An Amazing Morning!!!

And this is what it is all about!!!! A family was baptized this morning in the second area where we worked. We were so excited for the elders involved with this family. Elder Williams, our buddy found them and then several taught them with Elder Hummer and Elder Mathews (other very close friends) following through to the baptism. As I saw the entire family in white, I thought that most of the very sacred and special occasions in my life have occurred when I and or my family have been dressed in white i.e. baby blessings, baptisms, temple marriages, and temple attendance. There was such a strength there with all the missionaries present at the baptism. How I love this work!!!!

Llanelli Friends

We have been working in our third area, Llanelli for about two months and we attended a High Priest get together at the Chapman's home. We had a delightful evening with good food but even better company. Present were Bishop Ridler and his wife, Mervyn and Ann Cartwright, Barbara Richards with her granddaughter, Linda, Alan and Joan Phillips, Phillip and Lynne Freeman, Brian and Beverley Chapman, Charles Goodford and his son, and Robert and Heather Holman. It was so fun to associate with these devoted saints in Wales!!!!

Beaitiful Old Churches in Wales

In every village we find beautiful old churches of which we are going to try to take pictures of. Many date back to the 14th and 15th century. We think most of them are very poorly attended now days. Fascinating histories in each location. I would love to read about all of them.

Aberystwyth Elders

We had the privilege of doing a flat inspection in beautiful Aberystwyth this week. We took Elder Habicht from Germany and Elder Christiansen from Utah to lunch on the pier on the Cardigan Bay where the Atlantic Ocean and the Iris Sea meet. Their flat was immaculate and we had a wonderful visit with them and ended the day with an ice cream cone for each of us. They are working hard, but school is out right now and the bulk of their contacts are students at the University. Come back students!!! These are two dedicated elders.

One of our Favorites!!!!!

Elder Mathews is from Mesa and lives a few blocks from our home and knows many of the people we love at home. We have worked closely with him in the Milford Haven area and he is one of the finest missionaries we know. He has captured our hearts and we consider him family. He has been transferred to Evesham, so we will still see him at Zone conferences but we will miss him terribly. We have been assigned for this next transfer to do the Cheltenham Zone's flat inspections, so we will get to see him there. We get to keep Elder Hummer our District Leader and we are grateful for that. He also is a very good missionary and leader. Bye for now Elder Mathews!!!

Outside the Barzewiez-Dower Home

Monday night we had a delicious meal prepared by Brother Dower ( Roast Lamb with roasted potatoes and a variety of vegetables). His meals are always amazing and very filling as are his wife's. They both are chefs. We then had a great family home evening with Brother Dower and Luke on Baptism. Noellette had fallen and was not feeling well but we had a nice visit with her also. This is her handy work with the flowers and herbs!! It is amazing especially since I can't grow much of anything except great children!!!!

International tasting at Relief Society Activity

This week the branch had a Relief Society Activity and it was an International Tasting Experience!! We had food from the Philippines, from Africa, from Mexico and I made "Funeral Potatoes" which my family call "Yummy Potatoes' from the USA. Everyone seemed to like my potato dish but not particularly the name of the dish. We enjoyed every food item that was prepared but enjoyed the company even more. The Young Women were invited because school was finished this week and they are out for the next 6 weeks. They finished off with a great church movie I believe was called "One Fine Man". I had to leave early for our District Meeting but got to see some of the movie and it appeared to be great. It is always wonderful to be with the women in this branch and then to add the Young Women made it even better.

Beautiful scenes in our travels this week

We just love the countryside here in Wales. A couple of the pictures are hazy because it was a little overcast but still very green and beautiful I would like to bottle up the green and take some home with us when we are released.

District meeting and saying goodbye again

This week we had another awesome district meeting and said goodbye to Elder Heller who is going home to Germany this next week. He is an amazing missionary and will be missed tremendously but will be a strength to the ward he goes home to in Germany. He has been our Zone Leader for several months.

Our Friends the Willetts

It is always a delight to go to the Willett Farm. I am Joanne's visiting teacher and this week we were able to visit with her and her wonderful family. In the picture are Joanne, Katherine her daughter and Shannara Mcfarlane her niece. Her other daughter and husband are not in the picture but were there and we had the opportunity to enjoy visiting with them also. There is a picture of their home and also their "Aga" cooker I believe. They raise sheep and a few cattle and I always feel so at home here as memories of my growing up years flood my mind. It was a fun, fun visit for me.

Differences found in the UK vs.USA

Instead of having a garbage disposal we have to use these pails to put our leftovers in. In the small one we put the food scraps and then wrap them once a week in newspaper and then put these wrapped items in the large pail and set it out to be picked up, emptied and disposed of or used for compose. There are two types of dryers used here, one is a condenser type that pulls the liquid out and we empty the water out or the vented type which we have here and with this type they usually just put the hose out the window. In the lower right hand picture is what they call an "Aga Cooker". When members have seen this in our house they love it because it can do everything so they say. It functions as the water heater, the central heating system and a cooker and can slow cook beautifully. Since I spend minimal time in the kitchen, I haven't enjoyed it's many functions. I thought it would be fun to share some of the differences we have found here

Following in His Footsteps!!!

