Serving in a Variety of Ways

We have done a variety of things in the past two weeks.  I have been ill during this time with a sinus infection, but I have managed to keep going most of the time.  Two weeks ago today we had an outing to Dunham Massey with some of the Senior couples.  It was a very enjoyable day.  Since then we have had zone meeting, meetings to prepare for World Religion day at a local school and the usual Book of Mormon lessons for the ward and Institute.  Sunday we had to opportunity to attend the dedication of the YSA building in Manchester.  We got to hear Elder Christopherson speak.  We had to sit in a classroom and watch it on a projector, but he visited each room wherever people were waiting to hear him,  and said Hello to everyone.  It was a good meeting.  We had World Religion day on Tuesday.  We got to do a presentation about the church to a class of 25 11-12 year-olds.  All the participants were treated as honored guests at the school.  We found it interesting to hear the other presentations.  We share so much in common with most religions.  Unfortunately even the religions that believe in the bible don't see Jesus Christ as the Messiah.   We hope our presentation will make a difference in the life of someone who attended.

We had a lovely picnic together.  Dad is in the white hat.

This was taken a few weeks ago at the Quarry Bank Mill

During World War I, this stately home was used as a hospital for the
wounded.  In honor of the 100th anniversary of the war, the home has
been set up to look like the hospital it became.  We saw it
once before in it's original state.

The Two of us in front of Dunham Massey

I understand more than ever the need for the Book of Mormon as a second witness of Jesus Christ.  Wednesday and Friday we attended sports

Senior Sisters at Dunham Massey

day in Manchester, one for the elders and one for the sisters.  On each day, the senior couples helped with a Preach my Gospel chase in the morning.  We had Costco Pizza for lunch.  In the afternoon, while the missionaries played sports, the senior sisters helped mend clothes for the missionaries.  Dad even played a little basketball with a few of the young elders.  These young missionaries work hard and once in a while they need time to unwind.  They all enjoyed watching videos each zone had made a spoof of the District videos they use for training.  I posted an example of one of their videos on my Facebook page.
We are always impressed with the great spirit of love and camaraderie that exists between these young missionaries.

March Comes in Like a Lamb

This past week we have had some milder days.  Trees are starting to blossom, daffodils are blooming everywhere and the days keep getting longer.  We had the opportunity to tour the new institute building in Manchester with some other senior couples.  We also had lunch at the Chinese buffet we have been to before.  We have visited with lots of people this week.  One of the sisters we have been visiting has come back to church twice now and I think she will start making a habit of it.  We can photograph the interesting sights we are seeing, but we can't capture with a camera the change we are seeing in people's hearts.  It is satisfying to be a part of it.  Yesterday when we were making a visit, the couple were visiting told us that we,
and the young missionaries were making a great difference in their lives and they really looked up to us.  I said in response to their comment.  "It isn't because of us, we are the most ordinary of people.  It is because we have been given an extraordinary calling."  Jesus Christ is working through us as we listen to them and work with them.  It is a great privilege to be in this calling.

I thought this was a pretty tree with it's red berries.  Its amazing to see how it has flourished in the cold weather.

I have included pictures from inside the building.  The windows in the institute building are large and let in lots of light.  There are great views of Manchester on every side of the building.  It was a lovely spring day in Manchester.  This building will be the center of a great deal of missionary work in Manchester.

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