully dressed woman in the carriage leaned towards us singing the words along with us. Brilliant!

It is so nice to have free wifi in the building. It can be very helpful. We have dear friends who come to use the wifi. After shifts in the evening, the sisters are often busily typing away, connecting with their contacts and making appointments before they head home to their flats.

Celebrating with the Sisters

This year, we celebrated Linda's birthday with ice cream from our favorite ice cream truck. The Osborne’s of London began in 1909 and now John (who has been working in the business for 48 years) and Elaine and their son take turns each day serving the passers by on Exhibition Road. We all went in shifts, across the street to enjoy our ice cream.

Last July, Linda turned 60 one week after our arrival in London. This was especially convenient because she was eligible for the 60+ Oyster card with London Transport. We both have been able to use the card all year with the initial fee of 20 pounds, we are able to ride anywhere in zones 1 through 6 for free. We wish this were available to the young missionaries, transportation is a big cost for each of them.

Sister Mullen made the yummy cake

Birthday greetings from our precious family and friends, cards, emails, texts, facetime and skype all combined to make it a special time. We had dinner and ice cream with J. Paul and Alessandra the Wednesday before. Birthday singing from President and Sister Stevens as well as a jolly song from the Gales and Williams in the office added lots of cheer. We feel so much love and support from our dear Visitors’ Centre sisters and the Hulets and Mullens.

A special visitor on Sunday, 17 July to the Hyde Park Chapel was Sister Neill F. Marriott of the General Young Women’s Presidency. She shared her love and testimony in our Sacrament meeting and in an inspiring fireside that night. She and Sister Stevens sat next to each other in General Conference when Sister Stevens served in the General Primary.