Elder Hooper goes home at the end of this transfer and these are his best shoes!! I love these shoes because he has wore them out in the service of his GOD!!!!!!!!!!!! He needs to save them and give them to his son one day and have him follow in his father's footsteps as his father followed in his Savior's footsteps. We love these devoted servants of the Lord!!!!!!!! I know I have said that before but I will continue to say it because these young missionaries are latter- day miracles!!

At the Ball

Last night we attended the Multi Stake Seminary Prom and it was so much fun for the youth. Our very own Theresa Williams the Stake Young Women's President was very instrumental in making it such a lovely "Ball". Pictured here is adorable Charley-Lee. She brightens up any room she is in with her happy, fun, and warm personality. Isn't she darling???? We love this great Young Woman!!!

Here we find Adam Greenhalgh, our newest "elder" and next missionary from Carmarthen Branch. What a great young man he is and can he ever" cut a rug" so to speak!! We appreciate the great friend he has become to us.

The Belle of the Ball

I don't think anyone had more fun at the Multi Stake Seminary Prom than Antonia Pomfret!! Isn't she darling and she brightens up everything around her. How we love this amazing young adult.

What a Beauty!!!

Wow, Rachel you looked captivating in that beautiful red dress. We noticed that the boys noticed you a lot. Now I wonder what you are explaining to your dance partner--probably that he can't have the next dance or the next or the next because you are booked for every other dance all night long!!! What a beautiful young woman you are, inside and out!!!

Beautiful Harding Sisters and their friends

Here are the two beautiful Harding Sisters and their friends, TJ, Kristofer, and Daniel. I don't know the two girls with Jennifer. The Harding Sisters did not lack in male attention the entire evening. You young men are very dashing also!!! They all are such good friends, looking after each other and just enjoying each other's company!!

Special Couples at the Prom

Here are some special couples at the Multi Stake Seminary Prom. On the top row they are Lisa and Vince Shambrook, the High Councilor over Seminary and his wife, our Primary President and Adam Greenhalgh with his date. In the lower pictures are lovely Antonia trying get away from a friend and Allissia and her boyfriend Reese. They all seemed to have a great deal of good clean fun!!!

Beautiful Lienna`

More pictures from the Multi Stake Youth Summer Prom for Seminary Graduates!! All night long BEAUTIFUL Lienna had the boys captivated. She has the most fun, contagious personality. How we love her. She wants to come to America and go to EFY there next year. We would love to have her in our home in Mesa as she visits America. Lookout America, this is one dynamic young woman!!!

Our favorite assignments

Here we are on our flat inspections once more with amazing elders and sisters. In the upper left hand picture are Elder Griffiths from Utah and Elder Mathie from New Zealand. Elder Mathie is a new convert and is 27 years old. He has an awesome testimony. In the upper right picture are Elders Piredda (from Italy and a zone leader), Elder Luu from Washington state, on a Chinese speaking mission and serving as a district leader, Elder Hooper from Utah( going home this transfer and a zone leader), Elder Clark from Boise, Idaho and out only a few weeks. In the lower left hand side are Elders Ercanbrack from Provo, Utah and Elder Yaskell from Alaska and also a new convert and the only member of his family. In the far lower right are Sister Babbage from Zimbabwe originally but now from England, Sister Strein from Colorado, Elder Nygaard from Washington and Elder Prestwich from Oregon. How we love these great servants of the Lord. They are Heavenly Father's secret weapon!!!

Sisters in the Gospel

About three weeks ago we attended the Summer Family Dance in Merthyr Tydfil and I failed to post these pictures of great sisters in our branch that have come to mean so much to me. Truly they are Sisters in the Gospel and have helped make my life so happy here in Wales. I will always want to keep in touch with them when we go home. Hopefully they will come and see us in America and I can do some pay back for all they have done for us. They are Shirley, Angela and Theresa.

Ferryside to Llansteffan

After scripture study on Thursday night, Brother Holman and his wife took us home from Kidwelly through Ferryside so we could see the coastal route and see the Llansteffan Castle across the water. We also saw the train in Ferryside that we may take our family on from Carmarthen to London when they come to take us home next year. This area is just beautiful!!!!

An Typical Welsh Lady

When we went by the Kidwelly Castle, we found a woman dressed up in a typical Welsh Costume and she was delighted to have me take a photo of her.

The Car Wash Super Star!!!!

Here is our very own Jessica out doing all of the teenagers at the EFY fund raising car wash!!! Isn't she adorable????????? How we love her in Primary.

A Fun Car Wash for EFY

Here are the best teenagers in all of Wales and England earning money for EFY by washing our cars!!! They had more fun getting each other wet but they also did a great job on the cars. The rain stopped just for their car wash. I think it is because these are righteous teenagers!!! We sure do love them. I think Elder Crandall is enjoying the water fights.