Patient in Afflictions

The last few weeks have been filled with most of the things we normally do, minus us driving.  We have tried to bear it patiently.  We met another woman on the bus who started talking to us.  She told us she was a former member, but because she had a bad experience she quit going.  She acknowledged that even though she wasn't a member now,  her growing up years had really been blessed by her church membership.  She was a nice lady and we encouraged her to consider coming back.  She also told us she rarely rides the bus, but she took it that day to catch a train to Liverpool.  I hope her contact with us will cause her to start thinking about the church again.  The woman we met on the bus a few weeks ago is having us over tomorrow.  We hope we can encourage her to  come back to church as well.
We had a great stake conference on Sunday.  The music from the choir was good and we got to sing "Jerusalem" with the congregation.  I really like that song.
Here are the words:
Jerusalem
And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains
green?
And was the Holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?
And did the countenance divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among those dark satanic mills?

Bring me my  bow of burning gold!
Brilng me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear: o clouds unfold!
Bring me my chariots of fire!
I will not cease from metal fight;
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.

The talks were wonderful and I as well as others I talked to said they felt the comments were a personal message for them.
Today we spent a relaxing afternoon.  Our car has been returned to us now that the mission office van has been taken care of.  The young elders in our district have been appointed our chauffeurs until Elder Whitehead gets his British license.  He has another chance at the test this week.  We asked the elders to take us to Beeston Castle.  We were there in the fall and we loved it.  It was perfect weather and the young elders were very pleased to see their  first castle.  We all had a nice time.  Afterward we found an ice-cream shop a few miles from the castle.  The ice-cream was almost as good as the ice-cream back home and

Last night we took a pleasant walk to an appointment alone the
Manchester ship canal

The castle wall

I liked these little flowers growing out of the wall.

What a view!

England's green and pleasant land.

Add caption

Entrance to the castle

This symbolizes how we feel without the car.

We are trying to keep and Eternal perspective.

Our faithful chauffeurs.

this place had a much bigger choice of flavors than any other place we have seen that sells ice-cream.