Eating after District Meeting

We had District Meeting at our home on Wednesday and I had prepared some barbecued beef sandwiches for the missionaries. They always enjoy coming to our home for more of a homelike atmosphere for our District Meetings. I always try and prepare some kind of lunch for them so we are filled not only spiritually but also physically. How we love these missionaries!!!!

Speaking to three Relief Societies

Here I am with Sister Jones and her daughter in the Merthyr Tydfil chapel on Wednesday. Sister Jones is an amazing woman and she and her husband were just released from the Temple Presidency. She asked for a picture with herself and her daughter, so I got one also. I had just finished speaking on "Joy in the Journey" to the three Relief Societies in that area. There was an excellent turn out and the spirit was there in abundance. It turned out to be a very fulfilling evening for me and I pray for those in attendance.

Great Haverfordwest Elders

It was our privilege to be with the Haverfordwest missionaries on Friday and do their flat inspection and take them to lunch. Elder Sinclair (District Leader) and Elder Roberts are both from England and are doing a great job.

A Special Outing with Caryl Llewellyn

Every week we spend a day with the great elders in Llanelli, Elder Taylor and Elder Stoddard. Here we are with them and Sister Caryl Llewellyn at the Cwmeerig Farm and Grill. We had treated them to lunch along with Caryl because Caryl prepares a wonderful meal for us all every week and we wanted to somehow pay her back. Caryl is coming to church now and plays the organ and piano there beautifully. We have become eternal friends.

Two of our favorite people!!

At the Young Men's activity at our home this week the Moms and their sons had so much fun together. My next entry tells about the activity. Here is a picture of Angela Greenhalgh and Joseph, two of our favorite people at the activity. Joseph was in my primary class all last year but now he is in Young Mens and it has been so fun to see him receive the priesthood and get so involved in Young Mens. Angela is a most devoted mother.

Young Men's Activity at our Home

The Young Men's President asked if the Young Men and their mothers could use our home for a fun pre- mission activity. Sister Williams, Stake Young Women President and Branch President's wife was in charge and therefore it was exceptional. She had a variety of food available with the costs attached and they were to prepare economical meals and total up the cost of their total meals. This was teaching them how to prepare tasty economical meals and it worked and besides it was lots of fun as shown by the laughter heard from our office room. We sure do love these great young men and their devoted Moms!!

Still one of our favorite assignments

Even after 14 months of doing flat inspections, it is still one of our favorite things!! It is because we get to share the magnificent spirits of these young missionaries. We always take them chocolate chip cookies and then try to take them to lunch. The picture on the left is Elder Smith (District Leader) and Elder Siegel. In the bottom right hand picture are Elder Layba and Elder Krywult. In the upper right is Elder Duke (District Leader) and Elder Anderton celebrating receiving their toilet cleaner. You should see the back of our car. It is filled with cleaning supplies. And, yes mothers, they know how to use them!! These Elders are devoted and dedicated servants of the Lord and we love them.

A Joyous Occasion

Today was Colin John Haigh's baptism at the Newcastle Emlyn Chapel. What a joyous time for us all. Colin is an amazing young man who has been studying the gospel for the past few months. He has attended Carmarthen Branch a few times but mostly has been attending Newcastle Emlyn Ward and has been taught the missionary lessons by the lovely sister missionaries. It was a sacred privilege to be there and participate in the spirit that was present. We were doubly blessed by having Hue and Cheryl Davies attend the baptism also. This was Hue's first time to witness a baptism. We prayed all week that he would attend and he did!!!!! Occasions like this make everything worth it!!

Sweethearts

Colin and Rachael are "New" sweethearts and Elder Crandall and I are "Old and Tried" sweethearts. We are at Collin's baptism and we all are elated that he has chosen to join the fold. I see a temple wedding in the future for this delightful couple.

Fun Flat Inspections

After the flat inspections, we try and take the missionaries out for a meal and just enjoy their awesome spirits. Here we are with Elder Tibbits and Elder Marks and later with Elder Salmons and Elder Blatter. They simply are the best!!

Part of our Institiute Class

How we love teaching Institute every Thursday night. Here are a few of our students at our home. Some were missing due to finals and the bad weather. Every second week they come to Carmarthen to give the Milford Haven and Carmarthen kids a break because the other weeks they drive to Swansea which is anywhere from 45 minutes to over an hour drive. This has been a super fun experience for us in addition to we are learning so much about the D & C.

Goodbye Dear Sister

There is a special bond between all of the sister missionaries and we are sad to lose that closeness as they head home to continue their life's pursuits. May the Lord bless you, Sister Van Eeden that all your dreams may come true!! You have served the Lord well!!

Goodbye And We Send Our Love

Here we are all at our Goodbye Dinner on Wednesday saying goodbye to three special missionaries, Elder Hummer, Elder Larsen, and Sister Van Eeden. Goodbye dear friends and may the Lord look after you!!!

Saying Goodbye Is Hard To do

We had a very special District and Zone training and get together Wednesday. Part of the time together was spent saying goodbye to dear, dear, dear friends and devoted missionaries who will be heading home next week! The goodbyes were to Elder Hummer our great district leader, Elder Larsen our devoted Zone leader and to Sister Van Eeden a dedicated sister missionary. We have become very close as a district and a zone and therefore it is hard to let them go home but of course we know how much their parents are rejoicing!!! Thanks parents for sending us such high caliber young adults to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They were amazing!!!

Pictures With Our Great Chinese Friends

We had a great visit with Elder Wang and Elder Guo today as we did their flat inspections and then went out to eat. They wanted to be sure as we did that we took pictures of us all. They are exceptional missionaries from China.

Flat Inspections This Week

At some of our flat inspections this week we took pictures of Elder Habicht from Germany and Elder Mechum from Delta, Utah. They are serving in Aberystwyth and are the best elders. Today we did Elder Wang and Elder Guo's flat inspection in Newport. They both are from China. It was fascinating to talk to them of their conversion stories, of their learning the English language, and of their strong testimonies of the gospel. We love these great missionaries and so appreciate their devotion to the Lord. Elder Wang wants to be a dietitian and go to BYU--maybe he will help us take Crandall Corporate Dietitians to China!!!