Year End Numbers...

These are the numbers for the year of 2017. We met 726 missionaries this year. 545 were here for 3 weeks and spoke English. 24 were Senior Couple/Senior Sisters. 23 were native German speakers here for 3 weeks. 95 were German Second Language learners here for 6 weeks. 32 were English Second Language Speakers who were here for 6 weeks. 25 were Greek Second Language learners who were with us for 9 weeks. Thats a lot of missionaries names and faces to learn and remember. It has been a joy for me!

MTC Group 29 December 2018

MTC Group 29 November 2017

MTC Group 15 November 2017

Remembrance Sunday

Remembrance Sunday is held in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations as a day "to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts". It is held on the second Sunday in November, the Sunday nearest to 11 November, Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of hostilities in the First World War at 11 a.m. in 1918.

The red remembrance poppy has become a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day due to the poem "In Flanders Fields" written by Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae. Poppies were worn for the first time at the 1921 anniversary ceremony. At first real poppies were worn. These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I; their brilliant red colour became a symbol for the blood spilled in the war.

The poppy is worn around the time of Remembrance Sunday (traditionally from All Souls' Day (November 2) until the latter of Remembrance Day (November 11) or Remembrance Sunday).

FHE Sunday Nights!

I wanted to share a video with you that I took at our FHE last night. Before though, you should know what is going on here. Last Sunday, President invited all of the missionaries to learn (from memory) the 42 doctrinal principles that they teach from Preach My Gospel chapter 3. He also suggested, as stated in PMG, that they learn a scripture that goes along with each principle. At the end of his invitation, he looked at your sons, who were sitting on the front row, and asked them if they would know the 42 principles for the next Sunday. They enthusiastically said YES! Then he said…”and the scriptures?” Again they said YES! I was a little worried that they had committed to memorize all of it in one week and that it might be too much pressure. Last night as they walked in for FHE, they were in their most handsome missionary attire and again sat on the front row. I looked at them and asked them if they were ready. YES! :) I decided I was going to video it and send it to you. We love your wonderful missionary sons! They are doing so well! I just wanted you to know what a great example that was for all of the missionaries here. They were the only ones, out of the 67, that had memorized the scriptures to go with the principles.

Elder Rothlisberger (St. Johns, AZ) and Elder Norris (Orem, UT)

going to the Scotland/Ireland Mission.

Elder Fletcher

Kleine–Levin syndrome (KLS), also known as Sleeping Beauty syndrome, is a rare sleep disorder characterized by persistent episodic hypersomnia and cognitive or mood changes. Many patients also experience hyperphagia, hypersexuality and other symptoms.

I had never heard of this syndrome until Elder Fletcher came into our lives. He was fine the first week and then he started an episode. He is from England, so he had some much needed support, and was able to work through it and was ready to go to the field. I have never seen a young man with as much faith, courage and determination as Elder Fletcher. I love him!

MTC Group 25 October 2017

Elder and Sister Moras - heading to the France Lyon Mission

Ether, Alma, Helaman and Nephi Districts

These missionaries will be left behind when all of the English speaking missionaries depart on the 24th. We are getting quite attached!

Ether District (Greece Athens - 6 more weeks)

Nephi District - learning English - 3 more weeks

Heleman District - learning German - 3 more weeks
Alpine German Speaking Mission

Alma District - leaning German - 3 more weeks
Alpine German Speaking Mission

Our Sister Training Leaders - I love them!

Departure Photos

These Elder's and Sister's depart on October 24. EVERYONE on the same morning. No 2:30 am wake up calls. We are finally getting things figured out. We love these missionaries! They have been a great group! We will miss them!

Jacob District

Abinadi District

Ammon District

England London Mission

Lehi District - London South Mission

Birmingham Mission

Bolton Abbey and Skipton Castle

Because Monday's are usually hard days to get out and about, and because Thursday, we don't generally have any specific assignments to take care of, we decided to take a trip and explore a couple of places that had been recommended to us. Bolton Abbey and Skipton Castle. The Abbey and the surrounding acres of land were gorgeous. We walked and just enjoyed the beauty of the outdoors and being able to breathe the fresh air and feel alive. We will be going back there to explore some more, but today we also wanted to go into Skipton to visit the castle there.

The Abbey from the outside. People are buried all over the grounds there. Almost right up to the entrance.

We watched a man fly fishing on this little river. What a peaceful, lovely sport.

The Abbey.

We had lunch in a little house on the property of the Abbey. We got out of the rain just in time. I must say, it was one of the best things I have eaten in 10 months. I told my husband, if we lived closer, I would eat there more often. :)

The courtyard at Skipton, Castle.

The Castle. Luckily it had a roof, because it was raining today when we arrived.

A church right next to the castle.

It was really nice to spend a few hours out and about today. Every time we do this, we think we should do it more often.